Journal One
I am ambivalent about New York depending on the day. There are times when I am all about it, but then there are days where a tropical drink somewhere on the beach sounds more appealing. My first impression of New York was that I was going to have to work hard to stand out and be different. What I mean is it's vital to be friendly and form relationships, as well as work hard to be the best at what you are doing. I wasn't born into the New York way of living like some of our fellow classmates. I felt like an outsider for a while. I can understand how immigrants feel when moving here, especially if they do not speak English. It can be overwhelming, but with time can be a rewarding, lifelong experience. I felt that some people were ignorant, whereas others were naive. I have learned that in life it is significant to be have a balance of characteristics depending on the situation. I was naive at times, but life kicks you in the rear and you learn a certain "street smart". It's probably not the best idea to keep your doors unlocked or pull out your out a wallet overflowing with bills. The latter of the two never happens to me. I was excited to experience New York, one borough at a time. I lived in Whitestone, Queens for about five years and have recently relocated to Floral Park. I miss Whitestone due to the more urban feel, but am only a thirty minute train ride away from Penn Station. I love taking public transportation, partly because I like people watching. There are so many different types of people within a one block radious. In comparison to the town I lived in within Pennsylvania, a one block radious wouldn't cover much. Honestly, there were only about two people in my high school of Asian decent. Some would say I was sheltered, but my eyes are wide open and I have come a long way. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2010), there is a vast difference when it comes to race when comparing Monroe County in Pennsylvania to Queens, New York as evidenced below. I am very excited for this class and can't wait to take in a small taste of what New York is all about.
Quixotic Queens
When we met in Penn Station, I wasn't sure what to expect. Most of my classes that I've taken at Molloy have been with other nursing students. I knew I was going to meet people from different backgrounds, with different majors, and ages. I have taken the Long Island Railroad before, but for some reason this time I was nervous. I was anticipating the day ahead. How much walking will this class actually be? Will it rain or be too humid? What will I take away from the day? Honestly, I am amazed at how unique and “real” this class actually is. After meeting up with the rest of the class, we were told what to expect for the rest of the day and headed out of Penn Station.
We started out by walking to the New York Public Library located on Fifth Avenue. The pace wasn't too fast, so it was easy for me to feel comfortable about the walking that day would bring. As we approached the library, we were able to take a seat on the stairs near one of the two stone lions. Mayor Fiorello La Guardia named the lions Patience and Fortitude to depict the importance of the struggle that New Yorkers faced during the depression (B.G., p. 208). I have been to this library before to study for the NCLEX, a nursing exam that all graduates must take to become registered with the state. It brought back memories of a time when life was easier. I didn’t have five dollars in my pocket, but I wasn’t working full time either. I walked into the rose reading room, which was actually bustling with people. If I were homeless, I would definitely find respite within this establishment. The ceiling in the reading room was breathless. There are no words that could truly articulate the beauty and craftsmanship of the ceiling within that room. I sat down and wrote the best haiku I could, which is as follows:
People of New York
Co-existing in one place
No one looks the same
After we exited the building, we learned about three architectural styles which included neo-classical, art-deco, and neo-gothic. The professors pointed out several examples of the various types which included the Chrysler building (art deco style), the GE building and the Seagrum building, just to name a couple. According to PBS.org (2001), the Chrysler building was completed in 1930 when a race for the sky was taking place in Manhattan. Just as the bank was going to receive the title for world's tallest building, a small crew placed a needle-thin spire hidden in the building through the top of the crown to claim the deserving title, but four months later the Empire State building would receive the title (PBS.org, 2001). We then continued to the Roosevelt Island Tram, which runs along the 59th street bridge. I have crossed this bridge several times and never noticed this tram. In 1970, the island was supposed to be utilized as a community for people of varying backgrounds (B.G., p. 382). The professors told us that the original inhabitants were the Dutch, followed by the English. Furthermore, the Blackwell family took over the island and built a family house. There were also other buildings which included a smallpox hospital, the first nursing school, and a prison. The prison later moved to Ryker's Island. I thought the smallpox hospital was very interesting and the location was rather odd. We were also able to see an abandoned nursing school. At the edge of the island, we were able to see the Four Freedoms monument. The professors said that the four freedoms were expression, religion, want, and fear.
