I came across this wonderful illustration that was commissioned by the MTA. by Sophie Blackall, a Brooklyn based artist. It reminded me so much of the conversations I often have about the difference between life in New York and Los Angeles. In NY, if you’re a daily subway commuter, like many of us are/ were, New York’s kaleidoscopic diversity intersects with your day all the time. On the street, on the subway… you don’t go look for art, culture, design. The subway musicians, street art, window displays, are all a part of your daily commute, your walk to the corner to pick up lunch and more. In LA on the other hand, I always feel like I have to get into my car and go look for inspiration!
(Illustration, courtesy Sophie’s blog. Click on the illustration to go to the link and see the illustration in a larger size to experience its rich details)
The poster is also on sale on the MTA website:http://www.mta.info/mta/aft/posters/artcards.html?itemnum=30390
Sophie’s blog, called Missed Connections is also worth a look. Her write up describing the blog, makes me oh-so nostalgic for the subway and its anonymity again!
‘Messages in bottles, smoke signals, letters written in the sand; the modern equivalents are the funny, sad, beautiful, hopeful, hopeless, poetic posts on Missed Connections websites. Every day hundreds of strangers reach out to other strangers on the strength of a glance, a smile or a blue hat. Their messages have the lifespan of a butterfly. I’m trying to pin a few of them down.’
