Pictures I Took Since August

I did not realize how long I had been working on my last art piece, until I posted the pictures to my blog.The last entry was in August. I have been taking pictures, but every time I was in front of the computer, I was working on that image.

These are some of the pictures I took.

I sometimes suspect that my phone camera increases the saturation on its images, but this silver fence really does throw some wild light and reflections around.

One morning in early October the rambling garden of the church arcross the street glimmered in the light.

Gentrification continues in Williamsburg. This brightly painted building facing the bridge is being eviscerated while its pretty shell remains.

I tried to photograph through the window to capture the sunlight filtering down through the roofless ceiling.

The graffiti monsters at the building's base looked forlorn behind the scaffolding, as if they were imprisoned. I wonder if they will be restored in the finished building.

This empty space will probably soon be filled in as well, the colorful tags hidden behind glass and steel.

A little November light

Kara Walker - A Sublety

I went to see Kara Walker's installation in the Domino Sugar refinery. On the web site it is described as:

an Homage to the unpaid and overworked Artisans who have refined our Sweet tastes from the cane fields to the Kitchens of the New World on the Occasion of the demolition of the Domino Sugar Refining Plant

There was a short wait outside. The sun was hot and the shift into the cool factory space was noticeable, as was the smell of molasses. The walls were painted in sugar.

Some of the boys made out of sugar have already melted, but others are still standing.

They leave pools of sugar on the floor.

The boys seemed to be watching the viewers.

The sphinx drew everyone towards her, massive even in the large space. It was a lot like a cathedral with the light filtering down from high windows.

Her head was held high in spite of the impossible position of her body. Her eyes were blank, certainly not engaging the viewers.

Some of my favorite details:

Her fist

Her thumb clenched between the fingers of her other hand

Her feet

The installation will be up until July 6

Admiral's Row Is Still Standing

Things have been a little crazy which is why I haven't been posting. There has been a slew of dentists, the computers have been in rebellion. I do not know if there is a relation beyond the fact that  both obstacles to my artwork. After a recent skirmish with the new printer, I went out to see if the demolition of Admiral's Row had begun.

The buildings are still there, but the weeds have moved in creating a small forest.

If they wait long enough, the weeds will do the demolition for them. I have almost finished with the dentists, soon I hope to have the computers mollified and I can get back to work.

A Last Look at Admiral's Row?

Back in February, I heard the announced demolition of the Admiral's Row. It was not unexpected, people had been speaking of it for years. Life was hectic and I did not pay attention. The other day, I passed the Navy Yard and realized that the buildings had not yet been torn down. Apparently, the two buildings that will be saved are being shored up.

I went back to photograph the buildings for what might be the last time.
 

There were some daffodils.
 

Some of the walls had been torn away, exposing hints of the interiors.

What is left of the roofs is totally collapsing.
 

With my beloved weeds dormant for the winter, the emptiness becomes apparent.
 

For once I could appreciate the old buildings that were quietly disintegrating.

More Moss, Some Autumn light

It seems that everywhere I go there is moss flourishing, even on the grimy streets in Chinatown. It is growing everywhere but on my patio. The light was heartbreakingly beautiful on Tuesday, and I decided to go to Central Park and check out the moss there.

Of course it was fabulous, cascading over rocks.

or gracing them with delicate feathers.

mixing with lichen.

Some of the rocks sparkled with mica, which is really hard to photograph.

This was as close as I could get.

I checked in on the elm trees since I missed their fall foliage last year.

I was a little early this time. Maybe elm trees have a very short period of yellow leaves.

There was another black squirrel.

I also saw a wild guinea pig, no doubt liberated from a nearby household. It was rather large and looked pretty content with its life. Before I could photograph it, a group of school children clattered by and the guinea pig wisely vanished into the underbrush. The park was swarming with children, everyone trying to enjoy one of the last beautiful days of the year.

When I was in the ramble, I found this bush with ivory pale autumn leaves.

I am entranced with its leaves and colors, but I was unable to identify it.

If anyone knows what it is, please let me know in the comments. I would love a bush like that in my garden.
 

This sassafras tree has my favorite tones of red and green.
 

Outside the park, there was a tree with its roots growing around the paving stones.

It almost looked as if the roots were upending the stones and tossing them around.