Robert Hickman's permanent public art commission for the Woodhaven Select Bus Service street improvement project was commissioned by the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art Program and Department of Transportation. Hickman's proposal was inspired by the neighborhood’s rich history and the diversity of it’s dynamic culture and community.

The design objectives for this project were to:
• Show motion as a function of Select Bus Service;
• Reflect the rich history and cultural diversity of Woodhaven;
• Overlap the ever-changing culture with historical icons;
• Create designs that were bold and readable from a distance;
• Create fencing that has a cohesive look and feel.

To show motion, Hickman designed the fence panels as individual frames, linked as a series of images to create filmstrip sequences. He represented Woodhaven’s cultural diversity by creating patterns generated from individual house structures. A key in the lower left-hand corner makes it clear. Bold historical icons, such as carousel horses in different stages of movement, are overlaid on the background patterning. The icons stand out to serve a way-finding function. Hickman's series of dynamic icons and patterns will contribute the success of the Woodhaven Select Bus Service.

For more information about the Woodhaven SBS street improvement project click here.

All photos by Etienne Frossard