Client: New York Metropolitan Transit Authority

Overview

42 laminated glass panels were chosen as the medium for the Flushing Ave station in NY-MTA's Arts for Transit program. Artist Robin Holder designed “Migrations” to include symbols used by migrants to leave for others. Collaboration between the Transit authority, Robin, the fabricator, Tooley Art Studio, and sub-contracted fabricator, Meixia, resulted in a vibrant 421 SQFT installed on walkways and platforms.

Goals

The Metro Transit Authority program of art in the stations was extensive and varied. Glass was chosen be the medium for the Flushing Avenue station with extensive walkways to external elevators. MTA installed frames for the the glass, and then artist Robin Holder designed to fit the frame sizes. Duncan Tooley had been pre-qualified for MTA glass projects from prior submissions and his studio was chosen to fabricate the project.

Process

The artist and fabricator decided on the palette of glass to best match to the crayon colors from the artist's sketches. As the prime fabricator, Tooley studio converted the sketches to shop drawings with specific glass identity for each piece. These were electronically transmitted to Meixia International in Xiamen, China where the glass pieces were water-jet cut and edge-laminated together. The assembled panels were then laminated to a half-inch clear substrate.

Additional Information

The project was almost cancelled after fabrication because MTA had just ceased installing smooth glass, like these panels, within reach of being damaged. Tooley Glass Studio developed a solution that permitted the installation. A rough textured clear glass overlay is unattractive to vandal etchers, yet does not distort the art. It is both tempered and safety fabric backed.