Last month, walking down Lucas Avenue past the City Museum, I noticed this:
STL Misses You
What a cool way send a message! Nobody could consider this vandalism, but the art form feels as appropriate for the urban environment as graffiti has become.
Today I saw a similar installation in Lafayette Square.
Equality for All
I think it’s awesome. Has anyone seen more of these around town?
Cementland is a project that has been in the works for ten years. Ever since I first stumbled upon this New York Times article a year or so ago, I have been curious about the project. And what a cool project it is. With the City Museum already in place as one of the region’s most unique and popular attractions, Bob Cassilly still wants to contribute more.
Cementland from Riverview
Cementland is Bob Cassilly continuing to endorse reuse. It is possible to create something totally new and exciting without starting from scratch.
Cementland Sculpture
With nothing more to go off of than rumors (landscaping work is being done at Cementland) and a few dated articles from around the internet (ranging from the detailed 2000 article in the Riverfront Times, to accounts of “Miss Rockaway Armada,” a crazy boat trip up the Mississippi which culminated in a rock concert on the river at Cementland), I actually think this project could open to the public in the near future. I really hope it does because I really want to go!
Cementland
More photos of Cementland are available here, here, here and here. Also, a very funny account of a visit to Cementland can be read at this link.
Further Reading:
http://www.clui.org/lotl/v29/j.html
http://martadouglass.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-love-you-bob-cassilly.html
http://urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=3541&start=30
Update:
Update 2:
Photos of Cementland on August 27th, 2011
Update 12/6/2011:
A new website has been launched for Cementland. Bookmark it and check back for updates in the coming months.
The Old Cotton Belt Route building has been an urban exploring destination for a while, but more recently the site has become home to HOmeward BOund Ukneeversesity, and now Dignity Harbor.
I caught a glimpse of Dignity Harbor today while walking around the entrance to the Riverfront Trail and it peaked my curiosity.
Dignity Harbor @ Wharf and Florida
Online this evening I found several sources of information on Dignity Harbor: some flickr photos, a photography forum thread (with excellent photos), and a blog entry. It seems like a great project, especially at a time when people from the Tucker Tunnel are being displaced. Right next to Dignity Harbor is the beginning of the Riverfront Trail with newly added public art that appears to me to be the work of Bob Cassilly.
Brick Turtle @ Riverfront Trail
The artwork is great, but you can see that Dignity Harbor has already expanded here. In the photo above there is a pile of water bottles at the center of the left hand side.
Artwork is useful
Although I would have enjoyed seeing more of this sculpture, I am happy to see that it is being useful. Homelessness is an issue that I can offer no solutions to, so I am glad to see that others are at least doing something.
Exploring St. Louis 