After that,it was time for a much deserved lunch. We traveled to Jackson Heights to eat at the Jackson diner. I have never heard of this place before, but coincidentally after eating here, I did see a Facebook status of another friend who was later doing the same. The food was great and not too spicy, which I was expecting. I was able to try goat for the first time, but I can't say that it was enjoyable or worth it. After eating, we traveled to Astoria. Astoria is still the largest place outside of Greece that contains the highest number of Greek people (B.G., p. 499). The professors pointed out Kaufman Studios. In 1971, after the U.S. army stopped making films regarding propaganda, the Astoria Motion Picture and Television Foundation was formed to restore the studios (B.G., p. 499). The professors told us that there are still productions being made in Astoria including "Nurse Jackie". I didn't realize that Astoria was like the East Coast Hollywood and found this rather interesting. I did wonder how Edie Falco was able to be a part of Nurse Jackie, as well as play a part on an off-Broadway show. The Museum of the Moving Image was rather interesting. It is the only museum in the country dedicated to art, history, technique and technology of the moving image in all its forms (http://www.movingimage.us, 2012).
Finally, we made our way to Long Island City. I have heard many things about the up and coming status of this area, but to see it with your own eyes is something totally different. We were able to view 5pointz, which I have never seen up close and personal. Honestly, I saw it on the train passing by, but never thought of it as art. After meeting an artist and seeing the passion and professionalism that they have regarding their work, I have gained respect for them. We were able to sign a petition to keep 5pointz, but in all actuality, I don't think it will mean much. We learned that this is the only place in the world where graffiti, which is art, is able to legally be applied. Furthermore, the artist told us that you can't just go and do your art wherever you want. If you are recognized as a skilled artist and a piece has been there for a while, a new piece will be made to cover up the old one. As a beginner, he was able to take part in a small piece which we were able to see. We walked to the edge of Long Island City and saw the high rise, luxury buildings along the water. It was truly beautiful and it was evident that this area is becoming affluent. After that, our day ended at Gantry Plaza State Park. This park is 12-acres with views of midtown Manhattan, including the Empire State Building and the United Nations. This was truly a great way to end the day.
We started out by walking to the New York Public Library located on Fifth Avenue. The pace wasn't too fast, so it was easy for me to feel comfortable about the walking that day would bring. As we approached the library, we were able to take a seat on the stairs near one of the two stone lions. Mayor Fiorello La Guardia named the lions Patience and Fortitude to depict the importance of the struggle that New Yorkers faced during the depression (B.G., p. 208). I have been to this library before to study for the NCLEX, a nursing exam that all graduates must take to become registered with the state. It brought back memories of a time when life was easier. I didn’t have five dollars in my pocket, but I wasn’t working full time either. I walked into the rose reading room, which was actually bustling with people. If I were homeless, I would definitely find respite within this establishment. The ceiling in the reading room was breathless. There are no words that could truly articulate the beauty and craftsmanship of the ceiling within that room. I sat down and wrote the best haiku I could, which is as follows:
People of New York
Co-existing in one place
No one looks the same
After we exited the building, we learned about three architectural styles which included neo-classical, art-deco, and neo-gothic. The professors pointed out several examples of the various types which included the Chrysler building (art deco style), the GE building and the Seagrum building, just to name a couple. According to PBS.org (2001), the Chrysler building was completed in 1930 when a race for the sky was taking place in Manhattan. Just as the bank was going to receive the title for world's tallest building, a small crew placed a needle-thin spire hidden in the building through the top of the crown to claim the deserving title, but four months later the Empire State building would receive the title (PBS.org, 2001). We then continued to the Roosevelt Island Tram, which runs along the 59th street bridge. I have crossed this bridge several times and never noticed this tram. In 1970, the island was supposed to be utilized as a community for people of varying backgrounds (B.G., p. 382). The professors told us that the original inhabitants were the Dutch, followed by the English. Furthermore, the Blackwell family took over the island and built a family house. There were also other buildings which included a smallpox hospital, the first nursing school, and a prison. The prison later moved to Ryker's Island. I thought the smallpox hospital was very interesting and the location was rather odd. We were also able to see an abandoned nursing school. At the edge of the island, we were able to see the Four Freedoms monument. The professors said that the four freedoms were expression, religion, want, and fear.
