It came as a huge and humbling honor for the GHC co-founders to see their How To Guide document along with a photo display and stools from Zachary Reynolds of Woodwise Urban Designs exhibited along with a stunning array of designers and community development and place-making initiatives from across the country.

By the People: Designing a Better America, is the third exhibition in Cooper Hewitt’s series on socially responsible design, and will be on display from Sept. 30 through Feb. 26, 2017. “The first exhibition in the series to focus on conditions in the U.S. and its bordering countries, ‘By the People’ explores the challenges faced by urban, suburban and rural communities. Organized by Cynthia E. Smith, Cooper Hewitt’s curator of socially responsible design, the exhibition features 60 design projects from every region across the U.S.”

Read more and see images on the museum’s exhibit website here!

Find the exhibit’s official press release here!

Shout out to our fellow Chattanooga representation in the NYC exhibit, as the Chattanooga Public Library’s 4th Floor was featured in a different section of the same exhibit!

At the heart of the guide is Glass House Collective’s most essential belief, that the most direct route to creating a new place, a new story, is to empower artists to co-create that place one-on-one with the folks who live, work and play in that place.  For it is artists who are in the business of meaning making.  Their works draw emotions out of viewers.  They change attitudes and perceptions.  They change hearts.  Therefore, each tactic in the “How To Guide” will be executed from the bottom-up by a resident and artist team with the sole intent of making Glass Street cleaner, safer and more inviting.

The guide provides everything residents need to know to fully execute each community action.  There is a detailed list of instructions as well as all necessary tools, materials, and collaborators.  The idea is to make community transformation as achievable, practical, and replicable as possible.  Here is a synopsis:

Tactic: Public Park Wayfinding Signage
Artist: Graphic Designer
Place: Intersections and other right of way locations
Need: Glass St. is rich in natural assets (e.g. Sherman Reservation, a 50-acre National Park, and South Chickamauga Greenway) but these places are not well known to our neighbors and are underutilized
Outcome: Connect neighbors to parks. Provide awareness of accessible public space.

Tactic: Pop-Up Movie Nights
Artist: Love Fellowship Church
Place: Greenspaces along Glass Street
Need: Community building events bringing multiple generations together for food and fellowship.
Outcome: Bring neighbors together.

Tactic: Bike Repair Station
Artist: Rondell Crier of Studio Everything
Place: Studio Everything
Need: Studio Everything is a free neighborhood art studio/gathering place engaging Glass Street youth and adults.  The majority of participants travel there by worn torn bikes which Studio Everything staff consistently help repair.
Outcome: Bring people to the street. Improve present form of transporation.

Tactic: Public Art Gateway
Artist: Visual Artist
Place: Glass Street and Dodson Avenue intersection
Need: Unlike many communities in our city, Glass Street does not have any signage indicating that one has entered the neighborhood.
Outcome: Make a local landmark. Provide a welcoming entryway.

Tactic: Crosswalk Intersection Painting
Artist: Visual Artist
Place: Glass Street and Dodson Avenue intersection
Need: The intersection is highly walked, connecting Hardy Elementary School to a popular restaurant and East Chattanooga Recreation Center, but does not have crosswalks.
Outcome: Slow down traffic. Improve pedestrian safety. Encourage feet on the streets

Tactic: Sandwich Board Signage
Artist: Zachary Reynolds of Woodwise Urban Design
Place: Glass Street businesses
Need: Glass St. hosts a collection of active art nonprofits and neighborhood events but traditional marketing avenues do not reach East Chattanooga residents.
Outcome: Improve communication of activities and events. Activate the streets.  Create more awareness for local businesses.

Tactic: Storefront Improvement
Artist: Visual Artist
Place: A vacant storefront
Need: Glass Street hosts beautiful, historic 1920s style architecture in need of repair.
Outcome: Attract local businesses. Activate empty store

Tactic: Portable Street Furniture
Artist: Zachary Reynolds of Woodwise Urban Designs
Place: Anywhere
Need: The Good Neighbor Network, an East Chattanooga neighborhood association, plans to host a series of pop-up “living room” events to animate vacant properties.
Outcome: Connect neighbors. Provide community gathering place.

Tactic: Tree Planting
Artist: Gene Hyde, Urban Forrester with the City of Chattanooga
Place: Dodson Avenue and Glass Street Intersection
Need: No current streetscaping.
Outcome: Beautify the street. Slow down traffic. Provide a gateway.

Tactic: Home Repair and Landscaping
Place: Residents’ homes
Need: Glass Street hosts a strong housing stock but many homes are in need of repair.
Outcome: Build neighborhood pride. Preserve and increase home value. Beautify the block.

These projects are made possible through support from the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, the Lyndhurst Foundation, and the Tennessee Arts Commission.

The How-To Guide was created as an instruction manual for residents to work with neighbors on temporary projects. The guide has been passed out to over 200 community members and serves as a catalyst for neighborhood action as it not only gives manageable directions, but also provides a visual projection of each project’s potential.

The guide is broken down into instructions for nine projects.  From community banners to pop up shops, it not only gives basic step-by-step directions, but also lists the needed materials, costs, time frames and necessary collaborators for each individual project.  The How-To Guide is a unique and visually stimulating representation of the near-term plan for Glass Street.  The How-To Guide will be vital in the  planning process for the Glass Street’s Better Block event on February 23rd.

Build Tree Planters: Help beautify Glass Street, slow down traffic and provide a sense of enclosure

Create Community Banners: Celebrate the district and promote the community’s identity

Create A Community Space: Provide a gathering place for the community and connect neighbors

Install Public Art: Make a local landmark and create a visual experience

Paint A Mural: Showcase creativity and beautify a building

Create Pedestrian Crossings: Slow traffic in district, improve pedestrian safety and encourage feet on the streets

Build A Pop Up Shop: Attract local businesses, activate empty storefronts and bring people to the street

Create A Community Event: Bring neighbors together and strengthen the neighborhood

The contents of the How-To Guide will culminate at Glass House Collective’s Better Block event on February 23, 2012. The event will be a celebration of the collaboration between Glass Street residents, Glass House Collective and YOU!

We need you. If you see something within the How-To Guide that you want to champion, please get in touch with us at info@glasshousecollective.org.

The guide is broken down into instructions for nine projects.  From community banners to pop up shops, it not only gives basic step-by-step directions, but also lists the needed materials, costs, time frames and necessary collaborators for each individual project.  The How-To Guide is a unique and visually stimulating representation of the near-term plan for Glass Street.  The How-To Guide will be vital in the  planning process for the Glass Street’s Better Block event on February 23rd.

Outcome:
Find out February 23^rd at the Better Block event.