Musings

We took the train to the south end of Manhattan, at Battery Park. This statue honors Merchant Mariners. That’s Lady Liberty off on the left edge of the horizon.

The guys trying to save their comrade now face The Sphere, a 1971 Fritz Koenig piece that stood between the two centers of the World Trade Center, and was damaged by the debris that fell on 9/11.

Yeah, today was the day for outdoor sculptures, as we walked from the Staten Island Ferry terminal at Battery Park up all the way to Grand Central Terminal. Not directly…so many, many steps (devices differ on the count, but all indicate something like 20K).

We found crowds of Asian tourists and a few others at the Charging Bull (Arturo Di Modica, 1989). They posed next to the head, often holding a horn, and grinned for their photographer-friends. The other end of the statue they also photographed, but from a distance and without touching the bronze surface or posing next to it. Interesting.

Buildings are also sculpture, right? Daniel Burnham’s Flatiron Building was completed in 1902. I suspect the interior space is difficult to use, especially those nose-rooms. From the ground—compelling.

Posted at 10:04 PM | 2 Comments »

Don’t remember noticing this birdbath before…and I do walk by here several times a week (lately). I promise I did NOT pose the leaves. MaNachur did.

These steps were even more interesting when I was approaching and the sun was full out. Then, camera coming out of pocket, I watched it fade to this.

Thought you, Gentle Reader, might still enjoy it.

Posted at 6:10 PM | Comments Off on Architectural bits

I think this is birdhouse art, somewhat like a (Philip Johnson) Glass House, better as art than as a dwelling, at least in the city.

Okra is taxonomically* related to cotton, cacao, hollyhock, and hibiscus. The hibiscus relationship is obvious, although it looks nothing like a cacao bloom (to me, a non-botanist).

* Cladistics are…quite the brain-tease.

Posted at 8:40 PM | Comments Off on Floral profusion

Buildings hold stories.

Not sure about this one’s. The building’s been remodeled at least twice. Built in the late 1800s, the first refurbishment I know about was in the CCC days. The second was…after the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes” was shot…. The bench-pews are original. The tin ceiling. The supports for the balcony. The carpeting, other woodwork, light fixtures…replaced in the last go-round.

Exterior paint is fresh, yet the ever-present arachnids are fast to recolonize.

Braile and everything on this helpful sign: “Stair” (and nothing more). Meets federal requirements.

Pike County is not the most prosperous; hence, the brick exterior and wood-not-stone details inside. The main entry door does have a covered portico with marble-square flooring; so, they did work some in, maybe in the 1930s.

Posted at 10:22 PM | Comments Off on Building fact and surmise

My best image today: a picket fence shadow. No symbolism, just the (simple) geometricality of light-dark patterns.

Meanwhile, over in KW-land, consider knuckle wrinkles….

Me, I’m in favor of them…functional, and evidence of continued functionality, as KW indicates.

I’m not sure; am I off my feed? Not based on the rice-salad-stir-fry concoction I created and we enjoyed tonight…my knuckles in action….

Posted at 8:21 PM | 1 Comment »

There’s plain concrete…with a surface treatment (swab swoop?).

Here’s a different, knobbly concrete…with a decorative nut-husk.

On the other hand, this is a mailbox with living, green neckwear.

Posted at 9:34 PM | Comments Off on Personification

I’ve never seen anything quite like this…the water meter for a house in the neighborhood looks like it…overflowed with coagulating white…stuff. Strange.

Lots of rain lately, and that does alter the species assortment that is presently ascendant…also the dominant smells when there’s no breeze. Eau de decomposition.

I’m hearing duo iPhone purchase noises around here…the deals start at midnight! Must decide…what color?

Posted at 8:14 PM | 1 Comment »

Oblique sunlight this morning…highlighted some pleasures of being here…that have nothing to do with invasive critters, trees that may be ready to shed limbs (or worse), or other Facts_of_Life.

Not entirely sure why the window-glass fogged up; it was fine when I arose, and I sure wasn’t simmering a chicken or similar.

Posted at 9:07 PM | 1 Comment »

Massive industrial architecture, the aesthetic grace not offered through color and finish but instead (merely—mostly) through form and iteration, continues to amaze me.

For a moment, I watched this river-meets-river scene and thought of the Selous and a tributary. It was long ago and far away when I was there…and the landscape looked sooooooo-very-different. (Critters, too….)

Posted at 10:04 PM | Comments Off on Lost…in thought

I got out the camping gear, and did a first look-through to see if The Pile had what it was supposed to in it. Yup. Tent. Ground tarp. Cooking boxes (2). Sleeping bags are elsewhere.

Now to micro check all miscellany and find the sleeping pads. Latter are pretty important!

Posted at 8:06 PM | Comments Off on A bit rusty