After that,it was time for a much deserved lunch. We traveled to Jackson Heights to eat at the Jackson diner. I have never heard of this place before, but coincidentally after eating here, I did see a Facebook status of another friend who was later doing the same. The food was great and not too spicy, which I was expecting. I was able to try goat for the first time, but I can't say that it was enjoyable or worth it. After eating, we traveled to Astoria. Astoria is still the largest place outside of Greece that contains the highest number of Greek people (B.G., p. 499). The professors pointed out Kaufman Studios. In 1971, after the U.S. army stopped making films regarding propaganda, the Astoria Motion Picture and Television Foundation was formed to restore the studios (B.G., p. 499). The professors told us that there are still productions being made in Astoria including "Nurse Jackie". I didn't realize that Astoria was like the East Coast Hollywood and found this rather interesting. I did wonder how Edie Falco was able to be a part of Nurse Jackie, as well as play a part on an off-Broadway show. The Museum of the Moving Image was rather interesting. It is the only museum in the country dedicated to art, history, technique and technology of the moving image in all its forms (http://www.movingimage.us, 2012).
Finally, we made our way to Long Island City. I have heard many things about the up and coming status of this area, but to see it with your own eyes is something totally different. We were able to view 5pointz, which I have never seen up close and personal. Honestly, I saw it on the train passing by, but never thought of it as art. After meeting an artist and seeing the passion and professionalism that they have regarding their work, I have gained respect for them. We were able to sign a petition to keep 5pointz, but in all actuality, I don't think it will mean much. We learned that this is the only place in the world where graffiti, which is art, is able to legally be applied. Furthermore, the artist told us that you can't just go and do your art wherever you want. If you are recognized as a skilled artist and a piece has been there for a while, a new piece will be made to cover up the old one. As a beginner, he was able to take part in a small piece which we were able to see. We walked to the edge of Long Island City and saw the high rise, luxury buildings along the water. It was truly beautiful and it was evident that this area is becoming affluent. After that, our day ended at Gantry Plaza State Park. This park is 12-acres with views of midtown Manhattan, including the Empire State Building and the United Nations. This was truly a great way to end the day.
Bodacious Brooklyn
I have only been to Brooklyn once and very briefly, so this was one borough I was looking forward to. Although it was raining that day, I feel that our class made the best of it. My favorite part of the day was looking across the water from Brooklyn Heights at Manhattan, as well as walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, although it was raining and I had no umbrella.
The subway ride to Coney Island was slightly boring, but went by fast. I was excited and wondered if you could see any effects from Hurricane Sandy. I saw that a lot of areas were adjourned with new paint jobs, but everything looked put together. Coney Island was better than I remembered. We walked up to the beach and around the amusement park. Surprisingly it was more crowded than I thought it would be on a weekday. I know that the students are out of school, but they were accompanied by their parents as well. We got one hour of free time to eat and see the area. Unfortunately, one hour just wasn't enough time for both. I ate at Grimaldi's Pizzeria. There are actually eight locations in New York and New Jersey, but also in the Southwest. I have never had this pizza before and had the pleasure of trying it. It was just as good as I imagined, however, not as good as Lucia Pizza on Main Street in Flushing. Before I knew it, we had to meet back to travel to our next destination, the Transit Museum.
