Project Title: Air Bear by Joshua Allen Harris

Creation Year: 2008

Read This if You Are Into: Street art, environmental commentary, innovative use of urban spaces, or kinetic sculptures.

Design Significance: In 2008, artist Joshua Allen Harris introduced the Air Bear project, a series of inflatable sculptures crafted from plastic bags and strategically placed over subway grates in New York City. These installations remained inconspicuous when deflated, resembling discarded trash. However, as subway trains passed beneath, the rising air would animate the sculptures, bringing them to life in a captivating display. 

The most iconic of these creations was a polar bear, which would inflate and deflate with the movement of the trains, serving as a poignant commentary on environmental issues and the transient nature of urban life. Harris’s innovative use of everyday materials and his ability to transform overlooked urban elements into dynamic art pieces garnered significant attention, leading to collaborations with organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund. Notably, one of his public service announcements is now part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-a607j2dOo