“Words such as city, suburb, and countryside no longer describe the United States at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Most Americans inhabit sprawling metropolitan regions layered with tracts, strips, office parks, and highways. Sprawl is defined here as a process of careless land use, visible in constant new construction at the fringes coupled with lack of investment in older downtowns and suburbs." - Dolores Hayden
From November 14 to December 20, the Center Art Gallery at Calvin College is hosting A Field Guide to Sprawl — text by Dolores Hayden, Photographs by Jim Wark. Based on Hayden’s book (published in 2004), the exhibition chronicles built forms that are a part of the American landscape, and forces viewers to understand and confront sprawl.
Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus got a preview of the exhibit, which opens tomorrow during a special event keynoted by new urbanism guru John Norquist. He also sat down with some of West Michigan's leading thinkers on new urbanism. Here’s what he found:
Other programs and events supporting the exhibit:
Keynote Lecture by John Norquist, President and CEO, Congress For The New Urbanism
Friday, Nov. 14, 7:30pm at Commons Lecture Hall
Cities in the 21st century: Engaging Citizens in Zoning Decisions
Presentation and Discussion by Carol Townsend (United Growth for Kent County)
Tuesday, Nov. 18, noon at Ladies Literary Club
The Greening of Grand Rapids: Community Initiatives
Panel Discussion led by Dave Warners - Steve Faber (Newberry Place), Rachel Hood (West Michigan Environmental Action Council), and Barry and Heather Van Dyke (Bear Manor Properties)
Tuesday, Nov. 25, noon at Ladies Literary Club
Getting from Here to There: Transit Alternatives for the 21st Century
Calvin Environmental Assessment Program (CEAP) Poster Session
Kevin Wisselink (The Rapid), Thomas Tilma (Planning Consultant & Calvin College Instructor), Jay Hoekstra (Grand Valley Metro Council), and Dave Bulkowski (Disability Advocates)
Thursday, Dec. 4, 4 p.m. at Spoelhof 150
Michigan Now is broadcast around the state on public radio stations such as Grand Rapids' WGVU 88.5 FM and 1480 AM. This piece is funded in part by Rapid Growth Media and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
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