The Cooper Union

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, more commonly known as simply Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. It is located at Cooper Square and Astor Place. It was founded in 1859 by Peter Cooper, industrialist and philanthropist. It offers a world-class education in art, architecture, engineering, humanities and social sciences.

Cooper Union has always been a unique learning institution. Peter Cooper made his school free for the working classes. Its mission is based on Cooper's fundamental belief that the best education should be accessible to those who qualify, independent of their race, religion, sex, wealth or social status, and should be "open and free to all". The Cooper Union grants each admitted student a full-tuition scholarship; however, as of 2013, due to financial problems, that policy was being reconsidered.

Cooper Union is one of the most selective colleges in the United States, with an acceptance rate generally below 10%, with both the art and architecture schools' acceptance rates often below 5%. Cooper Union has been named by Newsweek Magazine as the "#1 Most Desirable Small School" and "#7 Most Desirable School" overall.

Animus Arts Collective's "Flaming Cactus" Thrives Around Cooper Square

Flaming Cactus is a public art installation around Cooper Square presented by the Animus Arts Collective in collaboration with the Department of Transportation's Summer Streets and the Figment Project. The installation used 32,000 fluorescent-colored zip ties, which are usually used for bundling cables. The zip ties are fastened around lamp posts and sign poles around Cooper Square. Cooper Square is one of the most vital crossroads in lower Manhattan and one of the most confusing. It is formed by the Bowery, Astor Place, Fourth Avenue and East Eighth Street heading toward one another from different directions. The installation displays a cactuslike character to the lampposts from some close-up views, although they also look like giant colored test tube brushes. Utilizing mundane objects, the art installation creates a vibrant, engaging visual link that helps beautify and "unify" Cooper Square. 

“We as artists wanted to create something of beauty out of everyday items. We wanted to show that making art doesn’t require a lot of resources, formal education or even money. Art and creativity are things we’re all capable of.” - Animus Arts Collective

“Flaming Cactus” will remain in place at Cooper Square through June 2012.