Geoffrey from New York

About me I travel to discover how people elsewhere live, how they manage living with low incomes in expensive cities, how they grapple with hard times and failing economies, how they deal with ageing or crumbling families and how they themselves age and adapt. Knowing and loving New York comes from having lived through many of its manifestations while witnessing its changes....

Apr 16, 2025

Life Underground, Tom Otterness New York

Subway art 4

""Life Underground" by Tom Otterness in New York consists of nine dozen or so bronze sculptures sprinkled around the 14th Street/Eight Avenue stations..."

Nine dozen or so bronze sculptures sprinkled throughout this station, all of them aged by a vapour of detritus, have almost become what they depict. Sweeping up obsolete tokens, sleeping under steel I-beams, sneaking into the fare paid zone, these street urchins wreak no havoc other than their call for attention.

The bronze residents of the 14th Street/Eighth Avenue Subway station (A, C, E, L) represent the school of hard knocks and, despite their dough-boy cuteness, symbolize the struggles of workers within New York's capital generator.

Otterness has intentionally gassed the public with more obvious controversy. From Wikipedia: "His independent punk films featured real-life aggression and violence, most notoriously Dog Shot Film/Shot Dog Film, where he adopted a dog from an animal shelter in Golden, Colorado, chained it to a stake, and filmed his hand shooting it dead."

"The Dog Shot film … [is] about fucking someone... getting fucked by someone. That's what the fight films are about too. Running over someone; defeating someone; being defeated."

That film caused him the loss of commissions worth millions of dollars. There's not much economic trickle down for Otterness's take on capitalism.

I don't see the MTA's art installations as destination art for most people. It's stuff you might not even notice unless you let your curiosity about your surroundings prevail. But in New York, that's usually a good thing to do.

Art & culture

About this spot

14th Street Station

US$

no-price

Find your way with 301 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our New York guide.

Dunbar

Apr 16, 2025

Saiguette

Vietnamese counter/takeout

I first returned to the Vietnamese restaurant "Saiguette" in NYC for its light, rich, rejuvenating soups, but I also recommend the pork shoulder sandwich.

Restaurants

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Apr 16, 2025

Rucker Park

NBA caliber street basketball

"Rucker Park" in New York City is where big men and children come to play basketball, strut, defy, dominate make a name for themselves. You have to see it.

Art & culture

Relaxing

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Apr 16, 2025

Subway Portraits, Chuck Close

Subway art 1

I took the Q train in New York and reached the 86th Street station, where twelve Chuck Close mosaic mesmerizing portraits adorn the walls...

Art & culture

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Apr 16, 2025

Music Inn

Instruments, custom & stock

"Music Inn" in New York City is run by musician, instrument designer & inventor Jeff Slatnick. There are musical instruments just everywhere in the shop...