Each year, hundreds of musicians flock to the MTA Music Under New York program to become officially sanctioned New York City subway musicians. This year, MTA MUSIC received 309 applications with audio samples and selected 82 finalists to audition. The MTA Arts and Design program, which started in 1985, aims to find the best subway performance groups to enhance New Yorkers’ commutes.
Diego Oliver, a student of the Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism program, brings us images of a few of these musicians who make our commute, memorable.
Subscribe to see more such content. Follow us on Instagram @DOCIT
Andrew Gounardes, Democratic elect for New York state Senate District 22, at his election night victory party, Brooklyn, N.Y, 6. Nov 2018. Photograph by Nora SavosnickJessica Ramos, Queens, N.Y., Democrat candidate for the state Senate District 13 answers a reporter during an interview after her meeting with supporters at the Palki Party Center, Queens, N.Y., November 6th, 2018. Photograph by Maria Muzalevskaya
Supporters listen to Andrew Gounardes’ first speech after his victory in the US midterm elections, Brooklyn, 6. Nov 2018. Photograph by Nora Savosnick
Nov. 6, 2018 – Incumbent Democratic representative Nydia Velázquez checks her phone for election updates at her official election campaign party in Brooklyn, New York. Photograph by Alina Tiphagne
An activist rallies in support of John Liu, a Democrat candidate for the state Senate in the 11th district, Queens, N.Y., November 4th, 2018. Photograph by Maria MuzalevskayaPhotograph by Anna WattsAndrew Gounardes, Democratic elect for New York state Senate District 22, at his election night victory party, Brooklyn, N.Y, 6. Nov 2018. Photograph by Nora SavosnickJohn Liu, 51, a Democrat candidate for the state Senate in the 11th district, Queens, N.Y., surrounded by his supporters during the rally in Bayside, Queens, N.Y. Photograph by Maria Muzalevskaya
Dani Liebling of Brooklyn, New York hands out leaflets for the Green Party’s gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins at the subway station on 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Photograph by Anna WattsMaynard Posner, 89, a volunteer voting inspector from Melville, loads a briefcase of election materials into his car on Sunday, November 4th 2018 in Melville, New York. Maynard has been a volunteer voting inspector for 20 years. Photograph by Max PosnerNov. 6, 2018 – Democratic representative Nydia Velázquez watches a television as the midterm results are telecasted during her official election campaign party in Brooklyn, New York. Congresswoman Velázquez was the first Puerto Rican woman to be elected to Congress. She has served in the US House of Representatives since the year 1993. Photograph by Alina Tiphagne
John Liu, 51, surrounded by his supporters during the official election campaign party in Monahan’s bar in Queens, N.Y., November 6th, 2018. Photograph by Maria MuzalevskayaMaynard Posner, 89, a volunteer voting inspector of Melville prepares the sign-in table for his election district at West Hollow Middle School in Melville, New York on Tuesday, November 6th 2018. To fulfil his duties as an inspector, Maynard arrives at the polling place at 5am to set up. Photograph by Max Posner
Established in the year 1994, Union Square Grassman is owned and operated by Stewart Borowsky. This eco-friendly business sells wheatgrass, micro-greens and sprouts out of a refurbished school bus at the Union Square Greenmarket all year round. These images capture, visually, a day in the life of an urban agricultural entrepreneur.
Photographs and captions by Max Posner.
Stewart Borowsky measures seeds for germination at his farm in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Stewart’s day begins at 5am.
Stewart soaks wheatgrass and micro-green seeds in the workbox shipping container at his farm in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The seeds need anywhere between a couple of hours to a few days to soak and germinate.Stewart waters wheatgrass in a climate-controlled shipping container grow-rooms at his farm in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.Wheatgrass sits on shelves at various stages of development in one of the grow-rooms at the Union Square Grassman farm. Wheatgrass takes less than a week to progress.Stewart pulls trays of wheatgrass for transport to his school bus before traveling to the Union Square Greenmarket.Stewart Borowsky transports wheatgrass from one of the grow-rooms at his farm in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.Stewart checks the supply of wheatgrass and micro-greens before he heads to the market.Stewart departs to the Union Square Greenmarket to set up by 8 am. Stewart pulls wheatgrass and micro-greens from the school bus during setup at the Union Square Greenmarket. Aside from a few part time employees to help at market and the farm, Stewart has run Union Square Grassman on his own since its inception.Stewart cuts and bags fresh sunflower micro-greens for sale at the Union Square Greenmarket.Stewart juices wheatgrass for sale.Stewart waits for visitors to buy wheatgrass and micro-greens. Stewart has been vending at the Union Square Greenmarket since 1994.
Max Posner is from Richmond, Virginia and is a student in the Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism Program at the International Center of Photography.
Follow Max Posner’s work on Instagram @maxwellives
DOCIT 