Some New Yorkers have complained that they miss the old subway platform kiosks that were recently replaced by vending machines, seeing the change as a sign that human interaction is becoming a thing of the past. Data Vandals has an even better idea: As part of the MTA’s Vacant Unit Activation Program, the artist-activists created the Data Vandals Newsstand, a data-art gallery on the downtown 6-train platform at 51st Street and Lexington Avenue. A colorful mural outside the former kiosk reveals New York’s history in fascinating detail for the 52,000 riders that pass through the station daily. Creative visualization of vital data includes the country of origin for each of the city's 8.8 million residents anchored by a freshly updated Statue of Liberty and a six-foot-tall rat mascot offering facts about the 6-train stops. Inside, the kiosk turns into a center for community conversation, with rotating surveys, changing exhibitions, in-person events, talks, music, and a free newspaper.
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