repeated posts 04 Oct 2009 08:04 am
Recap – Sunday Subway Art
Back in August, 2007 I offered this post of the subway art at the Prince Street station on the BMT. It’s still there and still just as interesting. So here’s a reminder.
- As I stepped into the BMT subway station at Prince and Broadway, I was taken by the tile work that had been introduced to this station since I’d last entered it.
In the old days, the elaborate tiles would decoratively detail the name of the station. As a matter of fact, it’s quite extraordinary that there’s such beautiful work throughout the subway system, and even more extraordinary that they still keep it up.
Anyway, throughout this station, the tiles depicted silhouettes of different riders and working personnel. Everything from the student to the station cleaners. I did a little bit of research and found that Janet Zweig, who designed it, says that the frieze, “…celebrates the significance and individuality of the citizens of New York. … It depicts 194 silhouetted people … taken from photographs of New Yorkers in all their variety… arranged as a 1200 foot narrative that contains smaller dramatic narratives within it.” The artwork was installed in 2004. I guess it’s been a while since I’ve been in this station.
While waiting for the N train to arrive, I had to snap some stills.
The brushes this guy carries either makes him a chimney sweep
or a subway cleaner.
Here’s a student off to school. He looks like he’s out of the 1920′s.
This guy’s either going to clean the station or
about to mug this woman searching for her wallet.
Oh, wait. Is that the same guy about to empty the trash can?
The other two 1920′s Yuppies are trying to keep their distance.
Here’s a closeup. They look exhausted and as though they’re arguing.
A closeup of the guy with the trash.
Here are two more shoppers. Looks like they bought a rug.
My train comes into the station, and I can’t photograph them all.
From the window of the train I shot some more of these silhouette people.
Eventually I’ll come back to see who else is there.
