A year or two ago I wrote about the Creative Time-sponsored art piece in the subway tunnel just past the DeKalb Avenue station in Brooklyn. The piece is a brightly-lit series of paintings that form an animation sequence of colorful shapes if you look out the window at the right time. What caught my attention were the layers of graffiti that covered this innovative piece. The tags took on the feel of historical artifacts, and suggested what ultimately covered the entire tunnel, of which this lit wall was only a brief reveal. To follow up, a couple weeks ago I noticed the graffiti has been scrubbed off and the original artwork is now visible. It looks dated, although I guess the graffiti did too.
Art or even advertising geared toward the subway commuter in between stations is pretty rare. So it took me by surprise as I was pressed up against the windowed door of a D.C. Metrorail car at 4 a.m. last Tuesday when a movie trailer suddenly loomed up against the high curved wall of the tunnel in between stations, animated at the speed of the moving train, complete with ending credits. I think the trailer was for Coraline, but the experience was sort of wonderful. Maybe I was the only only with a clear enough view, but it seemed like no one else really blinked an eye at this unexpected image. But then again it was 4 a.m., and rather than the office we were bound for an event so duly expected that this innovative advertisement for the morning commute didn’t have much of a chance.
All in a Day’s Commute: "Yeah it’s overwhelming, but what else can we do? Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute??"
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thank you for confirming that I’m not crazy. I have seen this Coraline trailer (DC red line between Metro Center and Chinatown) 3 times in the past week on the walls of the subway tunnel (followed by a Nestle Quik ad, Chinatown to Judiciary Square), and I seem to be the only one on the train who sees it! The experience WAS wonderful, and seems perfectly suited to the subject of the movie (though, I have no explanation for the Quik ad). I’m new to DC, so I’d love to know–is this new? How is it done?
Jen J, not sure if it is new to D.C. And also not sure how it was done, but my theory is that they tack up each frame in sequence, so you are watching a sort of flip book as the train goes by. Pretty cool if that is the way they do it since it would be so low tech, but again, not sure.
not the only one… i was riding the train in Chicago, blue line from Clark and lake to Monroe. i was thinking how i really want to see Coraline and i look up and see Coraline. Did my meds kick in? no, it was the trailer in the inside of the subway walls. Unfortunately, i seem to be the only one to notice. i have to tape this and post it somewhere. now this is thinking out the box in advertising. PS, did inwindow outdoor have something to do with this. check their youtube stuff out.
Not the only one… Chicago, i was riding the blue line (Clark and lake to Monroe)and i was thinking how much i wanted to see Coraline. and i looked up and saw Coraline, hugged on the wall of the subway tunnels.i think it works with holograms, like the baseball cards you would get in your frosted flakes. Sad thing is I’m the only one who really noticed. i have got to record this and post this somewhere. PS, did inwindow outdoor have something to do with the inner subway ad, because that is really thinking out of the box. Check their youtube -coraline stuff
The tunnel trailer plays in New York too! I saw it on a train leaving 14th street. I think it was the Q or N. It was totally surreal and magical.
Yeah, I saw it too. I didn't catch the title because I was in awe that I was watching a movie trailer on the Metro window…people still don't believe me when I tell them. Oh well, what can ya do?