Data Vandals artist-activists bring data to life in NYC at colorful Cooper Union exhibition
Image credit: DataVandals.com
Not all New York City events are easy to categorize; a provocative program taking place at Cooper Union from Friday, September 27 to Sunday, September 29, straddles the worlds of art, technology, data science, and community participation. Showcasing the talents of NYC data-activist collective Data Vandals (artist Jen Ray and data visualization expert Jason Forrest), the exhibition’s full title “Hello From The Data Vandals (or free as air and water, or whatsoever things are true)” highlights just how many things in our daily lives intersect with what we know as data.
On view for three days at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art’s Civic Projects Lab in the East Village, the exhibition aims to start conversations about issues important to all of us through data visualization. Sculpting that data into creative formats using sculpture, performance, music, and design, the Data Vandals hope to continue these dynamic conversations in the community, with emphasis on the surrounding neighborhood.
As an art exhibition, the program shines a colorful spotlight on the East Village neighborhood through historic and current data, using large data visualization paintings and sculpture. Rounding out these concepts are workshops, lectures, and a movie night.
The program will use data to illustrate issues to which it is crucial–housing, demographic shifts, the environment, and keeping the city running in the 21st century. Creative examples include a modern-day pushcart (pictured above) selling souvenirs, while delving into facts and figures on street vending.
The three-day exhibition is free and open to the public, and will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, starting with an opening reception on September 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. In addition to the above-mentioned highlights, there will be a panel discussion with noted design experts, and street tours by YouTube influencer Tom Delgado. A data storytelling workshop will be presented by Flourish, a part of Canva’s product family and a supporter of the event.
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