I went to Strand Bookstore a few days before my departure and stood in front of the endless racks of postcards for $1 near the checkout. There's everything from the classic shots of John Lennon wearing that New York t-shirt to the ubiquitous "Gay St." street sign and a sizable number of cobblestones and tall buildings. I had this idea to engage in a kind of reverse tourism - to hand postcards from New York City to people that took the time to visit with me in their home town.
Staring at the variety I struggled to make sense of the message I wanted to send or imagine the audience for the cards I'd yet to meet. A few in particular drew me in and began to fit a pattern. I thought the cards might serve as a tangible version of my larger goal: to create connection and to try to find overlapping values. One of Central Park in autumn and another of the Brooklyn Bridge capture utterly recognizable places, but also great public works - a symbol of the beauty and practicality that is possible when government thinks big about infrastructure for the community. Having the government support and fund these kinds of projects seemed like a potential point of shared values between me and my imagined hosts. I nearly skipped one of the Statue of Liberty. At first it seemed too touristy or hokey. Now it feels like the best pick, though. Here is a symbol that is unapologetically American and embraced by citizens of many political beliefs, yet it was a gift of a European country (France no less!) and is an enduring symbol of our historic (if complicated) welcome to refugees from around the world. At the end of each conversation I give my host a postcard. Sometimes these places and symbols come up in conversation and it's great to have a photo of the very spot to give them. Other times I let them pick which one they like best. On each, I write a little note about our visit and something encouraging them to come to New York. I include my cell phone number and offer to show them around if they visit. Most people I meet won't come or wouldn't be able to make a trip like that because of health or finances. Still, I hope just knowing they have a willing host across the country in a place that seems so 'other' softens their thoughts of those of us that call it home.
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AuthorScott Illingworth is an Assistant Arts Professor in the Graduate Acting Program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and a freelance theatre director. Archives
July 2017
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