Times Square-42 St
The Commuters Lament or a Close Shave, 1991
Porcelain Enamel
By Normal B Colp
These panels were commissioned in the format of old Burma Shave ads and other advertisements occurring on a series of billboards that I have seen mainly along highways out west. The panels asking these questions adorn the top of panel beams in the tunnel from 8th to 7th Avenue beneath 41 Street, and end with a black and white photograph of what are supposed to be bed sheets. For a while this final panel that summed up the work and a plaque acknowledging the art were missing but have now been restored. It was originally supposed to be temporary under the Creative Stations (a discontinued program whose remains can be found in other stations) but was kept.
New York Times articles on the installation:
Barbara Stewart, "Neighbrohood Report: Midtown; Lament Of Commuter In 8 Parts," 10/12/1997, Link.
Ed Boland Jr, "Security Patrols," 11/25/2007,Link
