This project takes a deep dive into the historical significance that Grand Central Terminal station has played in the development of the heart of the Midtown area in Manhattan. The lifeblood of the station is the travelers going in and out, twenty four-seven three-sixty-five. But the construction of Grand Central Terminal, although bringing in numerous benefits, also led to the displacement of thousands of immigrants eventually causing Midtown Manhattan to develop into the commercial powerhouse that feeds off the popularity of landmarks such as Grand Central, Times Square, Bryant Park, and the New York Public Library. The demographics of the area surrounding Grand Central has gone through a lot of change as well as the actual travelers using Grand Central Terminal. The artwork we chose to represent this area is the ceiling mural inside Grand Central Terminal. Its beauty immediately captures the attention of any tourist and often regular commuters who see the mural daily, serving as a reminder of New York’s beautiful and diverse culture.
The Importance of Grand Central Terminal to Manhattan’s Midtown
Group Members: Romulus Czernisz, Kaden Alexander, Thayer Grimes
How did completing your project help you explore the role of arts in the lives of New Yorkers and their communities?
Completing the project helped us explore the role of arts in the lives of New Yorkers and their communities because from what we found while researching the ceiling mural of Grand Central Terminal, specifically, the mural was meant to evoke a sense of optimism and opportunity. The barrel vaults of the ceiling with the added mural act as if the ceiling is truly extended to the sky, allowing all those who see to understand the possibilities that abound especially in the city of New York. This was done on purpose as Grand Central Terminal is a train station with thousands of travelers coming in and out every day, which would result in most of these people looking up and seeing the mural. For daily commuters, it serves as a reminder, and for tourists, it's meant to give them a sense of what New York is all about. The arts serve as bits of motivation for New Yorkers in a sense and in their communities, a powerful piece of art can bring people together through its ability to evoke emotion and thought.
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