United States Zoetrope

the masstransiscope artwork

in september 1980, independent filmmaker bill brand installed type of linear zoetrope called masstransiscope in unused subway platform @ former myrtle avenue station on new york city subway. consists of wall 228 slits; behind each slit hand-painted panel, , riders of passing trains see motion picture. after falling state of disrepair, masstransiscope restored in late 2008. since then, variety of artists , advertisers have begun use subway tunnel walls produce zoetrope effect when viewed moving trains.

joshua spodek, astrophysics graduate student, conceived of , led development of class of linear zoetropes saw zoetrope s first commercial success in on century. display of design debuted in september 2001 in atlanta subway system tunnel , showed advertisement riders moving past. display internally lit , 980 feet (300 m) long, animation lasting around 20 seconds. design appeared, both commercially , artistically, in subway systems around north america, asia, , europe.

in april 2006, washington metro installed advertisement zoetropes between metro center , gallery place subway stations. similar advertisement installed on path train in new jersey, between world trade center , exchange place stations.

at around same time, san francisco bay area rapid transit (bart) system installed zoetrope-type advertisement between embarcadero , montgomery stations viewed commuters traveling in either direction. bart ads still visible, though changed infrequently: particular ad may remain several months before being replaced.

the new york city subway hosted 2 digital linear zoetropes through arts transit program. one, bryant park in motion , installed in 2010 @ bryant park subway station, , created spodek , students @ new york university s tisch school of arts interactive telecommunications program. other, union square in motion , installed in 2011 spodek , students , alumni parsons new school design s art, media, , technology program in union square station.