Blog Post #33

July 31, 2026

Brigitte Stepanov

Public Art + Outdoor Spaces

Today's blog post is a quick appreciation of some of the outdoor spaces that I encountered this late spring and early summer in Chamblee, GA; Philadelphia, PA; and NYC. The interventions photographed below, which include public art installations, outdoor seating areas, and little, though mighty acts of gardening in a big city, promise a being-in-space that slows one down and encourages reflection about one's relationship to the built environment. Though I was curiously always alone in these spaces, I felt embedded in the communities where I encountered these livening initiatives. These spaces invite a moment of deeper dwelling, offering a stark contrast to the pace and demands of much of public life. Thinking through the affect of space is one of my research interests under the auspices of ETL. More to come on the energy systems that foreground daily life and the varied spaces that anchor it! Thoughts and conversations very welcome!

Fishtown, Phila, PA

Up past W 200th St, NY