EE decided to go exploring in Humboldt Park in Chicago. In the lagoon, there was a small make-shift walkway through a bit of marsh, onto an island. The island was full of trees and kind of small, probably about 5000 square feet in all. No one inconvenienced themselves by going to this notorious park and wading through a bit of filth to get on the island except for children and heroin junkies. According to one man, "junkie island" was a place overlooked by the police, where junkies could go and shoot up. Consequently, the island was littered with dangerous medical trash, needles, condoms, human waste, and general garbage. It was truly disgusting. This was a perfect place for a transformation, respect and beautifying, recognition, an unsuspecting playground.
EE reconaisance team
went out to the island and planned the placement of our big 40 foot by
25 foot net and an overhead zipline ride. The first jaunts onto the island
were scary. We built a few ladders by nailing wood to the trees, so we
could set up a launch pad and affix the nets to a certain tree grouping
that would give us enough space to work with.
The inhabitant junkies of the island thought we were working for the police
and setting up observation decks. Luckily, one man spoke to us and told
the other islanders that we were just artists wanting to set up a playground,
oh, OK.
Unoccupied space was again made into interactive art.
As the day grew dark, we dismantled the installation. As we were leaving the island at dusk, we were halted by two cars speeding thruogh the park on the grass shooting guns at one another, we ducked in the reeds and sighed.
Since then, the island's entrance swamp has been trenched, and access to the island stopped. It was a very dangerous playground indeed, but this type of environment cries out for playful encroachment most.
