Home : Posts by Grant Cothran
POSTS BY Grant Cothran
Where Labyrinths Come From
By Grant Cothran
More often than not, the momentum for an idea comes from prolonged effort and enthusiasm that, like the labyrinth itself, prevails through twists and turns along the way.
Author Interview: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption
By Grant Cothran
“Collaborative Consumption describes the rapid explosion in traditional sharing, bartering, lending, trading, renting, gifting, and swapping redefined through technology and peer communities.” – Rachel Botsman
My Favorite Bike Ride in Norfolk: Scope Plaza
By Grant Cothran
Among downtown’s largest open spaces, Scope Plaza is perfect for bikes. And dogs.
Atlantis Found?
By Grant Cothran
Billionaire businessman Peter Siden plans to make a major economic announcement in Norfolk in July. In a statement today, the CEO of Siden Corporation promised “a world-changing broadcast” during an upcoming press release, slated for July 1 at Nauticus in Norfolk.
If You Read the Paper | Thurs July 1
By Grant Cothran
As 561 new laws go into effect, Virginia braces for its next Confederate History Month moment.
If You Read the Paper | Thurs June 24
By Grant Cothran
Wait – could the haters actually be wrong? Could this actually be a good and decent place to live? Some people seem to think so. I seem to think so.
If You Had Read The Paper | Thursday June 10
By Grant Cothran
Intellectually, avoiding BP gas is on par with eating inferior ketchup because the opposition presidential candidate’s wife has ties to the Heinz family.
If You Read The Paper | Thurs May 27
By Grant Cothran
The Navy’s new anti-American policy; Norfolk teachers go toe-to-toe with The Man; calling for a Vote of No Confidence on Michael Sera
If You Read The Paper | Thurs May 20
By Grant Cothran
We have to remember, Cooch is still a puppy. It’s important to watch him to make sure he’s not peeing the carpet again, but we also need to give our little Cooch lots of praise when he does something right.
If You Read The Paper | Thur May 13
By Grant Cothran
Add Wikipedia to your hurricane kit, in defense of Dollar Tree, and toilet paper fires.
Photobooth Fun at Art | Everywhere
By Grant Cothran
As I flick off the soft box and cut the lighting the photobooth’s interior, a young woman wanders over. “So how many girls flashed the camera tonight?”
If You Had Read the Paper | Thurs Apr 29
By Grant Cothran
HR’s “Average roads” a “high priority;” foodbank in need; cottage for sale – lots of character* (*old, bad location, heaps of red tape).
If You Had Read the Paper | Thurs Apr 22
By Grant Cothran
A full docket: Pirates v. Navy, Virginia v. Florida, Hitler v. DMV, Taste Buds v. Bowels.
If You Had Read The Paper | Thurs April 15
By Grant Cothran
Schools in trouble, lots of crabs, underage drinking.
If You Had Read the Paper | Thurs Apr 1
By Grant Cothran
Enterprise maintenance, census workers would make good drug dealers (or is it the other way around?), not a park in Town Center, and, well, something don’t smell so good.
If You Had Read the Paper | Thur Mar 18
By Grant Cothran
CHKD penalized for helping those most in need, Back Bay rebounds, unemployment jumps regionally.
If You Had Read The Paper | Thu March 4
By Grant Cothran
The Taco Bell mandala, why we should increase our pet licenses 1000%, less funding for schools and roads
If You Had Read the Paper | Thur, Feb 18
By Grant Cothran
Major state budget cuts, new numbers on light rail, offshore wind energy and a bit of whimsy.
If You Had Read The Paper | Feb 11, 2010
By Grant Cothran
TODAY IS Thursday, February 10, 2010. If you died today, here are the other stories that would get buried.
Aerial Shots of Snowy Hampton Roads
By Grant Cothran
Spectacular pictures taken from a plane landing in ORF.
