Hearing Something Different

Subway PA system as artistic medium. Plus a Kingston edition of The Heard

Chloë Bass, an artist whose work often involves poetic public interventions, noticed something annoying. Her commute via New York City public transportation — time she liked to use for thoughtful reflection and creative brainstorming — was increasingly disrupted by official announcements.

Obviously some announcements are necessary, but she noticed how many struck her as stressful reminders of, say, police presence or if-you-see-something-say-something vigilance. They “were really wrecking my emotional landscape,” she told The New York Times (gift link) recently. “We’re constantly being asked to internalize the idea that we are supposed to be watchful over each other, not in a supportive or caring way, but to report things to someone else.”

Most people would just tune this annoyance out, and perhaps crank up their headphones. But in an inspiring example of how paying attention sparks creativity, Bass has devised a series of “sonic artworks,” collectively titled If you hear something, free something, taking place in the form of poetic announcements over the MTA’s actual PA system in 14 of its stations.

The “announcements,” lasting ten to 45 seconds, range from aphoristic observations to conversational snippets, sometimes cryptic but always quietly emphasizing togetherness and connection. You can hear some samples at that Times gift link. One example:

“If you teach me a lesson, it takes me time to learn it. But if you sing me a song, I’ll know it. We can sing it together.”

Another, in part:

Voice 1: “I like to watch people who are riding with me and imagine what they’re listening to in their headphones.”