Ed Woodham's Art in Odd Places: A Community-Centric Approach to Public Art

Ed Woodham, a 69-year-old artist and educator from Atlanta, has made a significant impact on public art through his initiative, Art in Odd Places, which he co-founded during Atlanta's 1996 Summer Olympics. Since then, Woodham has dedicated his work to enhancing community engagement and addressing social issues through art.

Reviving Public Space After 9/11

In response to the restrictions on public space following the September 11 attacks, Woodham revitalized Art in Odd Places in New York as a means to advocate for civil liberties, particularly in light of the PATRIOT Act of 2001. The group has since organized annual street festivals that celebrate public art and encourage community participation.

These festivals, which began in the Lower East Side and have since moved to 14th Street in Manhattan, invite artists and the public to engage in creative expressions that challenge societal norms. For its 20th edition last year, the festival emphasized the theme of “doing nothing” as a form of activism.

Teaching Social Malpractice Art

In addition to leading Art in Odd Places, Woodham teaches a workshop titled “Social Malpractice Art” at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. This workshop focuses on creating art that critiques unchecked power and corporate influence in public spaces. Woodham encourages students to explore “secretly coded work” that challenges the status quo.

He reflects on the complexities of public art, writing, “Artists became cultural placeholders — helping rebrand a neighborhood while the conditions for removing the people who lived there were quietly assembled.” This sentiment underscores the paradoxical nature of social practice in art, raising questions about its effectiveness in enacting real change.

Woodham's Personal Journey

Woodham's artistic journey is deeply intertwined with his personal experiences. He came out in 1976 while attending Middle Georgia College. His relationship with his first boyfriend was an open secret, highlighting the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in conservative environments. Woodham humorously recalls his role as Thomas Jefferson in the musical 1776, stating, “I was a tall, skinny, nelly queen who could hit the high notes.”

Through his work and personal narrative, Woodham has become a prominent figure in advocating for the intersection of art and activism, embodying the spirit of a badass queer elder.