Making Space for Art in the 'Science of Cities'

Adam Frank pushes back on the emerging ideas of the "science of cities" by identifying an urban manifestation that might escape scientific inquiry: "Cities clearly are more than a new kind of physics problem. They are also creations of the human imagination and, as such, they live or die by the quality of the imagination we bring to them."

"Thats [sic] why no discussion of the health of cities can be complete without thinking about the role of art — public art," adds Frank.

As an example of the power of inspiration available through the best public art, Frank examines WALL/THERAPY, "a week-long celebration of street art and its power to transform urban spaces" founded by Dr. Ian Wilson, a radiologist at the University of Rochester's Strong Medical Center.