wigwam2

Wigwam pop-up shop at the original Better Block in April 2010

Jason Roberts and Andrew Howard have taken the Better Block around the world since the original on Tyler Street four years ago.

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Now the Better Block returns to its roots for Roberts’ 40th birthday celebration, from noon-10 p.m. Sunday, April 27.

The event will include a demonstration of a public plaza on Kings Highway between Davis and Tyler. They plan to bring Oto Hudek’s giant megaphone sculpture, “Instrument for Listening,” which is now in Belo Garden, to be placed in the center of that temporary plaza.

Kayli House Cusick of Oil and Cotton says the event will focus on contemporary art. She and Oil and Cotton partner Shannon Driscoll are working with several curators to bring a variety of exhibits to vacant storefronts on Tyler and Davis.

There also are plans for pop-up shops and restaurants, performances and activities for children, including a kiddical mass gathering. If they find enough money and time, Roberts says they would like to demonstrate two-way traffic on Tyler.

The owners of Oil and Cotton say the intersection of Tyler and Seventh is dangerous. They see traffic accidents there frequently, and it’s troubling because they offer classes for children every day.

“Our number one goal is to make this intersection safe,” Cusick says.