It was 2017.
We were celebrating our second year as full-time housesitters in Europe with a “treat” trip to New York on our way to visit folk in NZ for a few weeks. Autumn was starting to take effect in New York, with bracing temperatures that made us walk faster than usual for miles on end to explore and keep warm.
Sometimes when I get tired, I do tend to stare down, with my feet still surprisingly marching along even though my brain is screaming, “For goodness sake have a break”. Of course, I didn’t listen and we kept going. One certain wet afternoon we stumbled upon quite a few pavement plaques. It ignited our interest so much so that our energy levels were magically restored.
The Pavement Art I am referring to is the ambitious LeFevre project which lines East 41st Street between Fifth and Park Avenues. Bronze plaques sculptured by Mr LeFevre, all 96 of them, bear quotations from famous writers: Mark Twain, Langston Hughes, Albert Camus, Dylan Thomas, José Martí, to name a few.
Artwork illustrates their words.
As you can imagine we only managed less than half of them, as it was starting to get more crowded on that sidewalk with office dwellers streaming out of their offices.
Library Way’s location was thoughtfully created as the street leads straight to the main entrance of New York Public Library’s historic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
Here are a few I did capture as people rushed past me not bothering to look down.
Bohumil Hrabal [1914 – 1997] “Too Loud a Solitude”
Garson Kanin [1912 – 1999] “Born Yesterday”
We did manage to have a coffee break and a sit down in between reading and reflecting.
José Martí [1853-1895] “On Oscar Wilde”
Kate Chopin [1851-1904] “The Awakening”
Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826] “Letter to Colonel Charles Yancey”
To read more inspiring quotes on the streets of New York Library-way
Isn’t it so refreshing in this dense and sometimes overwhelming city that visitors and locals can see things that make them pause and reflect? I do, as these are the moments that made our time in New York magical.
To read more about our time in New York:
Two Urban Wanderers in NYC
NYC To New Orleans – The Amtrak Way
Life at No. 22 
Love everything about this. The quote about the press is my favourite, especially in view of our current time when there is so much information available but everyone has an agenda!
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Thanks Kim, and I couldn’t agree more regarding the saturation of information! Everyone has an agenda!
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enjoyed this post!😉
loved emily dickinson’s poem! ✏
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Thanks for commenting 😊
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I’ve never been to NY and haven’t heard of this pavement art before, but should I ever get there I will make sure to go see it, especially since I already want to visit that glorious public library! 😄 All great quotes but the one by Jefferson is my favourite. 😊
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Must agree Sarah, the Jefferson quote is an excellent one. Mine would be Emily Dickinson. Actually all of tgem were favourites as they survived the “editors cut” 😊
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They’re great, aren’t they? 🙂 🙂 Hope you have a good Easter, Suzanne.
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Have a fabulous Easter too, Jo🐣😊
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What fun, but perhaps a little overwhelming if you come across them all in the same place.
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It was fun and a spread out enough to digest what was written. Though to be honest I can’t remember the exact distance. The biggest thing was not to bang into people 😊 Not many locals walk slow to observe what’s around them!
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I know. Even when I’m being a tourist I hate how slowly tourists walk. I like to move with purpose.
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Love that art and especially the words.. 😉
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A different type of graffiti art 😊
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We didn’t see these when we were there, although we were in NY a very short time, I would’ve liked to have seen them, so interesting.
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Hi Sam, Perhaps on your next visit now that you know about them. Or find something completely different to share. Did you stop over in NY on your way to Canada?
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No, one time myself & Jon were flying to Florida we had an unexpected 24 hours in NY. Was absolutely brilliant, my only visit there so I’m really wanting to go back, 24 hours certainly wasn’t enough time 😊
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Yes, you definitely need more time though even living there it would be a challenge to see it all!
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The next time I’m in midtown Manhattan I’m going to check this out. Hadn’t known about it. Thanks, and have an excellent week.
Neil Scheinin
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You’re very welcome Neil. Have fun discovering new plaques.
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Fabulous idea. I’m so glad you captured some of them 🙂
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It is fab isn’t it. I reckon more cities should do it! I’m glad I captured a few as I still enjoy reading them 🙂
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Wellington has something similar with excerpts from writing about Wellington dotted around the waterfront.
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Oh I didn’t know that! Next time we head down that way I’ll have to keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the info, Su.
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Pavement poetry, reading, reflecting and coffee…what could be better??!!!
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Donna, I couldn’t agree more 🙂
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Wow! Wish I had know that when we visited – years ago. That’s fabulous!
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It was wonderful coming across it, certainly perked us up. Isn’t that the way, find more gems when the trip is over? Not enough time or money to see everything.
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Yep. You are right.
Btw, I have a technical hitch preventing my ‘likes’ registering 🤬
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Okay, is that from my end? I see that you have liked it. No worries as I enjoy your comments why more 🙂
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No, it’s not your end, I don’t think it’s me either, I think it’s s whole WP thing. It started with following posts from Twitter, now it’s any time, but I know other people are also affected this way too.
I noticed it after they changed the editor thing but I’m not a techie. V annoying
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I’ve found that Grammarly isn’t working correctly on WP. Your right Sonia it is very annoying. Unfortnately, along with change there is always going to be hiccups!
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How interesting.
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Hi Jude, I can still remember quite clearly walking down that street and finding them. I love quotes so it was a bonus reading as we walked.
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