"Peace Through Understanding"

    Day one was hectic! I rushed through my morning routine and raced to the Merrick Station. Seventy dollars later, I was enroute to Penn. I had planned on reading the Blue Guide, but concern and worry set in, halting my ability to focus. I wondered if I'd be able to distinguish my group among the mobs of people, and the thought of losing seven points left a knot in my stomach. Luckily, I spotted my group quickly and with little effort. We introduced ourselves and Dr. Russo asked us to call him Mike. Keeping up with Mike was no easy feat. "Like Mike, if I could be like Mike," played in my head during our speed walk. I laughed and my nerves lifted. We arrived at our first destination, Flushing Meadow Park. I visit this park yearly to celebrate Colombia's Independence Day on the 20th of July. Until today, Flushing Meadow Park was a place for watching soccer games and celebrating my heritage.

From reading the Blue Guide I learned that Fresh Meadows went from uninhabitable salt marshes to the Corona dump by the 1920's. (BG, p.947) The Blue Guide also indicates that Robert Moses is credited with converting the filth covered swamp into the grounds for the 1939-40 World's Fair. It is not my intention to undermine the role he played, but something tells me he did not dirty a finger. I am grateful, nonetheless, for the results of the group effort.

While standing in front of the Unisphere, listening to Mike, I heard a message that hit home. "The Unisphere is a symbol of interconnectedness," Mike said. From this the idea of "peace through understanding" grew. Peace through understanding, I thought to myself, would have prevented so much pain and suffering throughout the years. Had the world embraced this concept in 1964, we would not be commemorating the tenth anniversary of September 11th this weekend. Behind my shades, my eyes filled with tears. 
The Queens Museum of Art was the next stop in our excursion. Here we saw the most impressive piece of the museum's collection, the New York Panorama. The Blue Guide calls it an "unforgettable architectural model of the city,"and I do concur! Just another reason to thank Robert Moses who commissioned its construction for the 1964 World Fair. (BG, p.497)
We learned from our guide that it took 100 people and almost three years to complete, and that aerial photos were used for accuracy. Viewing these 895,000 mini individual structures constructed before 1992 was mind boggling. This awesome recreation of our NYC boroughs was most certainly my favorite attraction of all! "The Panorama was one of the most successful attractions at the ‘64 Fair with a daily average of 1,400 people taking advantage of its 9 minute simulated helicopter ride around the city." http://www.queensmuseum.org/about/aboutmission 

When Mike and Meritta mentioned that they'd be treating us to an authentic Indian lunch, my eyes grew two sizes and my heart filled with adoration for our professors. I was so hungry, and such is the power of the mind that I smelled fragrant Indian spices form the train platform. I loaded my plate with Chole, Basmati Rice, Tandoori Chicken, and Naans. Lunch at the Jackson Diner was delicious! 

My feet ached as we walked up Steinway Street. I could feel blisters forming on my pinky toes, so much for those cool converse! When we arrived at the Museum of the Moving Image, exhaustion crept in. The collection of antique film projectors and television sets was great, but I longed for a chair to sit on. My prayers were answered, I found a bean bag and sat for Jim Henson's Muppets. My favorite attraction at MOMI was Miss Piggy in her wedding gown -           C L A S S I C!  

For me, visiting P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, was more about being in the building that housed the first NYC public school than about enjoying the "new and adventurous art." (BG, p.495) I guess I lack sophistication because the exhibit " Carved Wood in a Plastic Bag," made me laugh out loud!
A short walk from P.S. 1 we saw a different kind of adventurous art, a graffiti mecca known as Five Pointz. Some of the murals were elaborate and impressive, but a few images were raunchy. It was pretty cool to watch a group of artists at work." The name 5Pointz signifies the five boroughs coming together as one but, because of its reputation as an epicenter of the graffiti scene, the industrial complex has actually united aerosol artists from across the world." http://5ptz.com/graff/about/

Our final destination was a towering example of gentrification. I had visited this waterfront location as a kid with my aunt who used to live in Long Island City. It was entirely different than I remembered it. It has become a premiere area to live in, encroaching on what was once a community for the underprivileged. As an unaffected outsider, I can say that this community is like a jewel on Queens' crown; I'm sure many would disagree.