From the Rooftops! Urban Community Garden Program

Our garden has finally opened to the public! Afterworking with multiple farmers, activists, technicians, and carpenters, the garden welcomed its first visitors last month.

We launched BAC's Rooftop with a permanent collection of upcycled furniture produced during the Woodworking Workshop for beginners with Sandy Lyen. The workshop ran for 4 days at the end of May, and gathered a total of 20 participants under Sandy's guidance. It focused on woodworking for beginners who are interested in learning or practicing their basic skills. Participants repurposed OSB wood panels from previous BAC exhibitions to construct benches, planters and side tables that help make the roof more habitable and accessible. We also made the production drawings of these items available for anyone who wishes to make their own. 

Following the workshop, we hosted a drawing concert featuring 2 illustrators and 2 musicians. The event gathered more than 100 people and opened up the roof for future collaboration with artists and musicians. We also hosted sound artists and DJs on the roof as part of a collaboration with the Cypriot artist-run space, Thkio Ppalies. These events have opened up the space to future collaboration with artists and musicians, along with agrocultural and environmental initiatives. 

By making this large outdoor space welcoming and hospitable, we hope to establish a working prototype for experimenting with forms of gathering, growing, making and sharing. These gestures, though modest, aspire to activate and advance discussions about land, food, and collectivity at a time of supply chain gridlocks, rampant inflation and widespread food insecurity. We have been keen on working with a wide network of local collaborators in setting up the space, and we are happy to see their efforts pay off.