This is a printed collection of fieldwork by students in Immigrants in Place (SS320) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.
Remedy for Homesickness
Moodies Record Shop
Off the 219th stop of the 2 train in the Bronx lives a cultural hub that has been cooking for years.
In 1973, the late Mr. Earl Moodie opened up his shop, which remains the last standing independent record shop in The Bronx. Moodies sells a variety of sounds but specializes in reggae records, some of which are original Jamacian and UK press. Peter working the counter recalls hanging out in the shop everyday after school, spending most of his lunchmoney on music.
Music is like a medicine he says.
70% of those living inbetween Williamsbridge and Wakefield are from the islands and have acclimatized into middle class living by turning the neighborhood into a reflection of home. The store is currently run by Mr. Moodie’s son Pierre and brother Richard who are planning to maintain the family’s business amongst the rapid changes that creep up to the North Bronx.
Times have changed Peter tells me
Pride/Precarity
How New York eats
Claro que sí…Sí, esta es la de Guatemala.
Didn’t I see you on a different ride, a bright shiny one. That one was nice…Yeah, that plate’s cuz I’m born in Panamá.
Thank you have a good night, brother.
Hoy toca guantes, eh.
Hola!
The Shell of Migration
From 8 borders to 5-Stars
“la verdad es que a mi me tocó fácil. en el darién no vi nada feo ni tampoco me llovió en la selva. pero cuando llegué acá me recibieron en un hotelazo”
“¿aquí prestan ayuda legal pa’ yo poder pedir mi asilo y empezar a chambear?”
after a tortuous journey that entails crossing more than 8 borders by foot, and challenging the densest jungle in the continent, Venezuelans are received like royalty in the american oasis. they are hosted in luxury hotels in midtown manhattan and provided with food and care. could life get any better?
they are also invited to high schools where they get (brand?) new clothes and guidance (in spanish) on how to start a new life. here, they make new friends and start dreaming about new communities.
i also want to sleep in a five-star bed. i also want to be protected by this shell. why don’t we all migrate and turn our lives upside down?
A bad taste of home
Paris Baguette USA
At 6:20 a.m. KST on October 15, 2022, 23-year-old Park was operating a sauce mixing machine alone when her upper body was pulled into the appliance. Coworkers discovered her the next day and helped pull her body out of the machine. The machine was covered with a white sheet as factory employees were instructed to resume back to work next to the accident site.
SPC Group (parent company) sent two boxes filled with Paris Baguette bread to Park’s funeral. On the same day, they announced the 9 th -wave of international expansion of Paris Baguette stores.
Paris Baguette has more than 4,000 outlets globally with 120 located in the US. They aim to reach 1,000 stores by 2030.
Streets like Seoul
2 mics, 1 seoul, 1 soul
�� Press Century Change to change the century of the song, and then, press KOR/ENG to switch from Korean to English when typing song information, (To play pop music, press Century change just once. You will see this tab on your screen:
POP)
�� Press Your Search to search by title, or press Artist Search to search by artist of the song.
�� To play a song, search a song using the buttons in Zone B (navigate the list with the controls in Zone A), and press Start to start the song.
�� While a song is playing, search and queue another song by pressing Resume instead of Start.
�� Press = to disable the score display at the end of each song.
Sunrise, Sunset
a home for everybody now for nobody
In East Village once, a market arose, Sunrise, a symbol, where culture once flowed, Japanese cuisine, sashimi so fresh, Authentic condiments, flavors would mesh.
COVID struck hard, and the market did fade, The laughter and warmth, now lost in the shade, Graffiti and waste, where life used to hum, A haven of culture, now silent and glum.
Yet memories persist, of the days that have passed, Fresh sashimi, condiments, a love that will last, Sunrise Market’s spirit, forever will dwell,
In our hearts, a reminder, of the stories we tell.
Through hardship and loss, resilience shines bright, A symbol of hope, in the darkest of nights.
Flowering of Loisiada
The home of AmeRícans
In the 1940s, many Puerto Ricans migrated to NYC LES which was impoverished at the time. To create a better neighborhood, they began to develop community gardens to create a meeting place for their neighbors. They built gardens with Puerto Rican flags and murals that reminded them of their home.
Walk around LES and feel the pride and legacy of Puerto Ricans.
AmeRícan, across forth and across back back across and forth back forth across and back and forth our trips are walking bridges! it all dissolved into itself, an attempt was truly made, the attempt was truly absorbed, digested, we spit out the poison, we spit out in malice, we stand, affirmative in action, to reproduce a broader answer to the marginality that gobbled us up abruptly!
