Ruddy Was Here

The NYC Subway Art Series has been such an amazing success! This was a fun project to start as I settled back into New York. It was my way to get to know my city better and in the process I feel I was able to capture something new and fresh.

The final and playful piece of art I will contribute to the subway art series is this little critter from “City Dwellers” by Mark Hadjipateras at the 28th Street R train station.

This adorable mouse was inspired by a very important toy factory that used to be inside of the flatiron building. In fact, there are toys all over the station. The artist also used different influences from the neighborhood, like the garment and flower districts, to create a New York tribute for commuters. I was impressed by how many different toys are lingering in the station and some seem to be in the most random places. There’s even one right when you’re about to exit the station, by the stairs.

I hope this series made you want to do your own art crawl, but for now you can use mine. Below is the list of all the art I visited as well as the links from all of the NYC Subway Art Series posts.

1. Life Underground by Tom Otterness (14th Street -A,C,E train station)
2. Life Underground II by Tom Otterness (14th Street - A, C, E train station)
3. Life Underground III by Tom Otterness (14th Street - A, C, E train station)
4. Dekalb Improvisation by Stephen Johnson (Dekalb - R, B, Q train station)
5. Dekalb Improvisation II by Stephen Johnson (Dekalb - R, B, Q train station)
6. Masstransiscope by Bill Brand (Take Manhattan bound train at Dekalb R, B, Q station)
7. Memories of twenty-third Street by Keith Godard (23rd Street - R train station)
8. Memories of twenty-third Street II by Keith Godard (23rd Street - R train station)
9. Memories of twenty-third Street III by Keith Godard (23rd Street - R train station)
10. Times Square Times: 35 Times by Toby Buonagurio (42nd Street Times Square train station)
11. Times Square Times: 35 Times II by Toby Buonagurio (42nd Street Times Square train station)
12. The Way Out by Liliana Porter (50th Street - 1 Train station)
13. The Way Out II by Liliana Porter (50th Street - 1 Train station)
14. The Way Out III by Liliana Porter (50th Street - 1 Train station)
15. City Dwellers by Mark Hadjipateras (28th Street - R train station)

Pass it on to your friends and email me if you are interested in taking part in the NYC Subway Art Crawl I will be leading on Saturday March 31, 2012. It will be free and I will showcase all of the art that I’ve discussed in this series. Ruddywashere@gmail.com

Photography by Ruddy Harootian