Monthly Archives: February 2018

We are Tenement Inspectors in 1906

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“The tenants put all the schmattas on the ground, it is not me, what can I do?”

A report from Tenement Inspector Bayo:

On January 30, DS4 went to the Tenement Museum. When we got there we were tasked to become inspectors.  The first thing we did when we got there was have a conversation about tenements. Then we talked about how there was a law passed on about the way the tenants were being treated because residents in the tenements were complaining and writing letters and then the word spread on the streets and boom! A new law was passed and was about… you guessed it, living conditions. The things I am about to list are only a few of the requirements of under the new Tenement Law. There needs to be a  sink on every floor, trash cans in the hallways or outside of the building, and no rags on the floor in the apartments. In the apartment there should be a window in every room. That is only ⅛ of the  requirements that you need in as tenement.

When we were at the museum we were split up into two groups so it wasn’t too chaotic. My group were going to talk the landlord of the tenement. (He was Russian so I didn’t catch everything he said). So almost everybody in my group asked the landlord questions that were about the law and the requirements for it. It turned out the tenement sadly did not meet all the requirements of the new law. We were finding things like rags on the floor and much more but we don’t have to get into the specifics right now. But what the landlord said was very interesting because he said he used to live in the tenement and he said he now lives on 110th St and he said since he lives so far away he didn’t have time to clean the building but I think it was just an excuse for not being there enough. The landlord said he was aware of some of the problems like the broken flusher inside the bathroom and he was quick to assume that little Sam did it. Being an inspector was very fun.

From the landlord’s perspective I’m guessing that he wasn’t too happy with us inspectors coming in to his tenement without any notice and finding out that his tenants weren’t taking the best care of it. The owner seemed almost angry about the laws and disagreed with them.  An example of that is the outhouses, some of his tenants prefer to go in the outhouse rather than going inside. Also, he agreed with some parts of the law, for example every tenement should have trash cans so you can throw your rags out instead of on the floor. This is dangerous because fabric can catch on fire easily. When my group of Inspectors went to check the indoor bathrooms, we found poop on the seat, the flusher wasn’t working, the water was trickling out of the tap and the light and window was broken. The landlord was very quick to blame a tenant’s son, Sam, because that day he saw him running around with a bat but it very easily could be he just came back from playing stickball. This shows that the city needs to help tenement owners take care of their building.  

From Becky’s, the tenant’s perspective: Her apartment was not too big but it was very dirty with rags on the floor and chicken feathers on the stove. Becky said that she couldn’t get rid of the rags because she needs to sell them, which is very smart. She also said that the reason only one of the two lights in the room lit up was because gas prices would be too high. We asked her a few questions about the living conditions and what she thinks the building needs. One of the questions we asked her was whether there were any farm animals in the building. Just as we were asking that we found the chicken feathers and then Becky said that a neighbor had a chicken and she won’t tell who so they get in trouble. The last thing we talked about with Becky was little Sam and how the landlord thinks that he smashed the light and we found the bat! Becky said that she has tried to tell Sam no but he just doesn’t listen sometimes. Becky also agreed things needed to be changed around here.

Here are our recommendations:

  • City gives them garbage cans with lids
  • Takes away outhouses  
  • Lower gas prices
  • Get a janitor
  • Get new flusher
  • Get more light bulbs
  • Tell tenants to tell landlord about problems in the tenement
  • Take better care of the tenement both landlord and tenants
  • Landlord moves closer some could be there earlier
  • Charge less rent tenants can barely afford
  • Check everybody’s apartment for farm animals

97 Orchard Street Tenement Report

by Inspector Libi

At 97 Orchard Street, we inspected and reported the following: 

Today we met the landlord of the building. When we asked him some safety questions, he answered that it was not his fault, it was the tenant’s fault. He also claimed that the tenants do not pay their rent in time, and therefore, it is hard for him to maintain the building in good condition. He doesn’t live in the building, he lives on 110th street, far from this area, which is hard because he is the one who cleans the building and takes care of it. If he does not get there in time, the building won’t be clean, and diseases can spread. It is hard to be this building’s landlord because the tenants do not collaborate to keep the building clean and in a good shape. The landlord does not have enough money to fix windows, toilets and hire someone to clean and take care of the building.

