The Missed Connections of Sophie Blackall

gweyen

Story by gweyen

Published on Feb 07, 2012 in Watch

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(Music by Paul Layton, Buried Beds, and Malbec)

Brooklyn-based illustrator Sophie Blackall was in search of inspiration when she stumbled upon the infamous Missed Connections section of Craigslist. In this Internet realm of love lost and found, anonymous posters chronicle the one who got away, hoping that the object of their affection will remember the shy stranger who offered an umbrella during a freak hail storm. Sophie immediately knew she had found her muse. That fateful revelation led to a collection of tender works, culminating in her recently published book, Missed Connections: Love, Lost & Found.

Many of the illustrations for the book originated in New York City’s subway system. In a perfect bookend to her own story, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Arts for Transit program asked Sophie to design their latest Art Card — a prominent piece of subway art featured in most of the city’s newest subway cars. Her wonderful illustrations, featuring some of the characters in her book, can now be seen on lines in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, as subway riders make and miss connections, for all of 2012.

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  • VintageEyeFashion

    VintageEyeFashion from VintageEyeFashion says: Featured

    This brings me back to my childhood riding the ferries, trains, buses & subways of NYC. I made up stories about many of my fellow riders back then & seeing this makes me feel as though they have come to life. Brilliant work!

    1 year ago

  • mazedasastoat

    mazedasastoat from mazedasastoat says: Featured

    Awesome! I just love the idea of art in public spaces & the art concerned is so detailed & fascinating I could while away a long journey gazing at it &making up my own stories! I've been a huge fan of Sophie's Missed Connections since I stumbled ontothem by chance. The whole idea of the posts on Craigslist is so bitter-sweet... so many missed chances, so many "what if"s... a world of infinite possibilites, with people focussing on the opportunites they lost, the people they just managed not to connect with. I hope it teaches us all to seize the moment, smile at strangers & really interact with the people around us.

    1 year ago

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