RAT ROCK PROJECT

In the densely built environment of New York City, a few sections of exposed bedrock remain — the last remnants of the natural landscape. The exposed Manhattan schist bedrock can be found in the city’s parks and sprinkled within the New York grid. On 114th Street, among a row of houses, sits a block of exposed schist bedrock, referred to as “Rat Rock.” The rock offers a special and rare connection with the original landscape of the area.

In my research of the land and the rock and their histories, I found myself continuously returning to the beliefs of the Lenape, the indigenous people of Manhattan. They had the utmost respect and appreciation for the land and all it provided for them. Their beliefs and practices served as inspiration for my project on Rat Rock.