In/With Chelsea

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October 2, 2019 – September 1, 2020

Installation in Chelsea photo by Timothy Schenck
A public art project that uses street signage to tell the lesser-known stories of LGBTQI+ Chelsea, Manhattan. The project was commissioned by the Highline for its North Chelsea location surrounding the Spur, the newest section of the High Line. The street signs will be on view from October 2, 2019 – September 1, 2020.

I organized a series of workshop hosted at the New York City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans Center (The Center) mentor youth program to collectively learn about historical sites in Chelsea and shared stories from the LGBTQI+ youth immersed in the culture of the neighborhood. The workshop served as participatory content creation for the final signage. The signs, used as visual references, use the language of political moments throughout the LGBTQI+ movement.


Collaborators: The Center Youth, SAGE, Ken Lustbader and Amanda Davis from the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, Walter Naegle, Solana Chehtman, Diya Vija, and Tanya Albrigtsen-Frable
Assorted buttons, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Image by The Center



Installations throughout Chelsea Photos by Timothy Schenck 
In/With Chelsea, The Highline, 2020




The Center Youth Workshops

In the Spring and Summer of 2018 I met with the youth of The Center in over five different workshops; we explored different storytelling practices including poetry, photography, and image making through collages. These pieces became the basis of the content for the final signage.









© 2024 Lizania Cruz