Sequence Art in New York City

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I think New Yorkers are a fan of sequences. Maybe it’s because our lives are so mobile–we’re always on our way somewhere. These are two sequences that I love in New York. The first is the poem in the tunnel between the Port Authority and Times Square, transferring from the A/C/E to the 1/2/3/7 trains. It reads:

“Overslept,
So tired.
If late,
Get fired.
Why bother?
Why the pain?
Just go home.
Do it again.”

This work was by artist Norman B. Colp and commissioned by the MTA in 1997 at a cost of $5000. The artist wrote to nycsubway.org in 2006, “The work is incomplete, for the last panel (a 24″x36″ B/W image of a slept-in bed) was removed for the station renovation last year. I do not have any info from Arts for Transit when it will be reinstalled. Also missing are wall labels at the beginning and end of the sequence which identifies the work as THE COMMUTER’S LAMENT or A CLOSE SHAVE. The second part of the title also refers to Burma Shave, a men’s product (1930’s to 60’s approx) which was well known for series of signs, like my homage.” Colp passed away in 2007.

This tunnel (like the one between the S and the 4/5/6 in Grand Central) is usually peppered with extreme evangelical Christians. Today, there was a guy bemoaning of the evilness of Satan but he really did it with pizzazz: “I like your style,” he told a girl. She took the card he was handing out and said “You’re still creepy though.” A typical New York moment. And then I got to the 7 train and saw this poster. Europeans think our obsession with religion is weird–it’s probably partially because of what they come across in this highly trafficked transit station!

Another beloved sequence of mine is the “Library Walk” on 41st street between Madison and Park Avenue (near Bryant Park). It’s by sculptor Gregg Lefevre and is an ode to the great writers from antiquity to present. Many of the plaques appear more than once for some unknown reason. My favorite one is the one by Gertrude Stein that is backwards, with “this is not gibberish” in the top left hand corner. “The knowledge of different literatures frees one from the tyranny of the few,” reads another. It is also remarkable that many of the plaques break the fourth wall, extending onto the sidewalk.