Fourth year Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) student Heather Fulton has taken Toronto’s telephone polls by storm with her latest project ‘Forget to Remember.’ Though a commonly overlooked space for art projects, Fulton has opted to use the beams as platforms for her latest academic endeavor.
Just as the title suggests, Fulton’s pedagogic and artistic framework is based upon the concept of memory. The Toronto native wanted to draw attention to the way in which gentrification has erased our recollection of once iconic venues. With mention of nostalgic structures like Sam the Record Man and the Big Bop, Fulton has struck a chord among those frustrated with the transient nature of urban sprawl.
The Forget to Remember project has been launched in five historic Toronto areas via poster form. Each poster contains a series of tear-aways directing readers to web addresses which explain the significance of previously operative and booming buildings. Like those buildings, Fulton claims that the telephone post adverts are fleeting, and will either be removed by force or by nature.
Altruistic Street Art
Fulton’s ‘Forget to Remember’ Examines Gentrification
Trend Themes
1. Historic Memory Preservation - Opportunities for innovative projects that use art and technology to preserve the memory of iconic venues and structures affected by gentrification.
2. Street Art as Awareness - Potential for street art to serve as a powerful tool for raising awareness about social issues like urban gentrification and its impact on communities.
3. Interactive Urban Installations - Emerging trend of using interactive and web-based elements in urban installations to engage the audience and provide additional information and context.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Culture - Opportunity for artists and cultural organizations to leverage street art and installations to promote historical preservation and raise awareness about social issues.
2. Technology - Potential for tech companies and startups to develop innovative platforms and digital solutions that combine art, storytelling, and historical information to create interactive urban installations.
3. Community Development - Opportunity for urban planners and community organizations to collaborate with artists and leverage street art to foster a sense of belonging, preserve cultural heritage, and address the impacts of gentrification.