Another person we interviewed was Becky who has two children with one on the way. One of her kids is Sam. She told us she would happily move to another tenement, but the rent is too high for them to pay because her husband gets sick when he paints houses (that is his job). Becky tries to support her family by making rags but they get all over the floor and that can be a fire hazard. Also, the apartment looks very untidy. Sam, her son, sleeps on a very tiny bed and water falls on him through the leaky wall. Her sink was broken, I tried to turn it on but it did not work. With a child on the way, it is hard for Becky to live there. Also, Sam has a stick that he uses to play with, however, he uses it in the hallway. This is not good, because he breaks windows and other things. Becky’s life is very hard. It is hard to live in a small apartment with five people and no basic things you need such as running water and working toilet.

The building was not clean. While walking in the hallway, there was a lot of trash on the floor and no garbage cans to throw the trash in. Additionally, it was very unsanitary and not in great shape, for example, we saw at least 10 cockroaches in the hallway and the apartment. It is important to note that the toilet was dirty and not working and there was no light in the bathroom. When we asked him, the landlord kind of did not take responsibility for the problems. He said that the tenants break things, and do not keep the place clean. He said, and I quote, “The tenants put all the schmattas on the ground, it is not me, what can I do?” There were a lot of violations in the building. For example, there were chickens in at least one of the apartments, layers of peeling wallpaper, no light in the hallway bathroom, and no running water in one of the apartments we saw.

In summary, I noticed a very unsanitary environment. There was paint and wallpaper peeling off the walls, cockroaches all over the building, and outhouses, which are unsanitary. Importantly, tenants were not happy. The rent is very high, and it is hard for people to live there.

In conclusion, on behalf of all the inspectors, I recommend to clean up the building, install trash cans inside, take off all the wallpaper, use paint, fix everything that needs to be fixed, and make the building nice to live in, or…

A Visit to “Gilded Cage”

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“It makes you feel free!”

By Reporter, Cy Fawkes

CENTRAL PARK- Deborah and Shelby’s fourth grade class set out on an interviewing expedition on one of the coldest days of the year. The brave fourth graders didn’t let the cold stop them from researching the gilded cage. They cleverly took the speedy F train to 57th street and got off. As they made their way to the cage they noticed a toasty waffle shop. Cy, one of the fourth graders commented by saying, “That guy’s so lucky. We have to stay in the cold!”

The interesting gilded cage was now filled with fourth graders taking notes and playing with the turnstiles. Cy noticed that it looked like a golden birdcage and knowing Ai Weiwei it probably symbolizes refugees breaking out of a birdcage (country).  “On the inside you feel trapped but you can break through with the entrance, ” exclaimed Cy.  Ai Weiwei made the cage so that you can look up and there is no roof. Cy says, “It makes you feel free!”

Cy and another fourth grader, called Bo interviewed Mark from the UK who was coming here on a business trip.  Mark had lots of interesting opinions. Mark had never seen any of Ai’s work so this was all new to him. As an answer to the question do you support refugees he said, “I don’t personally support them but, I guess they have to do what they have to do.”

From Arlo:

On January 25, 2018 we went to the gilded cage. The ‘gilded cage’ is a huge cage with turnstiles. The only thing I could possibly interview was a bird. Immediately I noticed it was the work of Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist with a bad reputation in China because he went against the government, but he has a good reputation in the U.S.A. He mainly raises awareness for refugees. The cage is open, so metaphorically refugees can get out of their country/cage.

I guess the cage is 40 feet tall. I think it was supposed to be in a populated area. There are a lot of people who live near Central Park…I think you already know it is gold or gold plated because of the name ‘gilded cage.’ I think he gilded the cage to make it stand out, so he can raise more awareness for refugees.

From Alejandro:

I think Ai Weiwei’s “Gilded Cage” symbolizes refugees and how they are trapped from leaving their countries and kind of imprisoned. Since there was no roof and a way to get in Its like his message was that they were being set free. This is similar to his other art installation in Washington Square Park.

From Bayo:

I think Ai Weiwei is trying to send a message about being aware of immigrants and seeing how we have divided everybody and we have to be aware for immigrants and refugees. A way we could build awareness is by putting posters around the school and what that would do is make kids remember every time they whine to their parents there are kids who are less fortunate. We could also make pins about kids who don’t have the same resources and things as us and the kids in our school who get pins can tell their parents and the parents told their friends and the friends tell their friends until everybody is aware.

