Riding the Subway

I can hand-deliver this anywhere in NYC after April 30th when the show closes. If you need shipping, please send an email to mari@bymariandrew.com after purchasing :)

UNDERGROUND CATHEDRAL : Riding the Subway

For this piece I used a technique called ‘felted wool painting.’ It is a laborious process, and each one takes upwards of 20 hours to complete. I source my wool from a small family farm in North Dakota which is committed to providing their beloved sheep with a natural and joyful life.

Inspiration:

One of the most holy places in this city is the subway. In other cities where I’ve lived, most middle- to upper-class people own cars; public transportation is reserved for the lower classes and environmentalists. But in New York, everyone from private school kindergarteners to octogenarian fortune tellers is jammed in there together and forced to interact on some level, so you’re obligated to see a bit of someone’s humanity, not so different from yours. There’s a silent agreement that none of us are here to make new friends, but we do smile. We help. We see people with canes and give up our seats. For a few minutes to an hour, we are a very small community sharing space in a moving room, twisting underneath the city. 

Meditation:

Look at someone on your commute today. If you were in love with them, what would you love about them? T’he freckle on the tip of their nose, the way their shirt is only partially tucked in, how they smile when they’ve dominated another level of Candy Crush? When you’re in love with someone, their flaws are endearing and special.