After Elections, Strangers Left Messages On New York’s Subway Walls To Remind Us All That We Will Be Okay
15Kviews
After the US Election result, for some, our response is only to act through criticism. We run to protest. We reach for the megaphone. We tweet until we’re blue in the face. And that’s great — we need people on the front lines. But for many of us, we need to be OK ourselves before we can act. We need inner peace. We need focus. We need time. And that’s where the idea of Subway Therapy by “Levee” comes in.
Artist Matthew “Levee” Chavez runs Subway Therapy below the streets of New York City. He usually sets up shop underground with a table and two chairs — one for him, and another for any stranger to sit down and chat about whatever’s on their mind.
Chavez thought his services would be especially helpful in the aftermath of a divisive election that left many feeling anxious, scared, and confounded. “I think there’s so much fear, despair, depression, anxiety, stress, that it’s really crippling people’s ability to move forward,” he said.
He pulled out his table and chairs, like usual, but decided to go a step further this time, bringing Post-it notes and some pens for folks to express themselves in writing and stick their notes to the tiled wall.
More info: Facebook
This artist asked strangers to post notes on New York’s subway walls to express their feelings about election
The idea took off. About 1,500 notes were left posted to the wall
Writing your emotions on a sticky note clearly helps
“We will be OKAY”
“Your Hijab is Beautiful,” it clearly says it all
“I will always stand by your side,” read another
“Stand tall. We will overcome and grow together”
“Dear NY… Walk into this storm with strong hearts and firm feet”
“I love you”
“Have a voice”
What an amazing day. 1,500 posts by so many awesome people
15Kviews
Share on Facebook
I've never seen my country so divided. Not everyone can agree all the time and be united, but it's never been like this here for all the years that I've been alive. It has been in the past, but it would be a shame for this country to move backwards and erase all the progress that past Presidents have made. I hope that all the violence and harassment is merely temporary and will come to a stop soon. My family and I are lucky that we haven't experienced any severe harassment yet after the election, but my friend's mother and brother had been egged by a car full of young racist trump supporters simply because they are people of color and they were told to "Go back to your country!" but they actually are citizens of the US, but those people did not care. I do not wish this upon anyone else. The election is over, we can get over the results and accept it, but minorities continue to be harassed out there. Be safe out there. Act with knowledge and not violence.
Very well said. Just remember that all the progress was done less by presidents and more by you - American people and your ancestors. And no, I'm not talking about your voting gestures, I'm talking about actual hard work and education. A president may be indeed in service of the people, or s/he can be selfish, or even immoral, but the ones who run your country is you. Never forget that.
Thank you for the encouraging words. I just hope that everyone else living here will eventually be able to open their eyes and see that instead of choosing to be divided from one another due to the color of their skin, sexual orientation, religion, etc.
I've never seen so many people acting like children having a temper tantrum. It's just insane. Do you think these are all the privileged, entitled people who always get their way? It's hard o believe they are adults. They are acting like this before anything has even happened!
I think it's mainly the uneducated people who gather their information solely from the media or word of mouth.
drama queens everywhere... Trump isn't the worst thing to happen in your life, trust me
Yes, my country is hell, not America and Donald. I live in Serbia...
Thank you, this is definetly not the worst Thank you
I meant ........... Thank you, this is definitely not the worst thing that could happen right now.
I LOVE this. Thank god not everyone there was not very many people getting cruel about others choices or the candidates. I love the words of encouragement!
this is an awesome idea !!
"still nasty" ? lol wtf?
Many women are proudly using this term since Donald Trump used it against Hilary at the end of one of the debates this fall.
If you need therapy after the election, you needed therapy before the election.
Cmon. Can we stop with the politics. It's over. Let's go back to seeing cute puppy's and not negative things. Start thinking positive!!
Steve Bannon is not a bad guy. The left hate machine is working quickly to brand him as bad It's what they do. If everybody can be convinced that Trump's people are bad, then everybody can be convinced to fight any Trump initiative, and then vote against him four years from now. The Democrat hate machine is experienced in such matters; they start early and never quit.
Like when Mitch McConnell stated publicly that he was going to stop all legislation proposed by Obama? That kind of hate machine?
Just hurry your head in the sand and distract yourself with things that don't matter. Let everyone else around you make this world better.
Well, no, it's not over, it's just started. Stephen Bannon was appointed as a chief strategist/senior counselor. If any of us value fairness, equality, human rights, dignity and respect, then we should be worried. I love puppies as much as a next person, but let's not let the politics slip, especially now.
What did Stephen Bannon do that was so awful? I keep asking this, and nobody can answer it.
You really want to keep talking about it. It's over. Hillary can't come back and win.
Yes, I was going to say the same thing, I can't agree more!!!!!!!!!!!!
If being in a democracy is that easy to you, rest easy. Others will oppose or approve things for you. Whether you like it or not.
I mean seriously. It's over. Why can't we just stay positive and HOPE that he does a good job. Not doubt him. Now. I'm ready to see puppy's!
My favorite is... "This is my kinda wall! #LOVEWALL" People need to accept what has happened and move on. As a country we are united, hence the United States of America. We will truly thrive if this country can stay together, and stop letting the election divide us. What is done is done, and it is what it is. #ILoveUSA Lets go.
Great way to express all feelings about the election without controversy. Well done to the artist that started this.
Silly left wingers. If they pulled their heads out of the clouds and engaged the real world, they wouldn't be so fearful.
Soon you will see what the real world has to offer when under a full complement of republicans, especially with Trump leading.
Good!
