Art Parkings
A Light in the Dark
Parking is rarely a memorable experience for us. We don’t look forward to it. In fact, we often dread finding a vacant space in busy cities. Parking is a part of our routine. We go, go, and go some more, and in between all the movement, we must park our vehicles. What do we notice when we come to a halt in parking garages and lots in our community?
Nothing. We pay no attention to our dull surroundings. In a garage, we find ourselves among dim, lifeless concrete walls. We can’t wait to escape such a dungeon! In an open-air parking lot, it’s simply a sea of cars, usually surrounded by tall, bland city buildings. They block our views of sky and trees, distant mountains and sunsets. We’re uninspired in these forgotten spaces. But what if parking could be upbeat and meaningful? What would it look and feel like for a city to embrace this idea?
See the transformation. From expansive dark tunnel to inspiring, bright art that links us to others across the planet
Di Bari & Associates Zero Mile Marker in Miami, Florida, can give you a glimpse of stunning reality. The parking art spans four blocks, and 96 underpass columns boast eight custom-made digital paintings completed by artists around the world. The paintings feature iconic destinations and how many miles separate the selected cities and the Miami neighborhood. As residents and tourists park, they’re greeted with beauty and reminded of brothers and sisters in thriving areas half a world away.
But the beauty doesn’t stop there. Sure, the I-95 underpass parking lot is more appealing. The dark area has become a source of light and connection. It’s brought together the Miami Design District and Midtown, two districts that are flourishing still. The parking art unifies two neighborhoods that symbolize beautiful urban living – design and culture, fashion and art, shopping and nightlife.
Di Bari & Associates is leading the Parking Art phenomenon. We believe in the power of beauty and what it can do for the spirits of any given place. Zero Mile Marker is an oversized work of art that celebrates diversity and cooperation, Miami’s connection to other global urban centers, and local pride.
A traditional zero mile marker is a location by which all other distances are measured. Find this colorful one in none other than beautiful, diverse Miami, FL.
Community Impact
These parking art installations bring life to boring scenes. At DB&A, our mission is to create emotional cityscapes. We love to partner with towns, organizations, schools, parks, and more to dream up iconic sites of the future. And this kind of art really speaks to communities. We’ve seen the impact.
DB&A associate artist Faith47 painted The Preciousness of the Hunt mural beside a rundown parking lot in the South Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. The swans are uplifting and bear a connection to the powerful, graceful women in the area. It’s an eye-catching, motivational image that serves as a source of pride and beauty. People and businesses are drawn to the painting. The locals point to it as their very own metaphorical story.
An old and dark portion of L.A. is now alive with the flight of beautiful swans. As you park your car or pass the site, you’re reminded to soar!
Dawn Fishing by DB&A associate artist Bart Smeets also converted the boring brick side of a building into parking art in Genk, Belgium. The stores surrounding the area receive more business, and tourists pop by for a quick photo. Without the colorful, magical painting, the portion of the town would remain a simple wall with a few available city street parking spaces.
The most coveted parking in town! A beautiful mural can utterly transform a piece of your city.
Not to be missed is Pastel’s (Francisco Diaz) Calamansi and Sampaguita in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). It impacts the city of today with a reminder of the past. And the message will live on, inspiring the future as well. The Filippino people have emerged from a dark history (the symbolic black background). But the community is alive and in bloom, as they build on the legacy of their ancestors. The plants are emblems of purity, patriotism, and respect.
This parking lot has been transformed by these artful symbols. People pause and consider how far the Philippines have come. Heritage can be so inspiring.
Stop, Look & Listen
Di Bari & Associates seeks to bring beauty into unassuming corners of the world. Whether you park in an open-air lot or in a parking garage, it’s the perfect place to pause and revel in a gorgeous message of hope. We believe in iconic, oversized art that captures your sight and soul. Parking art surprises us. We’re filled with wonder because we never expected to find such inspiration in a dark garage. On a random city block. Or in a cement lot surrounded by yet more cement.
Parking art like DB&A associate artist Teresa Sapey’s Puerta de América Hotel in Madrid, Spain, is breathtaking. You don’t even want to leave the garage itself. It’s warm and filled with the colors of sunshine. You don’t have to be scared of the shadows anymore. Step out of your automobile with confidence, joy, and motivation. Notice a pep in your step as you go about your day.
Picture a parking lot or garage in your town. What do you envision? Could it be a brighter, better place for future generations? Could it draw communities together, improve property value, and give others hope on your side of town? Art like this is simultaneously silent and deafening. It speaks to us in great volume without saying a single word. Stop, look, and listen. You’ll hear it.
Who knew a parking place could be a source of excitement and pride in your city? There’s a reason we’re leading this phenomenon. We’ve known it for a while. We hope you’re catching the vision now, too.
Park here, and you’ll be met with familiar scenes of human activity and a sense of freedom and happiness.
