To Serve You is Our Pleasure: The Labor of Convenience
Abigail Lee Faelnar
Advisor: Kari Love
An immersive street cart experience that opens up a glimpse of the invisible and indispensable labor of a New York City street vendor by inviting participants to step into a cart.
Abstract
No one shows up for New Yorkers like street vendors. They are ingrained in the cultural fabric and history of New York City, reflecting immigration patterns and shifts in food tastes. Yet the hard work and dedication behind a pushcart are largely unseen by the customers who stop by for a $2 cup of coffee to fuel their day. These vendors must set up their cart in the middle of the night, endure a 12-plus-hour day, hitch the cart back to the garage after closing up shop, sleep, and then do it all over again, day after day. This thesis project sheds light on this invisible labor and the personal narratives of street vendors, centered on the installation of an immersive street cart as a proof of concept for a future exhibition.
Technical Details
An empty coffee pushcart is the vehicle for storytelling. By stepping into the cart, the viewer immerses themselves directly into the perspective of a street vendor, and experience a visual story projected inside with MadMapper.