Just beautiful
We will only 'be ok' when we stand up en masse and say that we are NOT ok with bigotry, hatred, intolerance, and oligarchy. Until we do that... no, we will not be OK. It is not OK now, and it's perfectly OK for me to say that, because it happens to be true.
SyndicateCentral is in NYC right now, and that wall is COVERED in sticky notes.
Ha! Typical American. Rather than writing on post-it notes, why the hell you guys try to convinve that 44%, to vote? You all just ignored what's coming, tho whining is not a solution to relieve the guilty selves. Hey, i do not support Trump. But trying to tell you that it was already coming but, you decided to turn your backs and look in another direction. This was your decision at the time. Now it's time to man up and learn to live with the consequences of your decision.
ny ny, ny forever
Regardless of who won this election, there was going to be a sense of unease. The American people lost this election and now we need to get up, dust ourselves off and move forward.
I've never seen my country so divided. Not everyone can agree all the time and be united, but it's never been like this here for all the years that I've been alive. It has been in the past, but it would be a shame for this country to move backwards and erase all the progress that past Presidents have made. I hope that all the violence and harassment is merely temporary and will come to a stop soon. My family and I are lucky that we haven't experienced any severe harassment yet after the election, but my friend's mother and brother had been egged by a car full of young racist trump supporters simply because they are people of color and they were told to "Go back to your country!" but they actually are citizens of the US, but those people did not care. I do not wish this upon anyone else. The election is over, we can get over the results and accept it, but minorities continue to be harassed out there. Be safe out there. Act with knowledge and not violence.
Very well said. Just remember that all the progress was done less by presidents and more by you - American people and your ancestors. And no, I'm not talking about your voting gestures, I'm talking about actual hard work and education. A president may be indeed in service of the people, or s/he can be selfish, or even immoral, but the ones who run your country is you. Never forget that.
Thank you for the encouraging words. I just hope that everyone else living here will eventually be able to open their eyes and see that instead of choosing to be divided from one another due to the color of their skin, sexual orientation, religion, etc.
I've never seen so many people acting like children having a temper tantrum. It's just insane. Do you think these are all the privileged, entitled people who always get their way? It's hard o believe they are adults. They are acting like this before anything has even happened!
I think it's mainly the uneducated people who gather their information solely from the media or word of mouth.
drama queens everywhere... Trump isn't the worst thing to happen in your life, trust me
Yes, my country is hell, not America and Donald. I live in Serbia...
Thank you, this is definetly not the worst Thank you
I meant ........... Thank you, this is definitely not the worst thing that could happen right now.
I LOVE this. Thank god not everyone there was not very many people getting cruel about others choices or the candidates. I love the words of encouragement!
this is an awesome idea !!
"still nasty" ? lol wtf?
Many women are proudly using this term since Donald Trump used it against Hilary at the end of one of the debates this fall.
If you need therapy after the election, you needed therapy before the election.
Cmon. Can we stop with the politics. It's over. Let's go back to seeing cute puppy's and not negative things. Start thinking positive!!
Steve Bannon is not a bad guy. The left hate machine is working quickly to brand him as bad It's what they do. If everybody can be convinced that Trump's people are bad, then everybody can be convinced to fight any Trump initiative, and then vote against him four years from now. The Democrat hate machine is experienced in such matters; they start early and never quit.
Like when Mitch McConnell stated publicly that he was going to stop all legislation proposed by Obama? That kind of hate machine?
Just hurry your head in the sand and distract yourself with things that don't matter. Let everyone else around you make this world better.
Well, no, it's not over, it's just started. Stephen Bannon was appointed as a chief strategist/senior counselor. If any of us value fairness, equality, human rights, dignity and respect, then we should be worried. I love puppies as much as a next person, but let's not let the politics slip, especially now.
What did Stephen Bannon do that was so awful? I keep asking this, and nobody can answer it.
You really want to keep talking about it. It's over. Hillary can't come back and win.
Yes, I was going to say the same thing, I can't agree more!!!!!!!!!!!!
If being in a democracy is that easy to you, rest easy. Others will oppose or approve things for you. Whether you like it or not.
I mean seriously. It's over. Why can't we just stay positive and HOPE that he does a good job. Not doubt him. Now. I'm ready to see puppy's!
My favorite is... "This is my kinda wall! #LOVEWALL" People need to accept what has happened and move on. As a country we are united, hence the United States of America. We will truly thrive if this country can stay together, and stop letting the election divide us. What is done is done, and it is what it is. #ILoveUSA Lets go.
Great way to express all feelings about the election without controversy. Well done to the artist that started this.
Silly left wingers. If they pulled their heads out of the clouds and engaged the real world, they wouldn't be so fearful.
Soon you will see what the real world has to offer when under a full complement of republicans, especially with Trump leading.
Good!
Just beautiful
We will only 'be ok' when we stand up en masse and say that we are NOT ok with bigotry, hatred, intolerance, and oligarchy. Until we do that... no, we will not be OK. It is not OK now, and it's perfectly OK for me to say that, because it happens to be true.
SyndicateCentral is in NYC right now, and that wall is COVERED in sticky notes.
Ha! Typical American. Rather than writing on post-it notes, why the hell you guys try to convinve that 44%, to vote? You all just ignored what's coming, tho whining is not a solution to relieve the guilty selves. Hey, i do not support Trump. But trying to tell you that it was already coming but, you decided to turn your backs and look in another direction. This was your decision at the time. Now it's time to man up and learn to live with the consequences of your decision.
ny ny, ny forever
Regardless of who won this election, there was going to be a sense of unease. The American people lost this election and now we need to get up, dust ourselves off and move forward.