Moynihan Train Hall and Empire State Development—in partnership with Amtrak—welcome a new multi-panel video animation from William Kentridge entitled We Will Make Shoes from the Sky. As part of the latest installation for Art at Amtrak, the cast of characters in each video are based on real people from various moments in history, including World War II and the Negritude movement of African heritage. Tributes to iconic Black leaders such as James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, Aimé and Suzanne Césaire and more are shown facing the main waiting area of Moynihan Train Hall and confront the bustle of people moving below.

The portrayed characters are also the cast of Kentridge’s upcoming theatrical production The Great Yes, The Great No. Developed for the Luma Foundation, the show will debut in Arles, France in 2024 in association with the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. For travelers passing through Moynihan Train Hall, We Will Make Shoes from the Sky provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on iconic leaders who embarked on their own journeys of freedom and individuality.

Curated by Debra Simon Art Consulting