Joy Riding is a multimedia experience that highlights the joyous nature of Black car culture in conversation with the iconic aesthetics of the mid-century modern architecture of Columbus. The project transforms the Jackson Street Parking Garage into a destination for music, entertainment, and civic joy.

The installation consists of sculptural frames affixed to the building’s façade, reimagining the garage as a contemporary monument to the subwoofers typically found in the trunk of a classic mid-western car, as well as a bespoke, Transformer-like sound system mimicking the proportions and materials of mid-century modern furniture. When in its fully transformed state, it evokes the deep basslines central to Black car culture, underscoring how sound, ritual, and assembly have long served as catalysts for celebration. Crowning the structure, a vibrant mural collapses Columbus’s iconic architecture and the standard parking stall to offer space for rituals forged by collective imagination.

Over its duration, Joy Riding aims to remind visitors of the fun they had riding in the car with friends, listening to their favorite album, and finding joy in the simple pleasures of sitting in the parking lot.