Paula Vilaplana de Miguel
Curatorial Associate, Architecture and Design, MoMA
Ghosts of New York City: A Feminist Approach to Haunting Urban Histories
This three-session workshop explores haunting as a feminist methodology to uncover the repressed histories of New York City—its vanished architectures, forgotten stories, and unrealized futures. Through tours and discussions, participants will navigate the layered past, present, and imagined futures of the city, centering narratives around the lives and contributions of women often overshadowed in traditional urban histories.
Each session will simultaneously look into:
- The Past: Discover remnants of lost buildings and suppressed stories of influential women.
- The Present: Explore how feminist perspectives reshape current urban spaces.
- The Future: Envision alternate realities for spaces shaped by the unfulfilled aspirations of historical figure.
The workshop culminates in a creative project: each student selects a site and “haunts” it with their vision, creating a narrative collage that reimagines the city’s future. Together, we will craft new perspectives, giving voice to what was and what could yet be.
Join us in reclaiming and rewriting New York City’s forgotten stories!
