Underground Freelancers

Field Notes

I got the idea for this community because I spend a great deal of time commuting. I’m also a fan of the performing and visual arts, so for years I found myself stopping to absorb and enjoy the virtually free entertainment provided by the various artists that descend the depths each day to make a living from their craft.

As I stand on-looking and finger-tapping, droves of my fellow straphangers buzz by indifferently, completely absorbed in their own minds. I wonder whether they can even hear my creative comrades — or if the sounds of the Spanish guitar, koto, pail drums, steel pans, or whatever other medium of sound — are muted out with the rest of the city din.

Recently, I noticed that many of these artists, who I had previously thought to be a heterogeneous group of traveling performers, are now donning a conformed banner, signifying an organization of some type, a community.

Thus, I went out to capture this underground community. Given the crowdedness of the NYC subways, it was difficult to snap these shots without a commuter ruining each one, so I went out on a quiet Sunday morning. These were my favorite shots…

Photo 1: Workspace

I came across this fellow strumming and plucking away at his Spanish guitar strings at the 59^th street E train station. I was at first a bit nervous so I tried to snap a few quick shots without being noticed. Of course I inevitably was, but the guitarist smiled and nodded yes when I asked if I could take a few photos. I stood there for quite some time, waiting for a clear shot with no intruders. As I waited, another man approached our guitarist and spoke to him in Spanish. The man asked if he was from South America, and he said yes and that he was from Chile. They talked and laughed for a few minutes after that, then the man walked on.

I called this photo “Workspace” as sort of a play on words. For one, this was indeed the guitarist’s workspace, though one might not think of a subway platform as such. I also wanted to highlight the empty space this photo captures, mirroring the solitude this sort of profession affords.

Photo 2: Tools of the Trade

This gentleman was parked in the 42^nd street underpass which connects the ACE trains to all the others. I called this one “Tools of the Trade” because I loved his improvised drums that create a beat all their own.

Photo 3: All in Day’s Work

I loved this photo. It captured the sweat on the breaker’s face and the money bucket. He truly works hard for the money. He also wanted to be photographed, so this was one of my easier to attain shots.

Photo 4: Direct Deposit

This was my favorite image. I had been trying to capture reflection photos for quite a while, only to be foiled by the glare of the flash. Here, I snapped a quick shot of the money bucket, and was not only able to capture the bright colors and signs of life in the otherwise dark and dreary subway, but was able to finally get a clear picture of reflection.

Photo 6: Brand Management

I spotted Professor Alvarez at the 42^nd street station near the 123 trains. He was hunched over and smiling into his lap. His head nodded along with the dancing dolls before him. He had the familiar banner I had been seeing so much lately, and that inspired me to explore the underlying organization of the subway artist.