Subway Monster on 21st Street

Last month came the video of an inflatable polar bear set over subway grates would rise and fall as trains passed underneath. The shopping bag art came from Joshua Allen Harris, and he's at it again with a subway monster that you won't need a Subivor kit to survive.

Looks like Nessie has found herself a new 'nabe right here in New York; this one was up at 21st between 6th and 7th Avenues.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on April 23, 2008 11:34 AM

Comments [rss]

west side Michael

We need more public art like this that does not speak to the ego and life(burp!) of the artist.

jaja007

Those armed to the teeth terrorist cops will have a field day w/ that...

schizofriendly

Damn cute!

bklynd

How long until somebody makes a big inflatable penis? That would be more site specific.

starrygordon

An excellent sculpture. I also like the seen-it-all New-Yorkerish insouciance of the passers-by. I doubt if the corps will co-opt it right away because technically it's littering and attaching unauthorized attachments to city property. First there will have to be payoffs, and that sort of thing takes time.

PBRK

I like the idea but this is the wrong scale for the space. Not that getting hit in the face by a air filled bag is the end of the world but it is still annoying.

aveB4life

amazing, but how about that guy riding that huge bike

amsci

Agreed, the polar bear/dog looked kinda sad...how soon until companies hijack this idea for advertising?

BellG

Ahh!!! Scary!!! Must remember to bring net and stun gun from now on.

Jen S

Nice, a bit better crafted than the polar bear/dog.

hslaton

Totally agree with you, Spiny. For some reason that Union Square pillow fight thing makes me cringe, but this is fantastic. I wonder, though, who could possibly think something as innocent and whimsical as this subway-air monster is "stupid"? Side note: Good thing the cops didn't come by while this guy or girl was assembling this; he or she would have had some serious explaining to do, I imagine, what with fears about poison gas in the subway system and all.

Editrixie

Gawd, that's stupid.

EricRoberts

I kind of wish that a guy dressed as a Spartan would run into the frame and chop its head off.

mihow

OMG!!

It's Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Monster!!

Spiny

Yeah, I have to say, this is pretty cool. Not your typical silliness of the Union Square pillowfight variety -- this is pretty fantastic public art. Puts a smile on your face.

BootyInMyEye

hmmm.... i would've thought the subway grates ran along 6th or 7th avenues, and not on 21st street.

zstone

I love it, though with something that big I hope he took precautions so it doesn't deflate onto a passing car's windshield or on top of a biker.