Lynne Yamamoto

The project comprises signs that display species of lichen that can be found in the neighborhoods around 14th Street. Lichens nearly disappeared from the city by the late 1960s largely due to air pollution. After the Clean Air Act (1970) and more recently NYC Clean Heat (2012), air quality has improved and lichens have been returning. An organism you might walk by without noticing, is important. This is also a reminder that air quality health issues and the pandemic have impacted and continue to impact New Yorkers unevenly. Special thanks to James Lendemer, Ph.D, Lichenologist, New York Botanical Garden.