The Art of Pedestrian Aggression

Why does a Plymouth State University student cross the road? To get to the other side! More importantly is the question: how does a PSU student cross the road? Do they stop and look both ways or aimlessly walk into oncoming traffic? Nearly every PSU student makes this decision on a daily basis. With the accident involving two girls and a drunk driver just two months ago it becomes even more complicated. Local Plymouth drivers complain that students just walk into traffic and lack courtesy. Students, however, say cars are unwilling to stop and not everyone is rude. This issue was examined by six PSU students who then created a piece of installation art titled Intersections. Anyone on campus this past Tuesday, Nov. 8, may have noticed the piece displayed along two campus walkways that converge at the large crosswalk in front of the admissions building. Each walk was posted with a series of six signs mimicking real road construction and street signs punctuated by one large sign at the crosswalk. This last sign was composed of an image of a car and a person intersecting with graffiti-like phrases scrawled over it arguing for both parties involved as well as the name of the installation. Six of the twelve signs read “intersection” so many feet ahead, while the other six read “prepare to…” smile,” “wave,” or “hustle.” The point of this piece was to force pedestrians to consider the perspective of the driver without placing all the blame on either one. Using humor instead of cynicism to execute their idea, these students hoped to raise awareness to the tension that exists between drivers and PSU students at local crosswalks. With a little whit and humor, perhaps this installation may have at least put a smile on some faces and at best helped them to examine their own opinions and understand those of others. Some of the original pieces of this installation, as well as photographic and video-graphic records of its making, installation, and local reactions will be on display at the Collins Gallery in the Draper and Maynard building. It will be displayed along with other works of art created by students of PSU’s Contemporary Art Seminar class, which will open on the Thursday afternoon of Dec. 1 and will run for two weeks.