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Transcript/ScriptNYC SUBWAY THERAPY – Vishneva
HEAD: Subway art project lets riders share worries, hopes, dreams
TEASER: Thousands of New Yorkers express their deepest thoughts through Matthew Chavez's 'Subway Therapy'
PUBLISHED: 12/23/2024 at 5:12 pm
BYLINE: Nina Vishneva
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: New York
VIDEOGRAPHER: Michael Eckels
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; Reifenrath
PRODUCER: Elena Matusovsky, Anna Rice
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, see courtesies
PLATFORMS: TV
TRT: 3:25
VIDEO APPROVED BY: KE
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((INTRO:))
[[As another turbulent year ends, New Yorkers are finding an outlet for their emotions in an unusual place — a subway station wall. A public art project called Subway Therapy invites people to share their thoughts and feelings via colorful sticky notes, creating a collage of hopes, frustrations and reflections. Nina Vishneva has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
The New York City subway system can be overwhelming with its crowds and musicians and rattling trains, but now it's also a place where New Yorkers can find inspiration and share their deepest feelings and thoughts.
((Matthew Chavez, Subway Therapy Creator)) ((male, ENG))
“We all need to work together to make the world a better place if we want that!”
((NARRATION))
Matthew Chavez is the creator of Subway Therapy, a public art project that invites passengers to write their thoughts and feelings on sticky notes and post them on a wall at a transfer point near Union Square, creating a collage of hopes, frustrations, and reflections.
((Matthew Chavez, Subway Therapy Creator)) ((ENG))
“People are talking about world politics; people are talking about other topics. Most of the notes are supportive. They’re loving — there are people telling each other to have a great day or that their life is going to be OK. They also talk about what people are experiencing right now – someone losing their job or about to have a baby or getting married… // I think writing is a very, very good thing for people.”
((NARRATION))
This is not the first time Chavez has organized a subway therapy session. After the presidential elections of 2016, he went to a subway transfer point and started chatting with strangers. Because so many people wanted to talk, Chavez resorted to pen and sticky notes.
Public reaction has been positive.
((Jonathan Walker, New Yorker))
“It’s one of those things that bring people together. You share thoughts anonymously, but at the same time, openly. You see there are many others who feel the same way!”
((Salam, New Yorker))
“I just got laid off, and I am actually not panicking. I’m excited to pursue my art!”
((Emily, New Yorker)) ((Kid))
“I’m thinking about my book and a surprise that I’m going to – I don’t know what it is!”
((NARRATION))
Chavez collaborates with therapist Deena Ismail in running a program called Listening Lab, which encourages community discourse. Ismail noted the wide variety of topics people post about for the Subway Therapy project.
((Deena Ismail, Listening Lab Co-Founder))
“If you come here, you’ll see things about the election, things about world issues – it goes from Israel-Palestine to Ukraine-Russia, to climate justice or talking about a viral hippopotamus that has gone all over the Internet – it’s whatever is on people’s minds!”
((NARRATION))
Subway Therapy caught the eye of famous urban sketcher Kathi Gulotta, who made a small drawing of the wall.
((Kathi Gulotta, Urban Sketcher))
“It’s a little challenging because I’m standing up and I’ve got people passing by trying to catch their train and jostling. But this is such a wonderful installation. The country is very divisive right now, and it’s a time when we need something like this to get our feelings out and be with others.”
((NARRATION))
Chavez says that the thousands of notes his project has collected so far will be passed on to the New York Historical Society.
((For Nina Vishneva in New York, Anna Rice, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateDecember 23, 2024 15:40 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
