In New York City, underground art is a literal phenomenon. Nearly 200 permanent works line the walls and floors of the city's subways, commissioned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Arts for Transit program.
But what's a harried commuter to do when there's art all around and no time to see it? A new film from directors Tim Sessler and Brandon Block provides a quick fix. Taking the help of Manhattan-based guide Ruddy Harootian, Sessler and Block filmed some of the city's best subway art, including murals only visible when riding a train. The rapid-fire film, set to "Germany to Germany" by Ratatat, shows commuters rushing past works that in a museum setting, they'd stop to wonder at.
We've posted "The Art Underground" below. For a slower tour, check out the slideshow below that, featuring most of the work shown in the video. A full list, provided by Harootion, identifies each featured artist and work by timestamp.
CLICK for the artists and work in "The Art Underground":
NYC's Subway Artists
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00:15 - Empress Voyage 2.22.1794, 1998 by Bing Lee (Canal Street station. R, N, Q, 6 train)
00:35 - Memories of twenty-third Street, 2002 by Keith Goddard (23rd St. Station, R train)
00:42 - The Revelers, 2008 by Jane Dickson (Times Square Station)
00:50 - Losing my Marbles, 2003 by Lisa Dinhofer (42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal, A-C-E train)
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00:54 - New York in Transit, 2001 by Jacob Lawrence (Times Square Station)
00:56 - The Return of Spring/The Onset of Winter, 2001/2005 by Jack Beal (Times Square Station)
00:59 - Life Underground, 2001 by Tom Otterness (14th St. Station. A-C-E train)
01:00 - Times Square Times: 35 Times, 2005 by Toby Buonagurio (Times Square Station) *also appears briefly at the 00:39 mark.
01:01 - Life Underground, 2001 by Tom Otterness (14th St. Station. A-C-E train)
01:11 - Times Square Times: 35 Times, 2005 by Toby Buonagurio (Times Square Station)
01:13 - Life Underground, 2001 by Tom Otterness (14th St. Station. A-C-E train)
01:17 - Life Underground, 2001 by Tom Otterness (14th St. Station. A-C-E train)
01:18 - Times Square Mural, 2002 (Collage 1990, fabricated 1994) by Roy Lichtenstein (Times Square Station)
01:18 - That's me taking a Polaroid!
01:23 - Times Square Times: 35 Times, 2005 by Toby Buonagurio (Times Square Station)
01:27 - Masstransiscope, 1980 installation (Restored 2008) by Bill Brand
Have a favorite piece of underground art not featured here? Let us know in the comments!
For more on Harootian's subway art tours, head to his site or Twitter feed.
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