City of Asylum practices Creative Placemaking, which places the arts and artists at the center of community. We have commissioned and maintain several works of public art throughout the Northside neighborhood.
City of Asylum House Publications
The facades of the houses where our resident writers live on Sampsonia Way feature large scale murals that we call “House Publications.” Each was conceived by a resident writer or other artists connected to City of Asylum. Taken together, they turn Sampsonia Way into a bookshelf, where you can read each house and it’s story.
Click on the images below to learn more about each House Publication:
Alphabet Reading Garden
City of Asylum maintains a reading garden, located a short walk from Sampsonia Way where our resident writers live. Stop by to enjoy a quiet moment surrounded by plants, flowers, and our Northside neighborhood. Learn more…
River of Words
Experience River of Words, a community-wide art installation involving the participation of over 40 residents of the Northside. Created by Venezuelan artists Carolina Arnal and Gisela Romero, River of Words features individual words in English and Spanish placed on the fronts of houses throughout the neighborhood. The words used in the River of Words were provided by Venezuelan author Israel Centeno, a former City of Asylum writer in residence. Learn more…
Alphabet City
Alphabet City is our permanent home for programs. Opened in late 2016 in a former Masonic Lodge building on North Avenue, Alphabet City creates a space for readers, writers, and neighbors that includes a stage for readings and performances, as well as a restaurant and a bookstore. The facility and its programs are intended to be a unifying agent in the community, bridging the full array of economic, cultural, and racial diversity. Learn more…