This structure makes me think and reminds me that everybody isn’t as fortunate as me and there is lots of people struggling with serious life problems while we are complaining about our parents not getting us a device or a piece of candy. When I was inside the artwork it made me feel kind of sad because all these kids who are getting separated because of where they are from. What I noticed inside was there were turnstyles inside the artwork – it was in the shape of a cage. There was no roof which could be a metaphor for there is a chance refugees and immigrants could escape from the constant fleeing from place to place.

From Bo:

Given what I know about immigration and refugees throughout the years, I think Ai Weiwei’s big message is: throughout the world there are many refugees; these are all humans just like us and many of them are trapped in their “cage” (country) and they are stuck sometimes in that cage.

When given the opportunity to leave they will try to get out, which is represented in the turnstiles. They are all special like gold which is represented in the gilded part of the cage. So in my opinion this art means no matter who you are remember to think about refugees.

From Cece:

I think Ai Weiwei chose to place his art there because it has his own spot and across the street is a gold horse that is also gilded. I think Ai Weiwei’s art is to show people how being trapped in a cage does not help the world. I also think that he is trying to say that trapping immigrants out of the country does not help the world or America.

From Giselle

I felt very dizzy and claustrophobic because he wants us to notice how refugees feel.

On Jan 2018 we went to a piece of Ai Weiwei’s work called “ Gilded Cage ” . Gilded means highlighted with gold. I think Ai Weiwei named this piece of art a “ Gilded Cage “ because it looks like a golden cage. I think he put this art in Central Park so everyone can see it. I think the art represents people can’t get out of their country. This piece of art makes me think of a bird cage. I felt very dizzy and claustrophobic because he wants us to notice how refugees feel. I noticed inside the art piece that the bars can move. Outside of the structure that it was so detailed. I could almost see the brush strokes of golden color rushing down the cage.

From Hanako:

I think Ai Weiwei named his piece “Gilded Cage” because gilded also means privileged and only the privileged get to leave the country if there’s war or famine or disease or anything like that.

I think Ai Weiwei put this here because maybe he wanted to symbolize when people break out of the cage, they break out into the open and they can be free. I think this because both of the pieces that we visited were built at a park entrance. I think his message is, “Let them be free, they’re humans, just like you.” This structure reminds me of a giant cheeto… and a bird cage. When you go inside the artwork, look up and spin, it makes you go cross eyed and dizzy. Also when I went inside, I noticed that there were turnstiles in the cage that you couldn’t get to move. They remind me of trains which take you away and since you can’t get to them, it’s kind of like being trapped in your country. When I’m outside of it, I notice that it is very cagelike but there is also a big hole at the top.

From Harley

I think Ai Weiwei placed this here because it’s a public space that a lot of people go into (especially tourists) and the more people that know about it, the better. To me, the cage looks like a bird cage. Inside the artwork, I kind of felt trapped. I think Ai Weiwei’s message is that some refugees are stuck in their countries during things like famine and war, and that all people should be allowed into America. Also, we complain about unnecessary things, when people are dying while living in countries with bad situations going on.

From Macy

“We need to stand up and be strong, be proud and fight peacefully to make things right.”

The second we stepped into the cage I was amazed because it must have taken a year to make all of this. I think he put the art in this space because a lot people walk by it and it is close to Trump Tower. To me I think it means that we need to get out together. In order to be free. I think it is good that it is close to Trump Tower because we all need to send him a message for freedom and also for standing up for immigrants. I like that Ai Weiwei expresses all of his strong feelings and puts them into art. Instead of being violent he does things peacefully. Ai Weiwei is most likely to support DACA and the ‘DREAMERS’ because it is also immigration related. This is my quote: “We need to stand up and be strong, be proud and fight peacefully make things right.” I had a fun and great time learning about Ai Weiwei’s “Gilded Cage” piece of artwork.

From Palma

I learned that gilded means covered thinly with gold or something elegant, it can also mean wealthy or privileged. I think Ai placed his art here in Central Park because many tourists and other people what to come to Central Park to see some green and if they go to Central Park they might see the artwork then, Ai’s message will be spread around the city. I think that Ai’s message is that immigrants are important because they help our country. This structure reminds me of a bad bird cage, it’s sad that birds have to live in bad enclosed spaces, now Ai has made this artwork to make sure that nobody cages humans in their home country. My question is why do some people do not think it is good to have humans trapped in spaces but it’s ok for other animals? It was nice to see Ai Weiwei’s “Gilded Cage!”

