Tuesday, September 30, 2014

WTF ? A Wheel Cozy


Monday evening, as I entered the Natatorium building,
I saw this spare tire cover, a giant doily
someone had crocheted for her SUV.



Monday, September 29, 2014

Cellist on the Road


I took this picture through the window 
of the bus I was riding on Saturday morning.
I first met this man several years ago, 
carrying his cello to lessons.
He told me then he'd always wanted to play
and began to take lessons when he retired.
Here, at just after 8 a.m., he was on his way
to practice with a church group
he played in for Sunday services.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Hot Pink


The weather this first week of autumn 
seemed more like late summer.
There are tinges of orange in the trees, while roses 
bloom underneath them, one more time.
These roses glowed, vibrant hot pink in the noon sun. 
The more subdued red berries hung above,
preparing for their entrance while 
the bright flowers made a dramatic exit.


Saturday, September 27, 2014

Drama at Dawn


When I left for swim practice this morning, 
around 7 a.m., I was greeted by a dramatic sunrise. 
The soccer field looked like this as I passed. 
Just a block south, facing east again, 
I got this beautiful feathery and lacy bit 
to look at as I waited for the bus.
It was a beautiful day.


Friday, September 26, 2014

Sunset Commute


The big orange ball hung just above the tree line,
looking for all the world as though it was lined up with 
10th Street as we headed towards Speedway.
Another passenger and I had the same notion and spent 
the last few moments before it sank away, 
trying to capture a bit of the fiery orb 
on our cameras.


Thursday, September 25, 2014

Waiting


While I was waiting to start my own practice session, 
a man came into the Natatorium to swim laps.
With him he had this sweet, black Labrador 
Retriever, a puppy in training for
Canine Companions for Independence.


It seemed ironic that a member of this 
water-loving breed should be brought to a large pool, 
then asked to ignore it while his human swam 
long, lovely laps. But the puppy was noble,
waiting patiently with paws crossed,
and passed the task with flying colors.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Tord the Lights


As a rule, it seems to me that people like 
the little twinkling lights used to trim Christmas trees, 
so much so the lights are left up well beyond the holidays. 
Years ago, the lights used as a part of outdoor 
holiday decor around downtown Indy have become 
permanent fixtures in the trees lining the streets. 
They light the sidewalks, adding a bit 
to pedestrian security.
 Not that that has anything to do with Tord Boontje's
lighting projects, but I find the crystal branch
shown above reminiscent of the trees lining the
Ohio Street near Monument Circle.
This chandelier, called Night Blossom
created in 2002 for Swarovski, 
has flashing LED lights next to the crystals. 
In addition to the one shown above,
another one was wall-mounted.


Unfortunately, I've lost the notes 
related to this fixture. The decorative elements 
inside the shade seemed like the floral motifs 
found on ornately plastered ceilings 
or on porcelain dinnerware.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Affordable Delicacy


I love this stuff.
The interplay of delicate light and 
shadowy forms holds my attention. 
Whenever I see one of industrial designer 
Tord Boontje's creations, I want to look 
at it forever. I don't know whether 
I first saw a big book devoted to his work, or
a large, lacy curtain made out of Tyvek, 
but his stuff ranges from vases, to textiles, 
to lighting and furniture. I wanted one of the curtains
to hang in a window of my boat, so I could
watch how the reflections off the river interacted
with the tracery of the curtain.
And it's affordable!
Heck, he's even created a line
for Target!


Monday, September 22, 2014

Into Antiquity ...


This past weekend I explored a new gallery at the 
Indianapolis Museum of Art, 
one showing a large part of the museum's 
growing collection of decorative and industrial design. 
A lot of the items I've been familiar with since college, 
such as the work of Charles and Ray Eames; 
their work transformed our lives in ways we cannot 
imagine until we have it pointed out to us.
There are examples of beautifully made silverware,
twinkling chandeliers, clever lighting,
wonderful furniture, and a Dyson vacuum cleaner
to keep it all tidy. 

