The Astor Place lampposts have traditionally been the “canvas” for the tile and glass bead creations of Jim Power, the “Mosaic Man.” But an art group now also has designs on the high-profile poles, literally. For the Department of Transportation’s August “Summer Streets” program, Animus Art Collective is decorating about 15 lampposts around Astor Place in a work dubbed “Flaming Cactus.” The posts are wrapped in colorful cable ties, whose linked ends protrude like cactus needles. Animus co-founder Preston Dane said, “Our hope is to show that adding art to a community or space doesn’t require a lot of resources, formal education or even money.” “Summer Streets,” now in its fourth year, will close Park Ave. and connecting streets — including Lafayette St. and Fourth Ave. — between Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park on three Saturdays (Aug. 6, 13 and 20) for cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy. Power has no animus against Animus’s pole project. “I’m going to give them a map of my poles,” he said. “I’m glad they’re doing it. Wherever they put ’em, it’s another plus.”
