“Harlem Reflections” by Michael A. Cummings spans thirty-six intricately crafted stainless steel panels integrated into the railing of the ADA-accessible ramp at Harlem-148 St station. Together, these panels illuminate the layered histories, communities, and natural landscapes that have shaped Harlem and Manhattan.

Fabricated by KC Fabrications, the panels are organized into six groupings along the lower portion of the ramp, forming a continuous visual narrative. Imagery of swimming fish evokes the waters surrounding Manhattan, particularly the Hudson River’s historic role in trade and ecology. Windmill-like forms reference the arrival of Dutch settlers and the origin of the area’s name (“Haarlem”). A recurring star pays tribute to The North Star, the influential nineteenth century anti-slavery newspaper founded by Frederick Douglass—also the namesake of the school adjacent to the station.

Cummings also highlights Harlem’s cultural legacy through motifs celebrating jazz and the Harlem Renaissance, including a close-up of a saxophone player. Other panels feature Indigenous symbols and representations of the native plant life of early Manhattan. The sequence concludes with a panel depicting commuters on a subway train, complete with interlocking 3’s connecting the cars, firmly situating the work in the present.  

Across the installation, the panels progress in shifting sequences, allowing Cummings to create dynamic narratives reminiscent of his celebrated quilting practice. From the presence of Indigenous peoples to the Harlem Renaissance and the neighborhood’s modern vibrancy, “Harlem Reflections” honors Harlem’s past while celebrating its enduring creativity, resilience, and transformation. 

A Harlem resident for more than fifty years, Michael A. Cummings is a leading figure in contemporary quiltmaking, known for his vivid fabric collage compositions that celebrate the African American experience through historical, cultural, philosophical and mythical realms. His work appears in major public and private collections, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the International Quilt Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Barack Obama Presidential Library.