And then there was this, 
the 1985 Macintosh Plus computer.
Using elements from Pagemaker -- bullets, borders, 
Dingbats, lines and textures, I used the computer 
to design display ads for a local agency.
The bosses I had at that agency were evil cusses,
but I loved their Macs. Still do.
It was the first computer I'd ever used. Period.
The user-friendly Mac was a revelation to me. 
It felt odd to see my old friend on show 
in a Plexiglas case like some 
archaeological curiosity, but I guess it is.  



Sunday, September 21, 2014

IMA: Autumn Equinox: A Girl and Her Guitar


The beautiful young woman above 
was among fifty to sixty other guitarists 
who joined composer Stuart Hyatt 
in the performance/sound installation, 
E is for Equinox.


The musicians stood in a circle beneath
an existing sculpture, Team Building (Align),
 installed in the IMA 100 Acres.


The sound of the E chord being played was nice,
although it didn't seem to take over 
the (air) space with as much power as I'd 
have thought sixty guitars could make. 
Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable afternoon; 
people were everywhere on the IMA grounds, 
with family and friendly dogs in tow.




Saturday, September 20, 2014

Bench Lighting


At about eight p.m., several people were 
outside Eskenazi Health.
Some patients with visiting family members 
enjoyed the water features, while others,
 like me, sat on the long teak benches waiting 
for the bus home.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Reflections on Waiting


At night, the lights in and around 
Eskenazi Health create patterns 
of light and color, making the place 
seem to glitter and move in its own reflections.
This is not a place of fear and shadows. 
People are all around, sitting on the benches,
at ease in the beauty and light around them.


Thursday, September 18, 2014

On the Road


Just before the sun went down a few nights ago, 
I went to pick up some milk from a nearby 
convenience store. Drivers were gassing up their cars, 
possibly preparing for the next day's commute 
on I-465, the road just behind the store.


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Quiet Time


It was a mild afternoon when I visited this water 
feature/fountain outside the IUPUI Library, 
inviting one to enjoy a bit of quiet, 
broken up by the sound of the flowing water.
While this man took time to enjoy 
his lunch beneath a tree, 
others sat at nearby tables to study.

The brick pavers surrounding the fountain
held some of the sun's warmth both
in their baked clay and in the colors of leaves
fallen in the hollow of missing brick.
The pale yellow reminded one that autumn
is only a week or so away.


Monday, September 15, 2014

Early Morning Light


It was chilly when I got downtown 
early Saturday morning. I pulled my jacket closer 
around me as I walked over to Starbucks, 
a couple blocks away.
On the way, I saw these lighted flowers,
glowing with color against the gray morning.
When I came back an hour later,
the bright, happy flowers were gone, replaced
by purple cabbages.
Even though the calendar told me fall
was just about a week away,
the nurserymen digging away in the giant pots, 
confirmed that colder weather is near.
Bugger.


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Strike A Pose!


When I returned downtown Saturday from swim practice, 
I happened to see the entire Purdue University 
All-American Marching Band 
had been gathered for their official photo. 
The site was the south side
of the Indiana War Memorial, 
just about the only place with enough stairs 
to accommodate this large band. 


I watched the proceedings with a number of other 
interested on-lookers, as the band director 
(Of course, it was! Who else?) 
arranged this group of people to his liking; 
with each move he made, you could see the improvements 
in the spacing and line-up of musicians, dancers, 
baton twirlers, drum majors -- 
"Trumpets, I want each of you to move two spaces 
to stage right to fill in the line." 
"Flutes, I need for you to step down one row." 
"Dancers, I want you to move towards the center, 
taking out the two benches on the ends." 
Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.


And then, "Strike a pose!"
The musicians held up their instruments, 
the baton twirlers smiled prettily in their sparkly outfits,
the drum majors looked officious, 
the dancers turned their knees towards the center, 
the flag bearers got the breeze to hold 
their colors aloft, and the World's Largest
Drum was the center of it all.


