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Clerisy Press :: Authors :: The Editors of Clerisy Press
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Haiku on 42nd St.: A Celebration of Urban Poetry and Art
The Editors of Clerisy Press
Before
New York City's Times Square got Disney-fied and Giuliani-ized (for
your protection, of course), it was famous for being a little, ahem,
seedy. During the transition from peep show to shopping mecca, the
blank marquees of the closed theaters served as a canvas painted with
words by local writers and artists.
In celebration of the 10 year anniversary of this wonderful project, Haiku On 42nd St., originally a bestselling poster, has been adapted and re-introduced as a postcard collection.
Each
haiku is presented on a single page and printed in full color on card stock with a
postcard template on the reverse. The pages are perforated so
readers can easily share this whimsical poetry with far-flung friends and family.
For more info on the whole project, read the full story below.
As everyone in Gotham knows, the previous two decades had dimmed the
bright lights of the Great White Way, both literally and
metaphorically. For 42nd Street in particular, the bulbs had burned
out: populated primarily by porno shops, vendors of all sorts hawked
their wares on the sidewalk.
So while Times Square retained all the attractions and conveniences
of modern life, the food was suspect, lodging was measured out in
hour-long stays and reserved for everyone but the weary traveler, what
passed for running water spilled from the fire hydrants, and roving
residents availed themselves of both indoor and outdoor plumbing.
Although undeniably unique, it was a questionable distinction of
uncertain dignity.
Starting a decade ago, everything began to change. The city began
to shutter the flesh shops, other buildings closed for renovation, and
the wayward stroller no longer had to nervously check over his
shoulder. Major corporations moved into the area with the influence of
a workaday existence adding stability and different sort of customer
service.
Overnight, a wonderfully whimsical collection of wordplay appeared
on the abandoned movie marquees that stretched down 42nd Street between
Seventh and Eighth Avenues: Haiku on 42nd St.
As thousands of New Yorkers trek down 42nd Street daily, their morning
and evening commute was graced by the simple presence of the verse each
morning. These snippets of imagery, especially when juxtaposed against
the seamier grotto of town, were enchanting, inspiring, even uplifting,
which is a lot to say about a stretch that usually smelled like a
dumpster.
What the day before had been an eyesore, a slightly toxic warm-up
lap in the daily rat race of workdom, became a jaunty stroll in the
park. Eyes were raised in surprise, which really went against
prevailing wisdom since pedestrians never knew what they might step in
there. Newcomers stopped in their tracks. Sometimes, the person walking
alongside would “Wouldja look at that.”
The installation brought an enchanting energy and vivaciousness to
the block. To walk down the street was magically transporting; the
images spun by the verse and the quirkiness of the installation set
amidst the bustle of NYC made it indelibly memorable.
And we all lived happily ever after...
...or so one might wish.
As chronicled in each and every metropolitan publication, there’s
more action taking place in Times Square now that ever before, and
that’s saying a lot. But as with most human endeavors, it now seems
that the zest for transformation has gone too far, that developers are
maniacally bent on eradicating all traces of an earlier anything.
BIG BRIGHT NEW SHOPS have taken over. Everywhere you look, there’s
LOTS OF THINGS TO BUY. While it feels wrong to be publicly nostalgic
for a rougher edge, to want a less than perfect world, as the
renovation of the area takes place, it seems like a lot of the
character(s) is being lost. While no one seeks to deny visitors a
chance to a NYC landmark without risking life and limb, nonetheless
Times Square ought to be something besides a giant mall.
Sadly, there is no longer even a venue upon which one might mount a
creative exhibition of street art — all the shiny new veneers are
undoubtedly plan-a-grammed out through the end of the century. NYC has
lost something when it can no longer be home for such a display of art
and language.
Market price:
$9.95
Our price: $7.46 save 25%
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