Storied Places

Introduction

In this project, we are required to investigate 2 places, take some photos of these sites, and sketch these sites, do some historical researches online or in library, and finally present the information we received in the form of collage.

Step 1 On-Site Research

I selected union square and K town as my sites.

Site 1 K town

Site 2 Union Square

Step 2 Select a site

I chose Union Square as my site because it has a longer history and more stories behind. I can explore more about the history of Union Square and connect it with the current situation.

Union Square is an actual space but K town is an area. It’s vaguer and harder to depict K town. Union Square originally has a beautiful site and nice symmetrical overlook, which is prone to integrate it in my collage.

I live very close to Union Square and I pass by Union Square almost everyday. I know more about the tempo, the normal state, and the events on Union Square. I am familiar with this place so I can show my perspective and understanding about this place to the viewers. It would be more convenient for me to do further investigation on Union Square due to its location.

Historical Research on Union Square

Union Square has existed for almost 180 years. Initially, the location was home to a potter’s field and a graveyard of unidentified bodies (Goicochea). It was authorized as a public space in 1831 and opened to the public in 1840 (Goicochea). It has been a historical place sine then. People celebrated the completion of the Croton Aqueduct here in 1842 (Goicochea).  President Andrew Jackson’s and Abraham Lincoln’s funeral procession both passed here. People held the first Labor Day parade here, in 1882 (Goicochea).

Statue of George Washington

In 1951, a committee of citizens considered erecting a monument to commemorate the first president of America (NYC Parks). They invited the sculptor Horatio Greenough to design the monument and approached the sculptor Henry Kirke Brown simultaneously to let them assist and compete with each other. Unfortunately, Greenough died in December 1952, so Brown was responsible for the whole thing. Brown chose to depict the moment of Evacuation Day, when Washington reclaimed New York City from the British. Brown’s work was described as a “simple and direct naturalism.” This statue has significance in the history of New York and United States; it shows the independence of United States. Due to his perfection in making the statue of Washington, Brown was later invited to sculpt the statue of Abraham Lincoln for Union Square Park.

Street Chess

A community of chess players started to congregate in Washington Square in the 1950s, but the chess place shifted from Washington Square to Union Square in recent years (The Villager). According to former Washington Square players, the traffic at Union Square and the Whole Foods bring lots of people to Union Square, so the players can make more money at Union Square (The Villager). Also, they think the energy here is more positive and diverse here due to the performance artists. Less drugs and stuff makes Union Square a purer and more enjoyable place for them (Chess Moves).

Greenmarket

In 1976 just a few farmers started their business at union square. Now it has become an essential part in city dwellers’ lives. At first, farmers found it in order to provide opportunities for small family farms and provide city dwellers with fresh fruits and vegetables. Now it has a developed system of organization that provides a variety of foods, plants, flowers, and events.(Grow NYC)

Bibliography

Goicochea, Julia. “A Brief History of Union Square, New York City.” Culture Trip, 21 Dec. 2017, theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-york/articles/a-brief-history-of-union-square-new-york-city/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2018.

Grow NYC, “Union Square Greenmarket Monday.” Union Square Greenmarket Monday | GrowNYC, www.grownyc.org/greenmarket/manhattan-union-square-m. Accessed 24 Oct. 2018.

Margino, Megan. “Evacuation Day: New York’s Former November Holiday.” The New York Public Library, The New York Public Library, 2 Feb. 2015, www.nypl.org/blog/2014/11/24/evacuation-day-new-york-holiday. Accessed 24 Oct. 2018.

NYC Government Parks Organization“Union Square Park.” Union Square Park Monuments – George Washington : NYC Parks, www.nycgovparks.org/parks/union-square-park/monuments/1676. Accessed 24 Oct. 2018.

The Villagers, “Chess Moves: Most Players Are Now at Union Square.” Serving West and East Village, Chelsea, SoHo, Hudson Square, NoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown and the Lower East Side, 8 Aug. 2013, thevillager.com/2013/08/08/chess-moves-most-players-are-now-at-union-square/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2018.

Waldman, Benjamin. “The Many Faces of Union Square Park.” Untapped Cities, 24 May 2017, untappedcities.com/2011/04/07/the-many-faces-of-union-square-park/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2018.

Wikipedia, “Union Square, Manhattan.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Aug. 2018, . Accessed 24 Oct. 2018.