Rails on Roots was created by our team for the Living Geographies of New York. The project examines how the A train serves as a transportation line to interconnect multiple neighborhoods, and various ethnic groups with each other and with their surrounding environments. Additionally, we have been able to highlight the diversity which makes New York City unique.
Brainstorming and sketching our initial ideas for panel layout
Preapring and painting the background that would serve as the foundation for our panel
Applying the vinyl lettering and carefully assemblling the design elements
Positioning the flags and final details to compute our living geograhies panel
These images demonstrate the process of creating the "Living Geographies" panel. Using various forms of technology, tools and working together in our group to cut, apply and assemble the components of our design; we were able to translate some of our ideas regarding culture, community and where the A Train runs into a piece.
REFLECTION
Working on this panel allowed me to see geography as more than just roads and structures. Geography is also created by a community of people in their cultures, histories, and daily experiences. Working together was fun, making use of different types of maker technology was great fun too and working on an artistic representation celebrating diversity and the sense of belonging that we have all experienced. Working on this project has shown me how artistic expressions can convey meaningful messages about communities and help establish relationships between people and places.