Small Block - Shifting the Ground

season 2Small Blocks
Written By Chip Chip

Chelsea Ritter-Soronen

How much of a city is the ground beneath our feet? Sidewalks, streets and plazas make up an enormous part of the urban landscape, but most of the time we barely notice them.

In this Small Block, Chelsea Ritter-Soronen explores what happens when we start paying attention. From pavement as a canvas for public art to its role in shaping the identity, comfort and climate of a city, we look at the possibilities hiding in plain sight. Chelsea shares what Ground Shift Studios is learning about heat-responsive materials and techniques—including lessons from a recent research trip to Japan—and how something as simple as throwing water on the sidewalk can become both a cooling strategy and a communal ritual.

https://www.iamchelsea.com/

https://www.groundshift.studio/

Arts in the Right-of-Way

Color the Curb

Southwest BID

US-Japan Foundation

Uchimizu

Featured in this Episode

Field Guide
Uchimizu
Uchimizu

Uchimizu (打ち水) is a traditional Japanese practice of sprinkling water on streets, sidewalks, and other outdoor surfaces to cool the surrounding area. As the water evaporates, it draws heat from the pavement and air, offering a simple, low-tech response to hot weather. Historically, the practice has also been associated with suppressing dust and welcoming guests.

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United States - Japan Foundations
United States - Japan Foundations

The United States-Japan Foundation (USJF) is an independent philanthropic organization working to strengthen bilateral ties and address shared challenges. We empower next-generation leaders and fund innovative initiatives, catalyzing collaboration and exchange among stakeholders in search of solutions.

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Southwest BID
Southwest BID

The Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID) serves the area south of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., using public art and creative placemaking as central tools for shaping the neighborhood’s public realm. Through murals, artist collaborations, temporary installations, and other creative interventions, SWBID brings color, storytelling, and a distinct sense of place to streets, sidewalks, and shared spaces throughout Southwest.

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Color the Curb
Color the Curb

Color the Curb is a joint agency project between DDOT, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH), and DC Public Schools (DCPS). Color the Curb is a subset of DDOT's Arts in the Right-of-Way (AROW) program, which supports designs that transform intersections into works of art to increase the safety and visibility of pedestrians while adding visual interest to the area.

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Art in the Right of Way
Art in the Right of Way

The Arts in the Right-of-Way (AROW) program facilitates art in the public right-of-way which is owned and maintained by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). Examples of AROW projects include various forms of art on public amenities and facilities such as bike racks, utility boxes, and pedestrian areas. AROW projects can be implemented directly by DDOT or by eligible non-DDOT entities via a public space permit.

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Groundshift Studios
Groundshift Studios

Ground Shift Studio is a Washington, D.C.-based public art and consulting studio working at the intersection of art, transportation, and climate resilience. Founded by artist and urbanist Chelsea Ritter-Soronen, the studio treats the ground beneath our feet—streets, sidewalks, plazas, and other paved surfaces—as both a canvas and a piece of public infrastructure.

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Chelsea Ritter-Soronen
Chelsea Ritter-Soronen

Chelsea Ritter-Soronen is a multi-disciplinary visual artist, small business owner and public arts consultant. She is the Founding Principal of Ground Shift Studio, a mural company specializing in pavement art, established in 2013 (originally named Chalk Riot).

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Chip Chip
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Rahul Kadri