Their Ideas Were - Water St. Dumbo, aes.47

Was there any other

way to tell 'em

their ideas were

crap?

aes.47

Dumbo, Water Street between Main and Dock

April 21, 2012, 4:00pm

This is one of those out-of-the-blue phrases that are more about a mood or character (Mad Men?) than a specific target. It is not, for example, a commentary on the surrounding street tags, which I love.

.

She Just Loved - Brooklyn Bridge Park Rosebush, aes.45

Or maybe,

like me,

she just

loved flowers.

aes.45

Brooklyn Bridge Park, rosebush 

April 21, 2012, 3:30pm

A nod to my great aunt and great grandmother today.

.

Way He Wrote - Henry St., aes.46

The tortured curves

of the "S"s

in the way he

wrote her name.

 

aes.46

April 20, 2012, 9:05pm

Chair outside Hibino on Henry and Pacific, Brooklyn

. 

What Does Writing - Main St., aes. 26

"What
does
writing
fix?"

aes.26

April 13, 2012, 12:55am

Standpipe outside Powerhouse Books, Main St., Dumbo.

Been carrying this one around a while. It's a phrase that has obsessed me since my first (and only) creative writing class (at NYU) taught by the wonderful writer Chuck Wachtel. Great class. Maybe never quite got over it...

Chose location yesterday afternoon, but too many folks around. Pics taken by my cousin, whose hand is in the first shot. Thanks, cuz!!

.

Tags 44-49

Made these tonight:

I have a PAIR in mind for the first time with this set. The last two tags (48 and 49) can be taken separately or read as sort of vague (and intentionally atonal) dialogue: "Was she looking at me, or looking at that guy?" "She is looking at you every time."

Used the Royal again to "stamp" the backs. Really funny to type a URL with a machine you don't have to switch off! Also, I got a new gold paint pen, and some new tags from an old-school stationers near Columbia University. The tags are only so-so -- they all have a narrow roller mark or something in the middle. Oh well, they'll do. 

.

Mosaic Benches in Harlem

Wandering around Riverside Church earlier this spring, I came upon this wondrous mosaic bench ringing Grant's Tomb.

The vision of Cuban-American artist Pedro Silva, the benches were commissioned in 1972 by CITYarts and the National Park Service. They were handmade by artists and community volunteers. Read more here.

They could use some care and repair, yet nevertheless these benches inspire me. There is so much love and fun and playfulness in them. At the same time, they radiate an important, rich significance, representing a city's efforts decades ago to mend and unite its diverse communities.