Here is a YouTube video of a Purdue AAMB 
pre-game performance


Saturday, September 13, 2014

In the Library


It's a quiet place,
but it speaks to me.
When I was little,
time in the library was
an adult privilege, 
one I first enjoyed
when I got my very own
library card, when 
I was five or six.
A few months ago,
I got a card for the Herron
School of Art Library.
I felt the way I did when
I got my first card.
The words and the pictures
showing the artists' 
works and their lives
are all murmuring ...
inviting me into their world,
helping me to shape my own.
And this simple arrangement 
on a side table added
to the welcome.


Thursday, September 11, 2014

9-11: Still. Pissed. Off.


There's nothing suitable.
Nothing sad enough.
Never anything angry enough.
However solemn, 
silence does not fix it.
Hate does not replace the people lost that day.
It does not take away the lies told 
by people who used
that evil attack to further their own ends.
It does not bring back the people who've been 
sacrificed to avenge this deed.
If anything, we seem to be even more hated 
than we were then.
So many others have not.
Make no mistake,
I. Am. Pissed.

Purple Strand



As the sun began to dip behind the main entrance
of the Indianapolis Museum of Art,
someone seemed ready to make their entrance;
This strand of purple blooms stood tall 
above their green leaves, like an amethyst necklace 
set off against a dark green gown.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

IMA Model



It hasn't yet been two weeks 
since the Indianapolis Museum of Art welcomed
Roy Lichtenstein's sculpture, Five Brushstrokes 
to the Sculpture Garden on the east lawn.
As I was leaving, I saw that one of the pieces
was already being used as the backdrop
for a fashion photo session. 


Families were all about, many with small children 
in strollers, happily exploring the grounds, 
and taking the time to lounge under 
the tree-lined promenade.
On one of the park benches, I saw 
the model's accouterments, 
shopping bags full of fashionable clothing
and her own, neatly folded and piled.


The nice young woman taking the pictures 
told me her name was Evelyn Binkley, 
while the pretty model's name 
was Ciera. I doubt I've spelled their
names correctly because I didn't
write either down until after 
I left the Museum grounds. My bad.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Big Leaves



I love big leaves.
I enjoy standing under them to see how the sun 
shows their structure and creates designs 
where they overlap.


These are mottled, whereas others 
are solid green. I am used
to the emerald shades of the solid leaves
but these are, well, topaz and
other glorious shades the names of
which I can't recall.



Sunday, September 7, 2014

Misty Morning


Saturday morning, while waiting for a bus, 
I took a walk around Monument Circle.
Other than Starbucks, none of the little
 restaurants was open, with outdoor seating 
stacked in piles and chained 
against theft. The brushed metal texture
of the tables played a well-regulated contrast with 
the splotchy raindrops collected on the tops.


Friday, September 5, 2014

Summer Haze


It's hot here in Indy, and muggy.
We're waiting for what is called 
a "scattered" thunderstorm,
which I suppose means it could rain 
just about anywhere 
except on us.
Whew.

In the Ravine Garden on the grounds 
of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, 
the heat hung low, moisture
slowing the movements of everything
except goldfinches and hummingbirds.
Along with the bees, they darted among the flowers
on this quiet stream, gorging on seeds
and nectar. The hummingbirds will be leaving
any time now; they're just waiting for
that signal, that angle of the sun, that tells
them it's time to fly to Mexico.
The bees will go to their hive to care
for the queen, buzzing their way through
the cold winter, while people, stupid people,
insist on behaving as though winter makes no
difference to the cycles of daily life.
Instead, they will obey their corporate masters,
droning away in their cubicles as the blue
light on their computer screens
sucks away their spirits, if not their lives.


Thursday, September 4, 2014

Echinaecea


Spring seemed as though it would never come.
Summer was tardy, too, but once here, on the days 
it hasn't rained, it has been hot and muggy.
Now we are only three weeks or so from fall and,
if the tired leaves on the trees and the faded flowers are
any indication, it seems summer may leave 
us right on schedule. Damn.