July 29, 2007 | Filed under: art, NYC, city mouse
There is a lot of terrific art in NYC’s subway system. Light installations, sculptures, musicians and mosaics. This is the only poem that I know of that is a permanent fixture.
Oddly, I titled this video “commuter’s lament” because that’s exactly what it is; turns out the name of the poem actually IS “The Commuter’s Lament”, by Norman B. Colp. It hangs in the 42nd Street/Port Authority station in the seemingly endless tunnel between 7th and 8th Avenues. I think most New Yorkers would agree that it is, without a doubt, the most depressing undergound walk in the entire city.
The music is courtesy of Podsafe Music Network and is titled “lightblueish_cry”. There is no artist information given, and no site link, which is also a little depressing.
3:37 pm
July 29, 2007
@ 8:55 pm
Oh God.
That’s too much to do to people.
I can’t think about the time I’ve spent commuting. It’s like thinking about sadness and gradual loss.
There are a couple of bits of graffiti on two of the main roads into London. One - on a bridge over the motorway - says, “GOOD MORNING, LEMMINGS!”. The other, in massive letters all the way along a wall, says “WHY DO I STILL DO THIS EVERYDAY?”
July 31, 2007
@ 9:13 am
I actually found it interesting. It’s much better than looking at 40+ miles of desert. Living in California guarantees you a commuter’s life. 3-4 hours everyday on the road getting to and from work. I’m lucky because I only spent 2 hours a day! I would love to live a couple of blocks from where I work.
August 3, 2007
@ 7:45 am
Burma Shave for today!
August 3, 2007
@ 9:35 am
Bev! Not too many people catch the Burma Shave reference, including myself! The ads themselves are before my time, but I remember a Ren & Stimpy cartoon that utilized the roadsign sight gag and ended it with “Boima Shave”. I never knew whet it meant until now!
There are a whole mess of the ads here; I think they’re a hoot!
August 5, 2007
@ 6:45 am
Interesting perspective as I believe most people look at the ground when they walk in public. Best subway message since Keith Haring did his drawings in the early 80’s.
August 7, 2007
@ 8:55 pm
Very interesting take on “Subway Life”… I don’t know if I would prefer that over my daily drive in Atlanta’s gridlock. Anyway, great post!
August 7, 2007
@ 11:42 pm
I remember the first time I saw all of that walking to the subway, after having a shitty day, and I kept thinking “is anyone else noticing these signs? is this like, god trying to communicate with me or something?”
August 9, 2007
@ 9:26 am
When I first saw this, I realized that it is one of the reason I love living in NYC. It’s not an uplifting message at all. Subway existentialism at its best.