This document provides 30 examples of visual elements in streets that increase pedestrian motivation and engagement by feeding people's psyche. It describes various murals, sculptures, architectural details, and other art installations located in streets and public spaces in numerous cities that bring visual interest and vitality. The purpose is to showcase ways that streets can be enlivened and made more engaging through creative additions that stimulate the mind and spark joy and intrigue in pedestrians.

1. FEEDYOUR BRAIN
30 examples at street level

2. Some streets are impossible to walk…

3. …others are just plain boring.

4. Yet others offer visual vitality…

5. …that feed our psyche…

6. …and increase our motivation to walk.

7. EXAMPLES:
visual vitality

8. Take a seat!1
Campus Martius, Detroit Robson St., Vancouver
outside Whitney Museum, Cardboard Beach,
New York Toronto

9. “Nepenthes”
Dan Corson
Portland, Oregon
2 Solar-powered landmarks
photo: Dan Corson website

10. “Urban Hydrology” (carved granite)
Fernanda D'Agostino
6th Street Transit Mall, Portland, Oregon
Diatoms on the swales3

11. Busker wildlife4
none
BUSKER
BAROMETER
ordinary
unique
characters
The Violin Monster
Zachary Storey
Ann Arbor, Michigan

12. Mural by Uber5000
Kensington Market
Toronto, Ontario
Crazy-happy laneway murals5

13. “Inside/Out” temporary display
from Detroit Institute of Arts on
Liberty St., Ann Arbor, Michigan
Boundary-free art museums6

14. Aspirational statements
“Keep Portland Weird”
Dante’s
Portland, Oregon
7

15. “Woodpecker Column”
Fastwurms
Toronto Convention Centre
Supersized wildlife8
“The Birds” (18’ sparrow)
Myfanwy MacLeod
Vancouver, British Columbia

16. “PAUSE”
Exploratorium with Gehl Architects
Market Street, San Francisco, CA
9 Experiments in interactivity

17. Portland, Oregon and
Detroit, Michigan10 Small business personalities

18. Milonga Al Fresco
Michigan Argentine Tango Club
Regent’s Plaza
Ann Arbor, Michigan
11

19. 12
Heidelberg Project
Tyree Guyton & Friends
Detroit, Michigan
Signature streets

20. Links to the past
Plaza walkway on former industrial lands
Olympic Village Site
Vancouver, British Columbia
13

21. Temporary installations
“Balloon Forest”
100in1day
Toronto, Ontario
14

22. Supersized plant life
“Sonic Bloom”
Dan Corson
Seattle, Washington
15
“The Silicon Forest”
Brian Borello
Portland, Oregon

23. Socio-economic reflection16
Heidelberg Project
Tyree Guyton
Detroit , Michigan

24. Art from memories and detritus17
Heidelberg Project
Tyree Guyton
Detroit , Michigan

25. artist: Moses Kofi
Kensington Market
Toronto, Ontario
Assembly-line escapees18

26. Below grade parking
Pearl District
Portland, Oregon
Ventilation with vitality19

27. 20 Irresistible interactive sculpture
“Endover”
Tony Rosenthal
Ann Arbor, Michigan

28. Designed by students of
B. F. Day School
Fremont, Seattle, Washington
Pavement patterns21

29. Sea Life Skate Stops
Rincon Park, Embarcadero
San Francisco, California
Functional artistry22

30. "Uniform Measure/Stack“
Stephen Cruise
Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
District art23

31. Bus Stop Seating
Woodward Avenue, DDOT
Detroit, Michigan
Gestures of civic kindness24

32. Croft Lane
Toronto, OntarioGarage door commentary25

33. Faces in the ‘hood26
Heidelberg Project
Tyree Guyton
Detroit , Michigan

34. “Man in the City” Project
John Sauve
Detroit, Michigan
Reasons to look up27
blue bear of
La Brea Avenue
West Hollywood, CA

35. Mirvish Village
Markham Street
Toronto, Ontario
One of a kind streets28

36. Astute architectural color29
Dan Tel Aviv Hotel
Yaacov Agam
Tel Aviv, Israel

37. Detroit, Michigan and
Toronto, OntarioPresence of youth30

38. Is your walk mean…or motivating?

39. Nature is essential, but cities need art and artistry.

40. Could your street use more visual vitality…

41. to feed hungry brains?

42. Sharon VanderKaay
@svkaay
vanderpalette.com