I was under the JMZ elevated subway line in South Williamsburg today near Marcy Ave when I noticed this steel rose bolted to the ground:
I’m not sure if this was commissioned by the city, or installed by an anonymous artist under the cover of night – there wasn’t a plaque around to explain its origins. It’s very provocative – the thorns on the stalk look VERY dangerous…
…and the petals don’t look like they want to be touched either.
I’m pretty sure it’s spraypainted, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the type of thing that changes colors every week or so. A tough flower for a relatively tough neighborhood.
-SCOUT
Very interesting looking blog, will be back later to read more and get some tips of great places to go taking photos in NYC
Cheers
JJ
Love the site – keep it up.
by artist leon reid (aka darius jones), installed without permission in 2002.
[...] elevated subway line in South Williamsburg today near Marcy Ave by a film location scout who keeps a blog of his interesting finds in NYC. (via Lone [...]
Love your site. Just found you today through the NYT city room blog talk column.
I love this, it’s beautiful, & so NY that someone just installed it w/out permission, & it’s still there.
I wonder if this is The Rose from the Stephen King Gunslinger series. It mentions a rose growing in NYC. A lot of the things in that series are based on real places and things. Or if it was created by a fan?
i remember when this was installed. it popped up one day like a weed which is perfect, no? the spray paint is not original. it was someone’s, um, addition.