Midnight Moment is an effort put on by the Times Square Advertising Coalition in Time Square every month. These moments are often artistic, at times political, and always reach a large audience. For October 2013 The TSAC partnered with AIGA NY and Time Square Arts for that month’s midnight moment. AIGA NY invited a select group of New York designers to submit videos for the Oct spot. At the close of the selection process, Andrew Sloat’s video “1st Amendment (excerpts)” was nominated for its use of color, movement, and words from the constitution in drawing attention to the rights and freedoms that are being constantly negotiated in this urban landscape.

The video appeared every night from 11:57 until midnight, starting on Oct 1, 2014 and continuing through the end of the month. It was also documented and uploaded to the Times Square NYC website. This far-reaching project aimed to call to the audience’s attention the identity of Times Square as America’s town square, reframed as a place of commerce, free speech, and mass assembly that is made possible by the rights established in the constitution, which the video cites.

The video was also screened at the AIGA Design Conference in Minneapolis during the same month. Willy Wong, President of the AIGA NY chapter, and Todd St. John, Board Member of the AIGA NY Chapter, state: “The spirits of AIGA NY and Times Square are undoubtedly grounded in our country’s first amendment privileges. Our freedoms of speech, assembly, association, and press are all principles expressed by the aura of our nation’s greatest town square. It’s awesome to showcase a bit of DIY in the Crossroads of the World, and share the message that design and creativity are also great privileges that are accessible and within an arm’s or hand’s reach!”