Artwork: "Subway Whale" (Peter Sis)

Artist Peter Sis wrote a book about a whale in 1992 called "The Ocean World". "For a person born in a landlocked country [the Czech Republic], the whales always fascinated me," he said. The whale's cross-section revealed an intricate gray labyrinth of Manhattan's buildings and blocks. A path traversing the whales belly showed railway cars chugging along. "The whale was absolutely one of my favorite works. It was created out of my love for Manhattan and was the most patriotic and heartfelt project I ever did. And the reaction of the public was amazing. I got phone calls and letters from all over the country," Sis said. Source: Interview with Sis conducted by Gail Roa Dumlao, "A Whale of a Ride", posted on thesubwaychronicles.com, since removed.