B.

If architecture is the most public and most democratic of all works of art as has been suggested, then the street is the most comprehensive and well patronised art gallery we have. If 'the city is the most concrete, the most lasting and the most inspiring expression of man's social genius', then it is through the street that we experience his grand creation. The street, we all use. We travel along it and our goods are transported on it. We walk, jog, play, cycle and drive on it. We shop on it – we use it in a multiplicity of ways. And we build and we plant adjacent to it, advertise our wares and services on it. But what have we created, what do we think of it? Are our streets as we would have them – are you satisfied with their appearance – are they the agency of social contact and communication they might be?

This exhibition is a new and we hope, exciting innovation in art gallery exhibition policy; we trust that it will stimulate thinking about such aspects of the street environment we create for ourselves. Part aesthetic, part sociological, it is a pot pourri of reactions by artists and others in a wide variety of media to such diverse subjects as transportation and traffic flow, the evolution of street systems, law and order, emergency services, people who work on the streets, the Black Power movement, architecture grand and simple etc; and it permits of experimental installations which draw on street themes for their raison d'etre. (The Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council has generously supported the undertaking with a series of artists' project grants totalling $3850).

('The Street', Bulletin, No.8, March/April 1980, p.2)

Listen to the audio, created by Chris Cree Brown, that was played during this exhibition. Please excuse the sound quality of this recording, taken from an original audio cassette,  which has deteriorated over time.