The Meaning Behind the "Memories of Twenty-Third Street"

 

Living at 231st street in the Bronx, when you go school in downtown Manhattan has its perks. In my daily commute (one way) I take one bus and three trains, one of them being the N or R train. One can think of it as an annoyance, but I think of it as a way to see new things. In the N/R 23rd street station there is mosaic artwork all over. Particularly interesting, there are all types of different mosiaic hats belonging to different people. I have always been curious as to what the hats were doing there, and what they actually represented. After doing a little research I found out that the artwork was a permanent feature called “Memories of Twenty-Third Street” by Keith Godard. Goddard got his inspiration to create the hats from the neighborhood he had lived in. Living in the Chelsea Hotel in the late 1960’s, Goddard felt connected to Chelsea and researched prominent people who also were a part of it. After reading the book “Turn West on 23rd Street” by Robert Baral, Goddard learned that the men and women of Chelsea in the 1800’s and the 1900’s did not leave home without a hat. His discovery inspired him to create artwork that incorporates subway riders daily. Hats belonging to people such as 18th-19th century sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, 19th century actress Anna Held, as well as 19th century dancer Loie Fuller grace the walls of the station, allowing riders of the subway to stop and take pictures with the hats. Not only did Godard create the hats, he incorporated the height of each person the hat belonged too, so it gives an accurate detail about the person. “Memories of Twenty-Third Street” was placed in the 23rd street station of the N/R line in 2002, and will surely entertain subway riders for many years to come. If you would like to find out more about “Turn West on 23rd Street” by Robert Baral, it is out of print, but used copies can be purchased at http://www.abebooks.com/. Also, Keith Goddard explains a little more about “Memories of Twenty-Third Street” in this interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81TnXFH6p8M