Yoko Ono's Wish Tree at the Brooklyn Museum

My cousin spotted this today at the Brooklyn Museum and sent me a picture.

Inspired by my project? Or zeitgeist? Or kismet?

No, it's Yoko Ono's Wish Tree, an audience-and-artist collaborative project that she has mounted in locations around the world since the 1990s.

I imagine it is more inspired by wishing trees in Japan, like these in Kyoto depicted in Lost in Translation.

Yet there is a resonance -- dated phrases hand-written on tags, strung up on something outside.

Tying on wishes, hanging prayers.

Speaking to the wind.

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You Are Already Free - East Village, NYC

Spotted this phrase sharpied on a storefront gate in the East Village last night, on my birthday. (Would actually make a good tag...)

"You Are Already Free"

Houses in the Sidewalk

Spotted today this row of little houses inlaid into the gooey grout between two tiles of sidewalk. 

Outside 55 Washington in Dumbo.

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. 

Murder on Pearl Street

Came across this crime scene near the Pearl Street Triangle in Dumbo while out tagging today.

So funny!

Love Locks

Took these pics on the Brooklyn Bridge in 2009. Walked the span after work tonight and saw there are still some latched onto the bridge hardware.

I don't know what "the kids" call them, but I think of them as "love locks." And I do love them.