AmeRícan, defining myself my own way any way many many ways Am e Rícan, with the big R and the accent on the í!
Excerpt from AmeRícan by Tato Laviera
A Stumble Upon Chinatown
A Walking Distance from Home
Strolling down Little Italy, Familiar sights, Chase Bank and such,
But suddenly, a new world appears, Chinatown, vibrant and lush.
Amidst the bustle and chaos, The food brings comfort and peace, A taste of home, in a foreign land, A feeling of security and ease.
Cheap and tasty, endless options,
My taste buds dance with delight, Sculptures and buildings, rich in culture, A whole new city within sight.
At night, bright lanterns shine, Memories from my homeland shore, Chinese gifts to bring back home, A story of a city yet to explore.
Lin Sister
Universal Embrace of Chinese Medicine
a month ago
This is an excellent herb shop and Dr. Frank is a brilliant herbalist. I trust him with my health completely and refer people to him all the time!
Abelo Almas
4 months ago
The staff here are very knowledgeable and the herbs selection is amazing. We always leave feeling much better and learning more ways to live healthier.
Ophelia
8 months ago
If there is any medical problems this is the place to come to. I love Frank he takes time with u do what he tells u and everything will work out for. Better then any medical Doctor. I will never give him up. I have family going to him now. In 4 days he’s feeling great. Thank God for Frank God Bless him and Staff.
Alice Forbes Spear Hallman7307 37th Rd, Queens, NY
The art deco building and its many lives spans almost 100 years of Jackson Heights community history
Do you remember when this was a movie theater?
- no.
On the edge of 73rd street, a silver building that knows many names of its own, where SINGH IS KING and Ingrid Bergman dances each night. Hollywood’s exile becomes Bollywood’s welcome and every good story begins with a Styrofoam bowl of steam.
What did you get to eat?
- Dhaal puri, one plate of momos, Begun vorta, and a ginger ale
LET’S EAT Absence
In March 2023, I conducted interviews with six restaurant owners around 150 th street Flushing Mukja golmok, also known as ‘Let’s eat Alley’.
“Hello. By any chance, can I speak to the owner?”
“He is not here today but will be here tomorrow. ”
“Is the owner here today”
“ The owner is not here.”
“Is the owner here today?”
“Not here yet.”
“May I speak to the owner please?”
“She doesn’t come everyday ”
“Is the owner in store today?”
“ They are in the kitchen.”
“Is the owner here today?”
“No.”
(RE)al (GO)od Signs
Where do you get a flavorful Chebureka?
Chebureki are a popular pastry dish in several Central Asian and Eastern European countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. They are typically made by filling a thin, flaky dough with a mixture of ground meat (usually beef or lamb), onions, and spices such as cumin and black pepper. The dough is then folded over the filling, sealed, and deep-fried until golden and crispy.
Чебуреки - популярное блюдо из теста в ряде стран Центральной Азии и Восточной Европы, включая Россию, Украину, Казахстан и Узбекистан. Обычно они готовятся путем наполнения тонкого слоеного теста смесью мясного фарша (обычно говядины или баранины), лука и специй, таких как тмин и черный перец. Затем тесто складывается поверх начинки, запечатывается и обжаривается во фритюре до золотистого цвета и хрустящей корочки.
צ’בורקי הם מאכל מאפה פופולרי במספר מדינות במרכז אסיה ומזרח אירופה, כולל רוסיה, אוקראינה, קזחסטן ואוזבקיסטן. הם עשויים בדרך כלל על ידי מילוי בצק דק ומתקלף בתערובת של בשר טחון (בדרך כלל בקר או כבש), בצל ותבלינים כמו כמון ופלפל שחור. לאחר מכן מקפלים את הבצק על המלית, אוטמים ומטגנים בשמן עמוק עד להזהבה ופריכה.
G(r)ay Area
Bushwick is so Messy
It’s easy to think that Bushwick is just “a bunch of millenial white guys who drink too much Two Hearted Ale, don’t shower, think they’re smart because they play with modular synths, and raise the rent.” Don’t get me wrong, they exist, but why do they get all the attention? What about us? What about the girls, gays, and queers?
Bushwick isn’t just for the gentrifiers, and the gray area is that it has become a space for girls and LGBTQ+ community to unwind and party. Designated gay clubs and bars have popped up all over town, and that’s where we have decided to congregate. We’re all young, energetic, and trying to find our place in this city. At these establishments, we can show off our fashion, music, dance, art, and culture. We can be surrounded by a community, that albiet, isn’t perfect, but somewhere we can belong.