The Transit Museum was very interesting. I had no idea it was actually within a subway station. The station actually is a working station, just not in use at the moment. Although it was sweltering down there, the tour guide was very informative. She told us about the dangerous jobs that these men would do in order to build tracks. Something that I found interesting was when she talked about the Omni bus and how a string was tied to the foot of the driver and was pulled when someone wanted to exit. Also, the fact of how much horse poop there was lining the city streets (2.5 million lbs.) when horse drawn vehicles came into play without any means of sanitation. Then there were the above ground steam drawn locomotives that were exposed to environmental factors, which proved unworthy in 1888 with the worst blizzard in America. There was over fifty inches of snow in three days! It was then that they decided to put the trains underground. We were also informed that Manhattan is not just all one level underneath the ground, but there are stations that are deeper than others. For example, 191st street is the deepest station at 200 feet below street level. Lower Manhattan is shallow, whereas Uptown is rather deep. This museum is run by the New York Transit Authority and includes various exhibits including buses, bridges, and tunnels with an emphasis on the subway (B.G., p.468). I enjoyed the Transit Museum and thought how shameful it was that I have not been here before.
Brooklyn Heights has to be one of the most breathtaking places and best kept secrets I have ever seen. I am so happy that we were able to experience this area firsthand. This area is quiet, tree-shaded, and offers well-preserved 19th century houses in all reigning styles, with church architecture as well (B.G., p. 467). It was beautiful, my favorite place thus far. I would totally sell my house in Nassau and live in a studio in this area. Well, maybe someday when a house isn't ideal anymore. The views of Manhattan are absolutely gorgeous and we went on a rainy day. I loved what Mayor Bloomberg has done with the place! Even though the BQE is right below, you couldn't even hear the traffic from the overpass area. Along our walk, we stopped at the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, where Beecher was the first minister and preached against slavery.
Lastly, we visited DUMBO. We took pictures near the water and took in the views, as well as the carousel. I haven't seen one of those in years. After getting ice cream, we made our way to the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge opened on May 25, 1883 and was considered to be one of the world's greatest wonders because at that time it was the largest suspension bridge in existence with a single span arching 1,595 feet across the East River (B.G., p. 464). The history of the bridge and how it was constructed is mind boggling. Furthermore, thinking of how it was utilized during September 11, 2001 for evacuation is meaningful as well. Walking across it, I saw many locks that were signed and or dated hanging from anywhere they could possibly be attached. I liked this factor because I feel like it gives the bridge that much more meaning. Today the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan is the longest suspension bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge has slipped to 66th place (B.G., P. 466). The bridge has a positive representation for the city and it is truly amazing that it still stands strong and bold today.
The subway ride to Coney Island was slightly boring, but went by fast. I was excited and wondered if you could see any effects from Hurricane Sandy. I saw that a lot of areas were adjourned with new paint jobs, but everything looked put together. Coney Island was better than I remembered. We walked up to the beach and around the amusement park. Surprisingly it was more crowded than I thought it would be on a weekday. I know that the students are out of school, but they were accompanied by their parents as well. We got one hour of free time to eat and see the area. Unfortunately, one hour just wasn't enough time for both. I ate at Grimaldi's Pizzeria. There are actually eight locations in New York and New Jersey, but also in the Southwest. I have never had this pizza before and had the pleasure of trying it. It was just as good as I imagined, however, not as good as Lucia Pizza on Main Street in Flushing. Before I knew it, we had to meet back to travel to our next destination, the Transit Museum.
