Our assignment was to approach Irving Place & 16th street from 3 different positions for extended periods of time and document it. At first glance, the street was a bit dusty, not exciting, a hidden oasis for those seeking quiet from the city. So I decided to focus my attention to the limited action occurring and narrate what I saw. Action-packed images of people walking to work, purchasing coffee, and cars racing through the plaza are just a brief example of what is to come:
In order to make the block look more dynamic for for my first presentation, I wanted to play with the rhythm of the block, making it look more fast paced and transformative as the day progressed. My original contact sheets (below) were organized with a nod to things that expressed the most movement on the street (people and cars), not paying a lot of attention to intimate objects.
Over the next couple of weeks, we manipulated the format of these photos numerous times to express how we saw the block and how it could look different each time we manipulate it.
MY FAVORITE interpretation is where we had the option to add color and text, which, as an illustrator, I valued the most. Adding words, gives a direct hint to the meaning of the overall creation and I’d rather an educated guesses about my work that random assumptions. Artists draw inspiration from anywhere, after watching that 70s show for the first time, I immediately incorporated the pastel colors and cheesy “slogans” into my work. I felt like the word ‘hustle’ added a very dynamic element to my work that gave the piece a rhythm just by using the word.
I used to linear formats to finalize what photos I felt were the most dynamic and represented the diverse characters that I interacted with on the street.
My final creation was a comparison of the colors I saw in the city and the day to day images of people hustling to their occupations. The feedback I received was very informative and critical; I was reminded of the aesthetic aspects of pieces and not overthinking about the format. I was able to narrate my piece to compliment what I experienced on the street below:
Hustle. Hustle. Hustle. Closed mouths don’t get fed on this boulevard.
Irving plaza and 16th, that is.
Located right next to the illustrious union square park.
An area usually dominated by FUBU youth- for us by us.
Subjected to concerts of the new age, and protests of the liberal persuasion, the block stays hot.
Despite all of its charm and promise, at 10 am, the block is a scene for the young busy professionals and the middle aged,underpaid,city social workers.
Hustle, hustle, hustle. Hard closed mouths don’t get fed on this boulevard.
As the temperature rises, so does the speed.
Sneakers-heels- stroller.
Sneakers- heels-stroller.
Soft colors on a soft morning as the youth go about their “rise and grind” mentality.
Not so glamorous are the lives of the middle aged, not even paying attention to the youth taking pictures of them or of the youth talking oh so loudly about their new starting salary.
But determined to be the first in the coffee line and the first out of the door for the day. Who can blame them?
Without them there would be no flip side to this busy area.
If it was up to us, downtown would be party town 24/7 but not before 5, they say.
We have rules.
Unspoken rules that encourage all of the noise making to head to the left.
If you want to make a scene, go to the left.
Irving Plaza hosts the noise banging concerts on the weekend, when they aren’t subject to the workforce.
Excitement on the block rises like the heat, and is synonymous with the day of the week.
Tuesday isn’t merely as exciting as Friday but the block tries to give us something to capture.
