Public Art

So this week we were talking about public art and how it can influence others to either create art or make a social change of their own. My friend Annie and I were talking one day and I told her that I had a photo project to do for class, but was unsure as to which direction to take it in. She had been noticing the brilliant art that was on all of the subways in NYC and we decided to make a photo project involving the art on the subways. We sat down and figured out which ones meant the most to us and how did they affect us.

Alice: The Way Out

This series we did was from Alice: The Way Out, by Liliana Porter (1994). This one was a big one for both of us because we both loved the story and also because I used to live at this subway stop. This stop is at Broadway and 50th street in Manhattan and I used it often. I can also imagine that this stop is used by a lot of families and the children who must walk by it I'm sure recognize the characters and are thrilled to have something comforting to look at while being in such a big scary place. (I know it was comforting to me when I first moved there and I was 18!!!) Also I really love the idea that Alice is back down in the rabbit hole (the subway) looking for the way out.

Artemis, Acrobats, Divas and Dancers

These were from the 66th street Lincoln Center stop. Artemis, Acrobats, Divas and Dancers, by Nancy Spero (2004) was another series where I had lived at one point in Manhattan. However when I lived there the art was still being put up. (It was completed while I lived there.) This stop also held a lot of meaning to use because we are both actors and Lincoln Center is a huge source of culture and the arts in the city. You have Opera, a Broadway Theatre, Jazz, Ballet, Juilliard and the Performing Arts Library all in one block basically. This is a huge deal for those who are pursuing theatre or performing in anyway. Annie and I have always dreamed of being on Broadway (and while my dreams have shifted a little bit to becoming a working TV actor...) and so coming to this station was a constant reminder that it is right around the corner. This art was constantly reminding us that the theatre is here and we are ready to be a part of it.

 Whirls and Twirls

These two are some of my favorite. They come from the artwork Whirls and Twirls, by Sol Lewitt (2007). By this point we were really excited about the project and coming up with ideas that could be used to help make a more cohesive art collection. This was one that we both knew of at the 59th street stop off the A,C,E line. It was one of those wall mosaics that was huge and you couldn't miss it, but also was so colorful that it always made me smile. This was a big deal when I was living in NYC because there were so many dark days that being able to smile was often a gift. Annie came up with the idea of using the construction paper to help add her to the wall. We had been finding costumes and props to use for the other pieces of art so why not this one? Because this wall made me smile so much I wanted to get a slightly goofy shot with her in the foreground and the wall in the background which is the first shot. But then as we moved closer I found that one level up there was this banister right next to the art and I wanted to have Annie go up there. This photo turned out to be my favorite of the whole day. After all we were just looking to explore and create some photo magic. But this photo to me captured how I felt in everyday NYC life. I was full of color and ready to give it to the world but trapped behind bars. The wall gave me hope that someday I could bring smiles and color to those around me.

Life Underground

These photos are from the Life Underground, by Tom Otterness (2000) series of sculptures. We found that we didn't want to be limited to just mosaics and wall art. Not that those weren't amazing in their own rights, but these sculptures really spoke to us. As it happened we learned on the day that we were shooting photos with sculptures dealing with union problems. This for me was a real joy to shoot since I am a huge fan of unions. I am a proud member of AEA (Actors Equity Association) and enjoy the benefits of not having to go to all day rehearsals without breaks, or fight for pay of any kind. Back when I was non-union I had to fight to get paid 25$ a week. Now I never got into being an actor for the money, but if I am doing a great job and hard work in a show then I deserve to be paid a livable wage. AEA helps negotiate the contracts which make it so that when I get hired for a show they have a minimum that they have to pay me. I can negotiate for more, but often I'm just happy to be getting paid what I am getting.

Memories of Twenty-Third Street

This series of photos were actually taken on another day, because when we were out shooting the other photos we couldn't find this piece of art. We had the hat and everything but we lost the art Memories of Twenty-Third Street, by Keith Godard (2002). When we finally looked it up and found it, it was too late to go back out and get the photos we wanted to. So we postponed it for another day. We actually were able to take the photos on the day before I moved away from NYC to LA. So this series has a sense of completion for me. We finished the task that we set out to do. That being said I would love to go back to NYC sometime and get my camera out and take photos with Annie at the other locations.

Art is often right in front of you, but when you are in a rush you don't often see it. One thing that the subway art did for me was make me smile and bring a little bit of life to the otherwise cold and empty subways of NYC. Don't get me wrong they were often full of people, but most people in NYC didn't take notice of each other and just went about their business. This artwork in my opinion helps bring a little bit of joy to those who have the time to stop and look around them.

Here is a link to the page with all the different subways and the art you can find right across the platform!