Founded in 2006 the Studio for Urban Projects is an artist collaborative that perceives art as a means of advancing civic engagement and furthering public dialogue. Our interdisciplinary and research-based projects aim to provoke change by re-framing our perceptions of the city and physically transforming elements of the built environment. The Studio's core members; including Alison Sant, Richard Johnson, Kirstin Bach and Daya Karam blend backgrounds in new media, film, design, architecture and curatorial practice. We also work collaboratively with individuals and institutions in the presentation of projects, public programs, and publications.Engaging the broad themes of ecology and urbanism, our projects have taken the form of audio tours, interactive websites, exhibitions, and architectural environments. Through these projects we reflect upon the cultural dynamics that shape our urban landscapes.In the spirit of Gordon Matta Clark's Food, we opened a storefront in the Mission District of San Francisco in 2008. Rethinking the traditional artist studio, we designed a storefront space that readily converts from a private work space to a public venue for the staging of workshops, talks, film screenings and meals that foster civic dialog.