#SetintheStreet will be on view April 15 - April 19, 2015 on Duffy Square.
New York, NY – April 2, 2015 – #SetintheStreet, an ongoing interactive installation project for which artist Justin Bettman builds cinematic sets out of unwanted materials and furniture before using them as backdrops for his own photographs, will come to Times Square from April 15-19. Visitors are invited to star in productions from their own imaginations and share them on Instagram with the global #SetintheStreet. The installation will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 15 at 11:00am.
The furniture and materials for Times Square #SetintheStreet were found across the five boroughs of New York to depict the domestic daily life of millions of New Yorkers. While Times Square is a globally iconic commercial center for New York’s visitors, #SetintheStreet will help to display a new perspective on the city at its center.
Artist Justin Bettman said, “I hope #SetintheStreet can allow others to look at the world a little bit differently, especially when it comes to the things they pass by every day. I hope the project makes people re-evaluate their perspective of trash and start to realize that sometimes there’s a larger picture that isn’t being considered.”
Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, said, “Justin Bettman’s #SetintheStreet is a physical monument to the vibrancy of the five boroughs alive in Times Square each day. This installation will give residents and visitors a chance to experience the breadth and diversity of daily life in New York at the heart of its town square.”
Sherry Dobbin, Times Square Arts Director, said, “#SetintheStreet invites anyone to play the role of a film professional, setting up the perfect tableau of the Times Square film of their imagination.”
#SetintheStreet will be on view April 15 - April 19, 2015 on Duffy Square.
In collaboration with Tribeca Film Festival, April 15 – 26, 2015.
###
Times Square Arts, the public art program of the Times Square Alliance, collaborates with contemporary artists and cultural institutions to experiment and engage with one of the world's most iconic urban places. Through the Square's electronic billboards, public plazas, vacant areas and popular venues, and the Alliance's own online landscape, Times Square Arts invites leading contemporary creators to help the public see Times Square in new ways. Times Square has always been a place of risk, innovation and creativity, and the Arts Program ensures these qualities remain central to the district's unique identity. Generous support of Times Square Arts is provided by ArtPlace America and ArtWorks. Visit TimesSquareNYC.org/Arts for more information. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @TSqArts.
Justin Bettman is an artist born and raised in Northern California. As a teenager, he began photographing bands and traveling with them on tour. After shooting music, his style transitioned into more elaborate tableau scenes. In 2012, Justin started shooting his Dark series, traveling around Europe and the United States to shoot these cinematic photographs. Bettman now lives in NYC and is currently working on his interactive #SetintheStreet series, combining his talents as a street artist and a photographer. www.justinbettman.com