Community voices inform waterfront Public landmark in Queens
Revolving Voices by The Urban Conga and local poet Tamra Cosby is a permanent public artwork and gathering space at Astoria Houses, a New York City public housing development in Queens. Located beside the Astoria waterfront and ferry dock, the installation brings community stories, memories, poetry, and imagery into a sculptural and interactive structure.
The project was developed through community engagement sessions with Cosby as part of From Roots to Arts: Celebrating NYCHA’s Cultural Heritage, an artist-in-residence program created by the Public Housing Community Fund and NYCHA. Residents shared memories, experiences, and ideas that informed both the physical design and the imagery and text embedded in the installation.
Revolving Voices features four rotating octagonal structures | all images ©Urban Conga
Rotating megaphone forms compose a changing public space
Taking the form of a megaphone, Revolving Voices by studio Urban Conga and poet Tamra Cosby consists of four large-scale octagonal structures arranged along the curve of a performance space and gradually decreasing in size. Their perforated metal exteriors depict people, activities, and stories from the Astoria Houses community, while the interiors feature etched messages, memories, and poetry by Cosby and other residents.
Each component can be manually rotated, changing the installation’s orientation and the views it frames. The structures can face outward toward the waterfront or turn inward toward Astoria Houses, creating different relationships between the artwork, its surroundings, and the community. The rotating forms also allow the installation to function as a set of portals, seating areas, and gathering spaces.
Revolving Voices serves not just as a visual work but as a functional gathering space for residents
Playable public artwork for everyday use and community events
Designed for both everyday use and community events, Revolving Voices supports sitting, climbing, exploring, performance, poetry, music, conversation, and reflection. By combining interactive structures with community-generated imagery and writing, the project turns a waterfront public space into a setting for gathering and storytelling.
inspired by the form of a megaphone, the octagonal structures metaphorically amplify and project the voices of the Astoria Houses community
‘By centering the voices, memories, and continued participation of residents, the work creates a place that feels rooted in the community and invites people to gather, engage, and connect,’ shares Ryan Swanson, Principal of Urban Conga.‘This piece reflects the idea that our voices may change over time, but they remain connected,’ adds artist Tamra Cosby.
the exterior perforated imagery celebrates the people, talents, and stories that make up the Astoria Houses community
‘The Connected Communities program places residents at the heart of the design process, ensuring that the art in our developments directly reflects the people who live there,’ says NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. ‘Revolving Voices reflects the stories and lived experiences of residents living at Astoria Houses, and tells the history of the community in a fun, interactive way,’ comments Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Public Housing Community Fund.