The Transit Museum was very interesting. I had no idea it was actually within a subway station. The station actually is a working station, just not in use at the moment. Although it was sweltering down there, the tour guide was very informative. She told us about the dangerous jobs that these men would do in order to build tracks. Something that I found interesting was when she talked about the Omni bus and how a string was tied to the foot of the driver and was pulled when someone wanted to exit. Also, the fact of how much horse poop there was lining the city streets (2.5 million lbs.) when horse drawn vehicles came into play without any means of sanitation. Then there were the above ground steam drawn locomotives that were exposed to environmental factors, which proved unworthy in 1888 with the worst blizzard in America. There was over fifty inches of snow in three days! It was then that they decided to put the trains underground. We were also informed that Manhattan is not just all one level underneath the ground, but there are stations that are deeper than others. For example, 191st street is the deepest station at 200 feet below street level. Lower Manhattan is shallow, whereas Uptown is rather deep. This museum is run by the New York Transit Authority and includes various exhibits including buses, bridges, and tunnels with an emphasis on the subway (B.G., p.468). I enjoyed the Transit Museum and thought how shameful it was that I have not been here before.
Brooklyn Heights has to be one of the most breathtaking places and best kept secrets I have ever seen. I am so happy that we were able to experience this area firsthand. This area is quiet, tree-shaded, and offers well-preserved 19th century houses in all reigning styles, with church architecture as well (B.G., p. 467). It was beautiful, my favorite place thus far. I would totally sell my house in Nassau and live in a studio in this area. Well, maybe someday when a house isn't ideal anymore. The views of Manhattan are absolutely gorgeous and we went on a rainy day. I loved what Mayor Bloomberg has done with the place! Even though the BQE is right below, you couldn't even hear the traffic from the overpass area. Along our walk, we stopped at the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, where Beecher was the first minister and preached against slavery.
Lastly, we visited DUMBO. We took pictures near the water and took in the views, as well as the carousel. I haven't seen one of those in years. After getting ice cream, we made our way to the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge opened on May 25, 1883 and was considered to be one of the world's greatest wonders because at that time it was the largest suspension bridge in existence with a single span arching 1,595 feet across the East River (B.G., p. 464). The history of the bridge and how it was constructed is mind boggling. Furthermore, thinking of how it was utilized during September 11, 2001 for evacuation is meaningful as well. Walking across it, I saw many locks that were signed and or dated hanging from anywhere they could possibly be attached. I liked this factor because I feel like it gives the bridge that much more meaning. Today the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan is the longest suspension bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge has slipped to 66th place (B.G., P. 466). The bridge has a positive representation for the city and it is truly amazing that it still stands strong and bold today.
A Tale of Three Villages
The day started off like any other when we all met in Penn Station. We went over our itinerary for the day and contemplated how we would get there. We took the 1 train downtown, but the conductor missed our stop and we ended up getting off at Canal Street. Although this happened, Professor Russo was able to get back on track. One of the things that stood out most was the Merchant House Museum. The guide told us that Joseph Brewster built the house in 1820 with the intention of selling it in 1835. Seabury Tredwell, his wife, and their eight children occupied this house, which was home to the area's wealthiest citizens (www.merchantshouse.org, 2013). Gertrude, their youngest daughter was born and died in that house. After that, the house was turned into a museum, which means that many of the items that were in the house stayed true to the time and weren't given away or sold for newer items. The tour guide told us that the museum opened in 1936. The family had Irish immigrant slaves that cooked the meals, cleaned the house, and tended to the families needs. Their living quarters contained metal bed frames to prevent bed bugs from boring into it. Vermin were a challenge for the slaves because they must ensure that there were none in the food. Furthermore, it is surprising to me that all children survived during a time like this. I feel that one of the reasons is because the Tredwell family had bottled water delivered to the house, as well as a cistern that pumped water from outside into the home. We were further informed that because there were no telephones, visitors would bring a card with their name when visiting. They would patiently wait in the parlor as the slave would fetch Mr. or Mrs. Tredwell. If they sat with them, it would only be for ten minutes and then they would be due to visit the other person's house the next time. It was this constant pressure of having the duty to visit and take visits. Death was also taken very serious throughout that time. For example, if death occurred, the entire house would go into mourning. All of the mirrors would be covered and a wreath would be placed on the door to let neighbors know that they had lost a loved one. Women would mourn longer than men due to the fact that men had to go back to work.