Hampton Roads: Wake Up Already and Get on HSR
By Grant Cothran
Hampton Roads is the “other guy” an awful lot of the time. We lose entire interstate highways because we’re asleep a moment longer than other regions.
Downtown’s First Dog Park: Why not Scope Plaza?
By Grant Cothran
“Who says a park has to be green?” Grant Cothran proposes that his current favorite “dog park,” Scope Plaza, ought to be downtown’s official dog park.
Aiming High for Public Art
By Grant Cothran
An essay and photo essay considering what Hampton Roads should look to to better its public art programs.
How Your Lunch This Friday Will Shape History
By Grant Cothran
Hampton Roads has for decades been left out of the planning of high-speed rail–trains connecting us to New York, DC and Atlanta. This Friday the HRTPO will push an agenda that will affect your region and your tax dollars–with or without your endorsement.
Blowhole
By Grant Cothran
One of 30 massive pieces commissioned for the new Docklands development, “Blowhole” uses Melbourne’s prevailing winds to spin more than 50 colorful bars. I’m not recommending Hampton Roads even try to compete with a dense, arts-minded city of 3.9 million people. But the lesson remains the same: Dream big. << Previous
Potential
By Grant Cothran
This isn’t some foreign capital–it’s Roanoke, Virginia, a city half the size of Norfolk in a metro one-fifth as large as Hampton Roads. Yet, Roanoke has become a magnet for the arts because they made it a priority: they see the arts as an engine for growth. Lesson: You don’t have to be a big [...]
Titles Unknown
By Grant Cothran
The PriceWaterhouseCoopers lobby goes far beyond the typical “1% For The Arts” corporate donation. Perhaps it’s because PWC uses its lobby–two coffee shops and dozens of sitting areas–as an informal meeting space, and they understand the need for inspiring art and architecture. Lesson: The private sector can be a champion for the arts. << Previous [...]
Tree of Life
By Grant Cothran
One of most iconic images in Ahmedabad is from an open-air mosque along a major roadway. While Ahmedabad’s population is mostly Hindi, my guide described the mosque as a “heritage site” for everyone to appreciate. Lesson: Engage diverse groups as stakeholders in the arts process. << Previous | Next >>
City Walk Kiosk
By Grant Cothran
Lacking a walkable multi-use district, Canberra shut off a downtown street and commissioned local artists to adorn it with dozens of public art works–some permanent, some mobile. In a city famous for historically shutting down after dark, City Walk has given professionals and students reason to stay and play. Lesson: Give people reasons to linger. [...]
Lit Tree
By Grant Cothran
Instead of taking the lights down in January, Montreal keeps them shining until spring when the leaves return. This tree transforms a deserted street corner into a work of art–no RFP or big budget required. Lesson: A small project can make a big difference. << Previous | Next >>
Stencil
By Grant Cothran
I’m against tagging like everyone else, but when a kid takes the time to appreciate Iggy Pop and make a stencil about it, I think the line from graffiti to art has been crossed. There is a place for the Banksys of the world–and they’ll come to the table whether invited or not. Lesson: Art [...]
Devil’s Footstep
By Grant Cothran
This spot in a Munich cathedral commemorates where, as legend has it, the Devil (size 12) once stood to survey church construction. The attraction has driven new traffic into the church for countless years as believers and cynics alike compare footprints with Satan. Lesson: Start a legend people can touch and feel. << Previous | [...]
Golden Goose
By Grant Cothran
At a village plaza in northern Germany, a statue acts out the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the Golden Goose. While Winsen has no direct connection to the Brothers Grimm, it’s claimed this popular story as its own. Would the plaza have been so inviting to tourists with a German war memorial instead? Lesson: Don’t [...]
Steam Grate
By Grant Cothran
There might be some public safety reason these footprints were welded onto Calgary’s steam grates, but to me it just looks like a wink from the Public Works Department. The city has to cover the steam vents, and I imagine someone asked how much few extra welds would cost. Lesson: Treat every surface as a [...]







