A Subway Movie

New York City is a very big place and if you want to see everything you must travel. Fortunately there are several options of transportation such as a taxi, subway, buses, and even bike. The reason I don't mention cars is because you are most likely to end up in gridlock. Personally I think the fastest way to travel is the subway. Personally I think that's the one place where you can really see the artistic feel of New York. I would like to share a personal experience I have had in the subway when I was younger.

As a kid, as well as growing up and even now as an adult, I use the subway. I use it to get everywhere. There is one tunnel on the subway that I could never get out of my head. I have seen it for years as a kid and then eventually didn't see it anymore. It's was a painting on a wall behind another wall with holes. As the train passes, the holes act as a sort of flip book, so the painting looks as if it is moving. It was quite fascinating as a child and I always begged my mother to see when we were on the train. I was disappointed when one day it wasn't there anymore. I was young so the idea of research hasn't dawned on me as of yet. Unfortunately as I got older I forgot about this piece of art. Gladly my awesome English class has this blog and I was able to be reminded of that art. I did the research finally.

That special piece of art that holds some kind of historic value linked to my past was called "Masstransiscope" by Bill Brand. It was painted in a abandoned subway station at Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn in 1980. (MTA) It disappeared when I kid because of the dirt and dust picked up by passing-by trains. The painting became visible again in 2008. (MTA) It's truly a fascinating painting, and if you want to see it yourself just go to Brooklyn. Get on the subway at the Dekalb Avenue station and take the north bound "Q" train on the express track. (MTA) It's a great sight in one of the dirtiest places in the city.

I applaud Bill Brand for this work. To me this represents beauty of urban society. He has more work available to see. Brand lives in New York City, and is a Professor of film preservation at Hampshire College, Mass. He is also a Professor at New York University. (Brand) You can go to some museums and film festivals to see his work. I do insist on seeing the "Masstransiscope" because is it two hundred-twenty eight panels that "turns the subway into a movie machine". (MTA) I love my city.

Work Cited

Brand, Jo, “Bill Brand- Biography”. BBOptics. NP. 2013. Web. 13 Feb

MTA- NYCT Permanent Art. “Masstransiscope” by Bill Brand, 1980 (restored 2008). MTA Arts for Transit. NP. Web. 13 Feb