After the Merchant House Museum we were able to take lunch. This was one of the best parts of my day. There were ten places to chose from, but I chose Japanese. The bento box allowed me to sample a couple things that I have never had before. The price for lunch is also more economical than that of dinner. Furthermore, the location allowed for better pricing. The downside is that none of the places we visited throughout the day had air conditioning. It would have been nice to cool off for even an hour! Sweat was pouring off, I felt like I was walking through the desert. Luckily, there was water and good company. I enjoyed the Merchant house because the visual history, as well as our tour guide, truly allowed us to submerge into the 1850s. I felt like I was living the experience of the Tredwell family, no air conditioning in July included! I can't imagine how the chamber pots smelled. Gross.
After this hot and exhausting learning experience, we walked to St. Marks Chapel, which is the second oldest church in Manhattan. There was something going on inside, but we got a good view of the outside.We were headed towards the East Village, the place of many riots throughout the years due to squatting and other issues. The professor told us as we entered Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village) that if we had visited this park in the 1970s-80s, there would be drug dealers all over the place. We probably wouldn't have been welcome. Gentrification had taken over this area and some were not happy about this. We headed to the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space. Our tour guide Bill walked with us and gave a rundown of how things were and how they became what they are now. He pointed out several places where abandoned buildings once stood and squatters took refuge in. The government cracked down on squatting and the people were upset because these buildings were not being utilized anyway. We were able to see a couple gardens in which compost is utilized to make soil for the plants that are growing within. I liked the artistic barbwire that we saw, which utilized recycled materials for the same purpose. Since the 1990s, the East Village has gentrified with coffee bars, wine bars, condos, beautiful tenements, deluxe grocery stores, and mothers pushing strollers where addicts formerly purchased crack (B.G., 153).
Honestly, it was truly hard to focus on what Bill had to say. I am not sure if it was the extreme temperature or the way he was saying the material. It was a great experience, but I didn't take as much away from today as I did on the other days. I really loved the Villages though, especially after we were dismissed. Two other students and I walked around and were able to take in our cultural gentrified surroundings. There were album stores, places to purchase art, homemade clothing, etc. Even the style of the people was different from what I see on a daily basis. I loved the dresses and the way the women dressed, it was unique. The lifestyle of the people living within this area felt more easy going.
After the Merchant House Museum we were able to take lunch. This was one of the best parts of my day. There were ten places to chose from, but I chose Japanese. The bento box allowed me to sample a couple things that I have never had before. The price for lunch is also more economical than that of dinner. Furthermore, the location allowed for better pricing. The downside is that none of the places we visited throughout the day had air conditioning. It would have been nice to cool off for even an hour! Sweat was pouring off, I felt like I was walking through the desert. Luckily, there was water and good company. I enjoyed the Merchant house because the visual history, as well as our tour guide, truly allowed us to submerge into the 1850s. I felt like I was living the experience of the Tredwell family, no air conditioning in July included! I can't imagine how the chamber pots smelled. Gross.
After this hot and exhausting learning experience, we walked to St. Marks Chapel, which is the second oldest church in Manhattan. There was something going on inside, but we got a good view of the outside.We were headed towards the East Village, the place of many riots throughout the years due to squatting and other issues. The professor told us as we entered Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village) that if we had visited this park in the 1970s-80s, there would be drug dealers all over the place. We probably wouldn't have been welcome. Gentrification had taken over this area and some were not happy about this. We headed to the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space. Our tour guide Bill walked with us and gave a rundown of how things were and how they became what they are now. He pointed out several places where abandoned buildings once stood and squatters took refuge in. The government cracked down on squatting and the people were upset because these buildings were not being utilized anyway. We were able to see a couple gardens in which compost is utilized to make soil for the plants that are growing within. I liked the artistic barbwire that we saw, which utilized recycled materials for the same purpose. Since the 1990s, the East Village has gentrified with coffee bars, wine bars, condos, beautiful tenements, deluxe grocery stores, and mothers pushing strollers where addicts formerly purchased crack (B.G., 153).
