Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Making the Installation Less Ephemeral


Months ago, I made a hanging installation of the transparent film I have been working with. I wanted something more permanent, less likely to curl.


So I tried different things and ended up encasing the film in polycarbonate with the copper tape used in stained glass holding it all together. I haven't quite worked how to hang it all together, but this is what I have so far.


I like the way it looks in the window, with the outside showing through the pieces.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Equinox Images


I had such grand plans for the autumnal equinox. I was going to photograph the midday sun at Stuyvesant Place, the Manhattan street which runs true east to west. I found some streets in Dumbo that almost line up east to west and I thought I could catch the sunset in alignment with the streets. Well, I am not a big fan of the midday sun, it is not the prettiest light. So I pinned my hopes on the sunset alignment. Unfortunately, clouds rolled in during the afternoon. Then just around 6pm, the sun broke through the clouds. I sped off to Dumbo. As I walked down the hill I saw beautiful glinting light on the most unattractive buildings. I hurried on, but the sun slipped behind a cloud again. It was so frustrating. So I went to the water's edge to capture the colors in the sky.


So there it is, the equinox puffy cloud over the Brooklyn Bridge


I also photographed the Eliasson waterfall underneath. The waterfalls had been a disappointment. So distant surrounded by protective fencing, they reminded me of all the barriers to the rivers of the city. I struggled to photograph them, they always looked boring. It was frustrating how such a cool idea could look so bland in reality. One night riding my bike over the Manhattan Bridge, the nearby waterfall was magical. Otherwise it was just the same-old same-old.

So I was surprised to find a view worth photographing at last, on the equinox.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Random Pictures

The light has been really pretty and ordinary things start looking all mysterious. These are some streaks of water on the sidewalk.


This is a burst sand bag on Houston Street.


And one evening I indulged in some subway pictures. I love the view when the train crosses the Manhattan Bridge towards Brooklyn. Lower Manhattan drifts away looking like a play set. The sun glints on everything.


This picture reminds me of a curtain being pulled back from a window.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Weed Growing Through a Fence


I have previously mentioned my admiration for the intrepid nature of weeds. This weed started growing on one side of a chain link fence and higher up grew through the fence where there was more room.


I do not know what kind of weed this is.


But I love the way its trunk absorbs everything in its path, including metal and electrical wire.









Tuesday, September 2, 2008

End of Summer



A few weeks ago I took some pictures of this tree under the sprinklers in the botanic garden. Then I put my camera down and relaxed for a while. I just let ideas flit in and out of my head and admired the light.







I went on a little vacation.


First to the beach, all sandy and salt in the air, then to the forest near a lake. The forest was where I found lots of cool moss.

The colors and textures were so different from city moss.







The night I returned to New York it rained and all the moss was blooming then next morning. I was inspired, hoping that I could soon start working with moss medium. Unfortunately, some hot dry are moved in right after and all the moss shriveled up. I just need a few cool rainy days and I will be in business.