news The story behind the strange 8th Ave. subway statues and the cartoons that inspired them

[Harry]

 

At the Eighth Avenue subway station, sewer alligators are not an urban legend. Anyone who’s been through the 14th St./Eighth Ave. station has probably seen the bronze gator sculpture — and probably wondered what it means and why it’s there. The underground gators — along with dozens of other whimsical creatures — are part of the permanent art installation housed at the intersection of the , , , and L lines. Titled Life Underground, the political cartoon-inspired project was commissioned in the 90s along with the station’s renovation. A certain percentage of each renovation budget is dedicated to permanent art for the station – and in this case that sum came out to $200,000.

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[Around the Horn]

My favorite artwork in the subway! 81 Street's For Want Of a Nail is a close second.