Sacred Home Reconnection to Home, Land and Self.
“Before I knew what my show would be, I knew the 5th floor needed to be the space it lived in. What attracted me most is the natural lighting from the window. I work with so many different mediums, it was important for me that the space didn’t feel crowded. Sacred Home explores themes of family, home and culture as means of healing and reconnection with my Afro-Caribbean roots. Also, an expression of my personal journey through the 2020’s and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. With the birth of Onyx and the loss of close family and friends, Sacred Home celebrates intimate moments that remind us of the continuity of life. My favorite pieces is my painting of my cousin Shamain and the Altar. She was just a bright light and had an amazing heart. After attending her funeral in Grenada, I found this photo of her as a teen wearing blue. What stood out to me is the way the the trees and plants around her looked like they were cradling her.” N.M.
A Flag Signals
Advocacy or Acquiescence?
Every year, the Brooklyn Pride Parade March makes its way down 5th Ave in Park Slope. Ginger’s Bar, one of Brooklyn’s two lesbian bars, and the Flatiron Restaurant reside within a block of each other on this avenue.
The Park Slope Methodist Church resides at the corner of 6th Ave and 8th St, a 5-min walk away.
日落公園|La Quinta
Sunset Park: Intersecting culture through sports, food, and fruit
L43. Rib Tips with Black Bean
Lunch Special
$8.85
S10. Sesame Chicken, marinated and quickly fried sauteed with hot spicy sesame sauce
$8.76
L24. Pepper Steak with
Onions Lunch Special
$8.65
Quesadillas ala plancha with Rice and Black Refried Beans
$15.00
Tostadas De Tinga Marinated chicken with onion in red sauce
$5.00
Plato de Bistec a La Tampinquena Grilled Steak with Poblano Peppers
$28.00
“We sell best quality of the Chinese Pruduce and fruit!” - Amiga de China Supermarket
13th Ave Quiet Saturdays
Jewish Holidays in 2023
Jan 3 Fast of Tevet 10
Feb 6 Tu B’shevat
Mar 6-7 Purim
Apr 5-13 Pesach/ Passover
Apr 18 Yom Hashoah
Apr 25 Yom Hazikaron
Apr 26 Yom Ha’atzmaut
May 19 Yom Yerushalayim
May 26-27 Shavuot
Jul 27 Tisha B’av
Sep 16-17 Rosh Hashanah
Sep 25 Yom Kippur
Sep 30 - Oct 6 Sukkot
Oct 7 Shemini Atzeret
Oct 8 Simchat Torah
Dec 8-15 Chanukah/ Hanukkah
church by church
by church by church by church by church by church by church...
Rogers Avenue Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Eureka Christian Fellowship
Eglise Baptiste De Jesus Christ
Le Mediateur
Church Of God
Church of Pentecost
St Marks Baptist Church
Park Slope Christian Fellowship
Living Word Church of God
Christchristian Temple Tabern
Kings Church of Christ (Flatbush)
Divine Guidance Tabernacle of Faith Church
Church Of God Of Prophecy
Mission Tabernacle De La Bonne
Nouvelle
Calvary Gospel Ministries
Gossip & Cliques
A study of the tight knit Korean community held together by my mom chatting up a storm
The woman in blue is Chan Jeong, a mother of 2 and a part time eyelash technician. She has friends and connections all over Staten Island. A day in the life with her consists of going around to these particular nail salons just to show face and talk about typical Korean gossip: golf sessions, church updates, Korean news and exclusive insights on the drama brewing up in their community. These nail salons are a common place to find many of these ladies catching up on each others lives. They live all over the island in houses like anyone else.
The houses showcase the homes of some of the best nail technicians you will find on Staten Island. You won’t find a designated spot like “K-town” or “Little Seoul” here in Staten Island. Instead Koreans use these small businesses to help circulate gossip keeping each other interconnected.
In the Spring of 2023, 19 students each selected a New York City enclave and through research and fieldwork studied that group in place. They sought to see the unseen, and they delivered. The collective work challenges majority aesthetic norms.
This book, in your hands, at this very moment, is the point of it all. Because, really, who are you to decide what is beautiful?
Misplaced Press 2023
Cover design by Aneesa Razak
Cover art by Elias Freeman
Formatted by Yeji Kim
Production by Aneesa Razak, Ananya Malagi, and Ethan Means
Printed on a Risograph press on MP Multipurpose Paper
Course instruction and concept by Neena Verma