Honestly, it was truly hard to focus on what Bill had to say. I am not sure if it was the extreme temperature or the way he was saying the material. It was a great experience, but I didn't take as much away from today as I did on the other days. I really loved the Villages though, especially after we were dismissed. Two other students and I walked around and were able to take in our cultural gentrified surroundings. There were album stores, places to purchase art, homemade clothing, etc. Even the style of the people was different from what I see on a daily basis. I loved the dresses and the way the women dressed, it was unique. The lifestyle of the people living within this area felt more easy going.
East of the Park
Meeting up to take the train to Harlem wasn't something I thought was going to be interesting at all. However, it was quite the opposite. We boarded the 1,2,3 going uptown to 42nd street, then had to take the shuttle and take the 4,5,6. (I think this is the way it happened) The subway was sweltering and it was hard to breath. Coming up for air in Harlem felt good. We walked around and looked at the projects within Harlem. The housing projects were put into place so that people could afford the housing, but the crime and conditions within them turned out to bring the community down. There is now a new model for housing that Bloomberg is putting into effect called micro-housing. In the Museum of the City of New York, we were able to actually walk through a unit, which was quite small. It seemed that it would be good for one person, but that's about it. People are moving back to urban areas and the sub-urban areas are changing as well. We also watched a movie that summed up the history of Manhattan. In 1783, Henry Hudson purchased Manhattan for $24.00. Furthermore, the Brooklyn Bridge was constructed in the 1880s, but it was actually all of the bridges and transportation that caused the demise as well. After viewing the short film, we walked through "Spanish" Harlem and were able to view the artwork that covered the walls throughout this area. One piece that stuck out in my mind consisted of two women sitting next to each other. The piece was called "Soldaderas" by Yasmin Hernandez. The artwork featured two women Frida Kahlo and Julia de Burgos, one woman represented Puerto Rican and Mexican solidarity. Their hearts were connected and drawn outside of their bodies. It was almost as if they were trying to make peace with each other, but also identified with their own values. I thought the fetuses in each corner of the picture was interesting. It was as if these two women wanted peace between the two places, where their children could live in harmony, as well as other future generations. That was my interpretation anyway.
We were then lucky enough to make it to the Botanico shop that was run by Jorge Vargas. I have never experienced anything like this shop before in my life. There were remedies held in bottles, religious figures, as well as other spiritual items. He probably had a remedy for everything. I probably could have used some advice or maybe a consult for being cured from things that I am going through now, but the visit was too short. I want to definitely try to get back there to revisit and see if there's a cure for heartache. Just kidding, but not really.
After walking through "Spanish" Harlem, we walked not too far and ended up near the Conservative Gardens in Central Park. I did not know that Central Park spanned 51 blocks. It is actually 843 acres, which actually does feel like the last "natural" surviving piece of Manhattan (B.G., p. 279). When I think of Central Park, I think of crime and rape. This is actually not the case though. Central Park has one of the lowest crime rates in the city itself due to the fact that there are policemen, park rangers, and other personnel that patrol the park (B.G., p. 279). We took respite on a couple of rocks and discussed what we thought the positive and negative aspects of living within New York City were. The feedback from the class was pretty interesting because everyone had various outlooks. We then walked along Central Park past many museums. Who would have thought there was so much to do in New York City? We arrived at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Is it weird that I have never been to the Guggenheim or the MET? What have I been doing the past seven years living in New York without visiting some of these iconic places. Furthermore, the MET is donation, I gave a buck. For one dollar, you can explore the interesting exhibits that is offered.
