Conservation of Matter: The Fall and Rise of Boston's Elevated Subway on Vimeo

via vimeo.com

This documentary follows the journey of 100,00 tons of steel from the Boston Elevated Subway, which was erected in 1898, demolished in 1987, then shipped eight thousand miles away to be melted re-formed into steel bars. These then cross the ocean again, where they are ultimately re-fabricated into a remarkable new structure in a surprising location. Workers, historians, preachers, politicians, on lookers, artists, children, architects, and astrophysicists on two continents address the significance of the process as it unfolds.

Have a watch, if you are interested in some Boston history. I didn't know a whole lot about the elevated Orange Line.

Posted via email from the minidisco

MBTA signage now available for...wherever

via underground-signs.com

The MBTA has joined New York City's MTA as part of Underground Signs' inventory. Underground Signs is selling replicas of signs in all 270 MBTA stations. For a brand that's hurting, it's an opportunity for the MBTA to get some positive perception out there about their service and build on some of the ridership gains they've seen in the last year.

Posted via email from the minidisco

Goldenstash

Before moving (back) to the Boston area, I spent four years living in San Francisco, where the (good) street murals and graffiti added to an already beautiful landscape.

Some of the first artwork I noticed in Boston was Goldenstash, a 70s looking male with a golden mustache and medallion that reads "GS". I noticed him in a few different incarnations. The most common is a headshot with golden mustache and medallion glimmering; less frequently, but just as importantly, Goldenstash is shown shirtless or seducing a woman. Living in Central and then Inman Square, I started to notice him everywhere and made a note to dig a little deeper on the artist behind him. Not surprisingly, The Phoenix was all over it, with a late-night interview with the artist.

The artist is in his mid 20s, works in the restaurant/nightclub industry, and speaks about his street art with the contained excitement of someone who’s relatively new to it [...] He sought inspiration from beloved Saturday-morning cartoons of his childhood, and created Goldenstash. Now, his medium of choice is wheatpaste, a transparent liquid adhesive used to glue paper to almost any surface, though he also makes stickers. “I’m living vicariously through [Goldenstash],” the artist says, citing a gallimaufry of personality traits and messages that he associates with the character.

Keep an eye out for Goldenstash -- when you notice him once, he'll be tough to miss again.

Related: The Wall (in Central Square near Central Kitchen)