"But I'll continue to travel/ Though my guitar's old and tiring fast/ She just listens to me/ Her music means more to me than any other woman I have known" --Jose Feliciano, The Gypsy
Most of the subway stations in NYC have artwork or design features that are unique to the neighborhood they are in or to the main attraction that the stop serves. My subway station at 110th St. and Lexington Ave in Spanish Harlem has a series of mosaics by Manuel Vega (a name you will definitely read about again in future posts regarding public art in SpaHa) entitled Un Sabado en la Ciento Diez (A Saturday on 110th). This station opened in 1918. Mr. Vega's contribution came in 1996.
"There is a rose in Spanish Harlem/ A red rose up in Spanish Harlem/ With eyes as black as coal that look down in my soul/ And starts a fire there and then I lose control/ I have to beg your pardon/ I'm going to pick that rose and watch her as she grows in my garden" --Ben E. King, Spanish Harlem
My favorite thing about Spanish Harlem is the
public art- amazing street murals and mosaics that represent the
community's rich culture. This one is entitled 'The Spirit of East
Harlem' and is located on the side of a building on Lexington Ave & 104th St. It was painted by Hank Prussing in the 1970's. Apparently, every person depicted in the painting was a recognized local in the community at the time. Manuel (Manny) Vega, who was Mr. Prussing's apprentice throughout this work, and who would go on to be a significant figure for his numerous artistic contributions to Spanish Harlem, restored the massive painting-which is considered to be SpaHa's most significant- in the late 90's after it had been defaced with graffiti.
"Then we rode that Black Maria/ Through the streets of Spanish Harlem/ Calling old friends on the corners/ Just to lay our prayers upon them/ Crying/ Adios Hermanos. Adios" --Paul Simon, Adios Hermanos