The first exhibit was the Punk exhibit. This was really interesting to me because of the intense expression that overcame through the clothing of this genre. The creativity that went into making various outfits is truly commendable. There were outfits made from trash bags and one from postage envelopes. It was very different and interesting to see. We then viewed artwork by Jackson Pollock and compared him to Mark Rothko. Abstract expressionism was discussed and the style didn't make that much sense to me. I tried to take it all in. Paint splattered without any one single image to focus on was called abstract. It was different and messy. After one artist takes on a certain look, if someone else does it, it doesn't mean anything because it's already been done! Certain artists have aspects that make them different from the others. On the other hand, minimalism is more organized with smoother brush strokes.
While exploring the museum on my own time, I thought the pop art by Rauschenberg was extremely creative and interesting. It literally came to life off of the paper. It was a very unique and lifelike style. I then perused down to the African art section. I am not sure of the name of the artwork, but there was a large tree trunk with a small hole in the center. My hand could barely fit, but if you looked within, the whole thing was carved out hollow. I was curious how they did it. After we met up with the group, we were told we could stay after to do karaoke. I was not going to turn down one experience that this class had to offer. I truly wanted all of the experiences and memories, especially because this is my last class! We had a blast and bonded. Although this class was only seven sessions, I feel like I bonded with almost everyone within the class. I wish it was a semester long because I found myself looking f
We were then lucky enough to make it to the Botanico shop that was run by Jorge Vargas. I have never experienced anything like this shop before in my life. There were remedies held in bottles, religious figures, as well as other spiritual items. He probably had a remedy for everything. I probably could have used some advice or maybe a consult for being cured from things that I am going through now, but the visit was too short. I want to definitely try to get back there to revisit and see if there's a cure for heartache. Just kidding, but not really.
After walking through "Spanish" Harlem, we walked not too far and ended up near the Conservative Gardens in Central Park. I did not know that Central Park spanned 51 blocks. It is actually 843 acres, which actually does feel like the last "natural" surviving piece of Manhattan (B.G., p. 279). When I think of Central Park, I think of crime and rape. This is actually not the case though. Central Park has one of the lowest crime rates in the city itself due to the fact that there are policemen, park rangers, and other personnel that patrol the park (B.G., p. 279). We took respite on a couple of rocks and discussed what we thought the positive and negative aspects of living within New York City were. The feedback from the class was pretty interesting because everyone had various outlooks. We then walked along Central Park past many museums. Who would have thought there was so much to do in New York City? We arrived at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Is it weird that I have never been to the Guggenheim or the MET? What have I been doing the past seven years living in New York without visiting some of these iconic places. Furthermore, the MET is donation, I gave a buck. For one dollar, you can explore the interesting exhibits that is offered.
The first exhibit was the Punk exhibit. This was really interesting to me because of the intense expression that overcame through the clothing of this genre. The creativity that went into making various outfits is truly commendable. There were outfits made from trash bags and one from postage envelopes. It was very different and interesting to see. We then viewed artwork by Jackson Pollock and compared him to Mark Rothko. Abstract expressionism was discussed and the style didn't make that much sense to me. I tried to take it all in. Paint splattered without any one single image to focus on was called abstract. It was different and messy. After one artist takes on a certain look, if someone else does it, it doesn't mean anything because it's already been done! Certain artists have aspects that make them different from the others. On the other hand, minimalism is more organized with smoother brush strokes.
While exploring the museum on my own time, I thought the pop art by Rauschenberg was extremely creative and interesting. It literally came to life off of the paper. It was a very unique and lifelike style. I then perused down to the African art section. I am not sure of the name of the artwork, but there was a large tree trunk with a small hole in the center. My hand could barely fit, but if you looked within, the whole thing was carved out hollow. I was curious how they did it. After we met up with the group, we were told we could stay after to do karaoke. I was not going to turn down one experience that this class had to offer. I truly wanted all of the experiences and memories, especially because this is my last class! We had a blast and bonded. Although this class was only seven sessions, I feel like I bonded with almost everyone within the class. I wish it was a semester long because I found myself looking f