Curating Public Narrative #3

By: Kwang Min Ko

Subway Station: 59^th – COLUMBUS CIRCLE

“Whirls and Twirls”, Sol Lewitt (2007)

The colorful glass pieces displayed in subway stands out from the plain white color subway station walls. It catches people’s eye because the bright colors of wall brighten up the dark subway. However because the color is too bright, it seems to fail to blend in with subway environment.

“Hello Columbus”, NYC Artists & public school Students (1992)

            
The artwork is to commemorates the 500th anniversary of Columbus voyage to the “New World”, the collection of the 74 3’ x 3’ aluminum panels created by various artists and students from all grade levels. The collection of art creates subway environment in to museum environment.

Subway Station: FIFTH AVENUE/59^th ST

“Urban Oasis”, Ann Schaumburger (1997)

The title explains the art pieces itself, the collection of cute glass mosaic animal murals create an image of an oasis in dark gloomy subway station. The animals include butterflies, horses, birds, chimpanzees, polar bear mosaics, etc. Most of the animals are moving through their group like one family, the collection of artwork sooth the harsh, and chaotic city subway environment.

Subway Station: 81^ST. – MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

“For Want of a Nail” (1999)

The subway station reminds of zoo; the animal from past and present harmonized and well blended on subway wall. Each art pieces uses variety colors of glass and ceramic mosaic to create vivid color to each art pieces. The color plays a big role in each work, the extinct animals are made in grey color mosaics and present animals are made in their living animals (As shown in the picture). The artwork are displayed through out the subway, the animals are displayed upper level of the subway and the earth’s core artwork is displayed on staircase that guides to the lower level.

Subway Station: 110^th  - CATHEDRAL PARKWAY

“Migrations”, Christopher Wynter (1999)

“Overall, the panels represent the ideas of uprooting, migration, and progress in symbolic from,” says artist Christopher Wynter. The installed art pieces all include mosaic wheels representing travelling to different places. There are artist himself and background mosaics in the art pieces symbolizing, his experience and feelings when he migrate to NYC. The concept of migration has well blended with idea of subway “migrates”, to new locations.