The project, consisting of 28 artists working in over 50 public spaces, provokes the debate of what is considered public space and who decides what is done with it. Is an advertisement for the latest Harry Potter book more important than a public sculpture? Says who? The project also makes one aware of how oblivious we are to our surroundings each day as we rush from point A to point B.

Angus Galloway’s project, Sound Travel, examines just how much of the city we tune out. “I wanted to learn about the East Village and what better way than to listen to what it had to say. The meaning and character of a place is rooted in the sounds that march up and down its streets. Being new to the city helped me be very democratic in terms of where I should go and what I should record.” Using a variety of recording devices, Galloway has captured the sounds so many people try desperately to tune out with their iPods and has remixed these sounds for people to hear at his listen station set up around various East Village locations. Sounds of children playing in a park are layered with sounds of a train pulling into a station. Parts of conversations can be overheard while someone on a skateboard passes by. Angus has arranged these elements of daily life in such a way that it is oddly relaxing and inspires the listener to create mental stories for his soundscape. “Today a woman remarked when she took off the headphones that she was more aware of the surrounding area,” says Galloway. “The same sounds that previously trickled past her without notice she was now drinking with her ears. This kind of a reaction is my favorite, the piece itself serves mainly as a channel into our lives.”

Another brilliant display is the Token of Love project by Jan Lynn Sokota. Sokota’s tokens can be found hidden in the coin slots of pay phones as well as other secret locations on St. Marks Place/8th Street, between 4th Avenue and Avenue C. One side of the brass token reads In You I Trust/Your Wind Song Stays On My Mind while the other side reads I Can Seem To Forget You/Trust No One. “The Token of Love is just that: A small glittery, shiny, circular charm,” says Sokota. “The piece emerged from an idea about finding love and losing love. The preamble to the piece was that love can be enduring or fleeting, stable or disruptive. Often we take the gamble, with fantasy and reality working side by side. By what measure do we consider our choices when it comes to love and by what measure do we decide to stay or leave? This piece explores how choices can sometimes be made and then from here, the piece took off in so many directions with regard to image, shape, color, placement and layers of meaning, all coded into the Token of Love.”

Sokota recalls one woman who was seemingly confused by her find. “She had obviously picked a token out of some gum and she was walking with her arm stretched out in front of her like she was holding something stinky and she looked puzzled by it. She decided to keep it and kept walking holding it out in front of her. I could see her dilemma, however I thought it was funny.”

Other Art In Odd Places projects of note include: Lili White’s video installation, Cloudgate, which is projected onto the sidewalk at 618 East 9th Street each night from 8PM-Midnight. J. Kathleen White’s Hide Outs located at El Sol Brillante Community Garden. The artist has attached peepholes to the garden fence at East 12th Street, between Avenues A & B. Jen Mazer’s City Leaves consisting of portions of the sidewalk covered in leave coated tiles. Last, but certainly not least, is the Trojan Purse which is Ethan Crenson’s enormous, traveling, wooden purse that promises “elements of performance.” The piece will make its way from Cooper Square to Tompkins Square Park August 27th and August 28th.

Art In Odd Places runs from August 21st though August 28th, 2005 as part of the 3rd Annual Howl! Festival. For a full list of projects/artists involved with Art In Odd Places as well as a map of locations, please visit their website at www.artinoddplaces.org.