In 2024, Mirror Magazine was conceived by Nolen Phya as part of their MA program in Urban Studies & Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The project started as a collaborative-multimedia project to document urban inequality in New York City through photography, mapping, archival technique and more.
The guiding idea was that by engaging local photographers to capture New York City through the camera and with a pointed focus, we can make clear to those with the power to make change what part of the bigger picture they’re missing.
In this next phase of the magazine the project turns its eyes to the IBX, a transformative transportation project that would connect Brooklyn, Queens and potentially the Bronx and Staten Island via one continuous train.
By documenting the areas nearby the future train line, this project will create an archive of images that will allow future generations to better understand our contemporary times. Additionally, by generating images of neighborhoods currently, we can step back and visually understand what may be worth holding onto versus changing as transit-oriented development ultimately accompanies the train as a whole.
We’re excited to continue growing this resource. If you’re interested in making a contribution, learn more here.