Saffron reports:

On Thursday, January 25, DS4 went to Central Park to see Ai Weiwei’s art, “The Gilded Cage.” A fourth grader named Saffron had an interesting experience. She got to school that day with an excited look on her face. She did some morning work and then went out into the cold weather, really cold weather. She was scared to go on the train but she was brave and did it anyway. She got off the train with her class and walked to Central Park, and they found the art. Her class got there and they were all frozen, now their job was to interview people admiring the art. Saffron and her partner Sonia went up to these two women named Sarah and Karen, they were both born in the US. They knew everything about the art. But this one they didn’t really like. They supported DACA and rights for everyone. I asked them, ”Are you a Trump supporter?” Sarah said “No, he is an embarrassment to our country.” Karen said she also when to the Women’s March and fought for DACA and for equality.” What really stood out to Saffron was that Sarah had a sticker on her jacket that said “RESIST.” To Saffron that showed she was a powerful woman with a big heart and a big personality.   

From Sarah:

I think Ai Weiwei named it this because it’s covered in golden paint and it is a metaphor for containing refugees and immigrants with the cage as something “with a showy or pleasing appearance hiding something of little worth” which represents the refugees. I think it was placed in this location because there is another gilded thing around; the golden General William Tecumseh Sherman monument. I think the message Ai Weiwei was sending was that refugees and immigrants are trapped in their country unfairly like this gilded cage. It reminds me of a golden bird cage with many thick pieces of metal with turnstiles inside. I think maybe he included the turnstiles because you move through turnstiles to get somewhere. When I’m inside the “Gilded Cage” I feel claustrophobic, small, and contained. When I was inside the artwork I noticed there are many layers of golden-hued metal. When I was outside I noticed that the layers are thick. I think Ai Weiwei purposely made it thick to be more daunting. Our trip to the “Gilded Cage” was interesting, informative, and cold!

From Sebastian

As I stepped foot on the cold concrete I felt the severe chilly weather. I thought, Brooklyn is so much warmer than here in Manhattan.

The 57th street train station we stopped at in my opinion looked like a prison because there was a big area that looked like a prison cafeteria. And the area where the railroad tracks are looked like the sells.

When I first saw outside I wondered how the earth’s surface looked so flat with all of the tall buildings. It felt colder than lower Manhattan.

As we finally arrived at the Gilded Cage it looked way bigger than I saw in the picture. When we went inside I noticed there were turnstyles and Hanako told me to look up and spin. It felt like I was on a tilt-a-whirl at Coney Island. I think this cage means kind of like refugees are trapped in their country and there is no way out. When I started sketching it I felt like my hands were going to freeze to death.

I wanted to go climb on the huge rocks that I saw.

I think Ai Weiwei’s message is to let refugees into the country because they deserve a right to have freedom. This structure reminds me of my aunt because she loves Ai Weiwei and when she came to New York she wanted to see “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors.” It feels cool to be in the piece because I want to climb it and I feel safe in it. I noticed when I was inside there were turnstyles and I wondered why. I notice when I’m outside a big cage that is orange with 5 lines going horizontally and 92 going vertically and an opening on the top and on the side.

I had a great cold time at the Gilded Cage and THANK YOU AI WEIWEI!!!

From Sonia

My other thought is “a subway station” because inside the bars there are turnstiles that you can’t get to. This is another message. I think showing this particular feature says that there are places that you want to go that you don’t have access to at the moment. It might also mean that there are places that you want and may need to go for safety but there are people blocking your opportunity.

From Theo

This structure reminds me of a bird cage. One question I was thinking is that why did he have turnstiles in the cage?

I think Ai WeiWei’s message to immigrants is to come for a better life and especially jobs, jobs equal money, that’s what gilded stands for. The immigrants are still in the cage.

It feels peaceful to be inside the artwork because in Central Park you hear the stomping of horses, birds chirping, and smell the  Belgian Waffles being sold.

From Deborah and Shelby:

Looking at art and considering some very big issues in our world on an extremely cold day in January could be a daunting experience. So when we happened upon this tree on our walk back to the subway and Fourth Graders spontaneously decided to give it a big hug, we smiled and felt warm because there was a feeling of appreciation in that moment.