Post-Election Subway Therapy Wall Deemed a ‘Piece of History’

Union Square Station

I went to hang out at Union Square for a bit today, and someone happened to snap a photo of me! Its good to be back in New York. #subwaytherapy #love #newyork

A post shared by Subway Therapy (@subwaytherapy) on Nov 29, 2016 at 11:19am PST

Artist’s message

I happened to walk by the wall at Union Square when I saw something fascinating. The artist @makeup_artish was asking people to write something positive or about love and unity. He would then paint the message onto his colleague. It was the wildest form of camouflage I have ever seen. #subwaytherapy #love #newyork

A post shared by Subway Therapy (@subwaytherapy) on Dec 1, 2016 at 2:43pm PST

On Friday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that a large portion of the inspiring and deeply personal messages will be archived by the New York Historical Society.

“Over the last six weeks, New Yorkers have proved that we will not let fear and division define us,” Gov. Cuomo said in a statement. “Today, we preserve a powerful symbol that shows how New Yorkers of all ages, races and religions came together to say we are one family, one community and we will not be torn apart.

“New York will always hold the torch high and our partnership with the Historical Society ensures that generations to come will see the moment when New Yorkers united in such a moving way.”

Matthew Chavez, who goes by the artist name Levee, began the installation last month, encouraging people to leave their feelings about the US presidential election written on Post-It notes.

Mr Chavez began carefully removing the notes over the weekend so that they can be preserved as part of the museum’s program called History Responds.

He estimates that about 2,000 new postings were added each day.

“We are ever-mindful of preserving the memory of today’s events for future generations. Ephemeral items in particular, created with spontaneity and emotion, can become vivid historical documents,” New York Historical Society president Dr Louise Mirrer said.

Beginning Tuesday through to Inauguration Day on January 20, members of the public can continue to participate in the project by placing Post-It notes on the glass wall inside the museum’s front entrance.

Mr Chavez said he is “thrilled that we have found a way to work together to move the project and preserve it for others to experience in the future.”