Tally Beck Contemporary will present Istanbul Sidewalk, an official project of the New Museum’s IDEAS CITY. Conceived and implanted by the Turkish architecture and design firm iyiofis, the project will transform the gallery front into an Istanbul sidewalk social scene, replete with backgammon games and a hot tea.

IDEAS CITY explores the future of cities around the globe with the belief that arts and culture are essential to the vitality of urban centers, making them better places to live, work, and play. Founded by the New Museum in 2011, IDEAS CITY is a major collaborative initiative between hundreds of arts, education, and community organizations. This year’s theme is Untapped Capital, with participants focused on resources that are under-recognized or underutilized in our cities. Istanbul Sidewalk will demonstrate the use of urban space and recycled materials that create a context for social interaction and community building in a distinctively Turkish style.

IDEAS CITY will run from May 1 to 4, and Tally Beck Contemporary will be staging special events to highlight the Istanbul Sidewalk project. There will be an opening reception Wednesday, May 1, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The following Friday, May 3, the gallery will host its monthly LGBT party in the space from 6:00 to 9:00 pm with the project as the backdrop.

Image: Street scene in Istanbul, Courtesy of iyiofis, 2013