Your Grand Central Station commute is about to look a little different. (And no, the lights aren’t out again.)
For the first time in living memory, the transit hub will be completely devoid of advertisements and replaced with 50-foot public art projections and full-scale takeovers of its subway tunnels — and it’s called Dear New York.
Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York, is the one responsible for the undertaking, which is considered the largest public artwork the city has seen in two decades. Allow us to fill you in on what the station’s 750,000 daily commuters — and beyond — can expect.
A look inside Dear New York — the exhibit and book
In a love letter to the city we call home, Stanton’s Dear New York will take over 150 digital screens and showcase a whopping 10,000 stories and portraits from the Humans of New York archive while also including works from 1,000 artists. The project was brought to life thanks to partnerships with the MTA, The Juilliard School, Pentagram, Korins Studios, and NYC Public Schools.
“New York City is humanity itself. The entire world lives in New York: every ethnicity, every culture, every belief, every viewpoint,” Stanton tells Secret NYC. “The Humans of New York portfolio is a central element — but definitely not the whole story.”
But you’ll have to hurry— something any New Yorker can do— the final day for the exhibit is October 19th.
In addition to this two-week takeover, Stanton will release his work in print form: Dear New York will hit shelves on October 7th and showcase all there is to love about NYC in 500 pages.
“The book is my attempt to capture the diversity and humanity of NYC,” Stanton adds. “It inspired the Dear New York installation, and will be the only thing that remains once it is gone.”
But more than just showing his appreciation for his favorite city, Stanton is using his artwork to give back: he’ll be donating 100% of the book’s royalties to local charities.
“Sometimes we annoy the hell out of each other, but we take care of each other too. We make it work.,” he says. “In these troubled times, New York is a source of hope for the world. If humanity can make it here, we can make it anywhere.”
🗓️ October 6th-19th
📍Grand Central Station