Lecture on Hands-on Urbanism

Elke Krasny delivered a lecture to go hand in hand with her exhibition  Hands-On Urbanism. The Right to Green at the University of Maryland's Kibel Gallery, School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation on February 25, 2015. 

Krasny's lecture focused on case studies of urban gardening, urban farming, and self-help building. It emphasized critical alignments between urban dwellers and activists, architects, artists, educators or political philosophers.

The exhibition Hands-On Urbanism. The Right to Green explores urban gardening through the lens of specific historic constellations, dynamics of migration, and the politics of space. Curated by cultural theorist and urban researcher Elke Krasny, the exhibition critically unveils a multifaceted history of citizen-led acts leading to collective community ambition, counteracting urban crisis, austerity, and economic pressures. Taking root from below, these self-organized and self-help practices, often in alliance with architects or artists, are dynamic and inspiring agencies of urban change. The fate of the empty lot starts with a seed.

Curated by Elke Krasny. Graphic Design by Alexander Schuh.

Hands-On Urbanism. The Right to Green was first shown at the Architecture Centre Vienna (Architekturzentrum Wien) and then at the 2012 Venice Biennale for Architecture.

The Exhibition will be open until May 15, 2015 (closed the week of March 15th) | Mon - Thu: 9 am - 9 pm | Fri: 9 am - 4 pm | On weekends by request.