NYC Subway of My Youth
August 24th, 2010
A great collection of photographs of the NYC subway in the 80′s. Sure I was a toddler at the time, but I spent a lot of time riding the rails and these images are indelibly etched into my memory. I can smell the smells and hear the sounds looking at these images. Really takes me back. These were the days of waxed cardboard impromptu break dance sessions on the street. Especially fond of the one which captures some original old school Keith Haring art in the background, and then there’s the Guardian Angels…
Many thanks to Sean Kernick for posting the collection…
As a kid growing up in the eightees’ who naturally gravitated towards GrandMaster Flash, The RockSteady Crew and writing graffiti, I always had an affinity for the New York City subway during the late 70′ and early 80’s. It represented the blood-filled arteries of a city pumping with organic, authentic, city-brewed culture. It was covered with tags and pieces while filled with people of every size, shape, age and color. It was reckless and untamed and most importantly, it was New York City.
I collected some photographs from Bruce Davidson, John F. Conn, Jamel Shabazz and Martha Cooper detailing life on and in the New York City subway in the 1980’s. Enjoy.