Friday, October 31, 2014

Where the Good Candy Lives


The word from the homeowner is that any little 
trick'r'treater who makes it past the ghouls, goblins, 
and spiders in this Halloween display will 
get a full size candy bar.


The haunting will begin around seven o'clock 
Halloween night, and continue until 
the stream of kids dies down. This home,
at the corner of Hollister Drive and 21st Place,
just off High School Road, has really been
dressed for the occasion.
The owners are looking forward to sharing
their handiwork with the visitors. 




Thursday, October 30, 2014

In the Neighborhood


This year, the leaves have given us wonderful color.
One doesn't even have to leave town to see 
the bright array of hues; it is in our backyards 
and just down the street.


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

String Art


I love the little tendrils of fiber as they 
spiral away from the fading leaves.
There must be a reason for it, other than
for the eye-pleasing curves and
twists of light against dark. 
Just across the street, other lines thread
their way across the surface 
of the sidewalk, little dried rivers 
of sediment on the concrete map.


Monday, October 27, 2014

Matching Set: Berries and Leaves


Unlike last year, when the summer baked the trees 
and rainfall was sparse, this year gave us just enough of each 
so that we've had a colorful, mild autumn.
At the Coke field, the growth along the creek was
thick with a panorama of rich hues.
On one side of the bridge the bushes were still
bright green, with vibrant red berries,
while a few plants on the other side provided
a different, more analogous palette. 


Sunday, October 26, 2014

At My Feet


The commute to my Saturday morning swim 
practice became something of a safari.
The buses were re-routed due to an event in the
downtown area, so I had to take different
buses than I usually do.
While waiting downtown, I looked up
at the hazy skyline to see yellow
leaves gleaming against the gray limestone.
As I rode northward, the sunlight began to
break through the overcast, making curtains
of golden light as it wove its way
through and around the autumn foliage.
Then, at my feet, a leafy carpet showed
its colors, a dewy tapestry 
in the morning light.


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Window on the World, Er, Neighborhood



I heard the alarm. 
I was walking down the opposite side 
of the street. I'd heard it often enough 
before, coming from a back yard -- 
a very large yellow dog and his equally large 
ebony coated cohort, barking their warnings 
to passers-by. This time, however,
the bark was a bit muted. I looked around
to see the huge dog standing
in the front window of his home,
the sort of space usually reserved for
smaller breeds of dogs, Shih Tsu 
and the usual little yappers.
This guy, though, made the small dog
space a big dog throne,
where he gazed upon the passing throngs 
of 'others', and kept guard 
over his particular humans' territory.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Autumn, Tangled


In the tall grasses, autumn was caught 
among the leaves, a bit of contrast
tangled in the green.
And, a few feet away, the grasses
had been swirled and matted.
Had this site been the overnight bed
for a deer, or a for couple companionable 
city dogs, safely hidden from 
passing cars just a few feet away?


Thursday, October 23, 2014

Fireworks Without the Sparkle


The lighting on the trees outside Eskenazi Health 
made their spiky twigs stand out like bursts
of gold and red fireworks against the night sky.


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Emeralds


A few tattered leaves, among the few left 
on trees outside Eskenazi Health, 
shine like emeralds against the night sky.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Night Patterns


At night, the different kinds of lights
add interest to the windows of buildings 
on the IUPUI campus, revealing 
patterns in the structures of otherwise 
mundane rectangles.


Monday, October 20, 2014

Around Here, the Pigeons Dress for Work



Life has even gotten harder for the local pigeons.
All day, the sounds of attacking falcons are played
from the top of the federal court building.
At night, DNR agents often can be seen, shooting
large caliber pistols filled with blanks
into the air to scare away roosting "pest birds."
At least one pair of falcons reside atop 
one of the Downtown Indy buildings, 
from which they hunt their favorite meal -- 
squab on the wing.
Consequently, some of the pigeons,
in an effort to blend in, have adopted camouflage,
dressing like the humans they see every day.
They've even found themselves welcome in grocery
stores, which have recently reported that the
otherwise unappetizing white bread has, for some
reason, begun to "fly off the shelves."


Pigeon Business was one of the many amusing
participants in Art in Odd Places, which took place
in Indy on Friday and Saturday. A trio from
Know No Stranger performed their "winged rat"
antics for passers-by -- spreading crumbs,
exploring trash, and running away at the
slightest hint of danger.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Time Passes When You're Having Fun


The installation shown in these photos was just one part 
of a Downtown event this past Friday and Saturday,
Called Swarming Time, the clocks were intended
by artist Jagrut Laval to represent a life force
struggling to maintain itself within an urban environment.
With the hour hands removed, the clocks showed
the seconds ticking by in our present.

I had seen the artist in the process of installing
his piece on the corner of a hotel located
just off Monument Circle; at the time there were
only hundreds of pieces of black tape
being adhered to the limestone facade of
the building. When I returned late Friday morning,
people were stopping to gaze in wonder at the clocks,
as well as a number of other exhibits
staged on Market Street, between 
Monument Circle and the City Market.

Art in Odd Places was full of insight and silliness,
qualities this city needs more of.
I hope we have more of these events in our future. 



Saturday, October 18, 2014

Dashed Lines, One With Selfie


On Friday, I went to the Ivy Tech University admissions 
office to inquire about taking classes.
I want to update my computer graphics skills, 
learn to put together websites, and to improve 
my design skills to compete in a more 
contemporary market.
There aren't many jobs available that
interest me at all; all I want to do
is art, photography, and river history related.
There are often jobs available with organizations
involved in those fields. I want one, so ...
back to school. 


Friday, October 17, 2014

Oh, Good Grief ...*


Other than the varied shades of yellow, 
what excited me most about this image 
was the contrast between the comparatively 
straight edge made by the last painter, 
and the squiggly edge made
by the earlier painter.
Pure fucking genius.


*Sometimes I get so excited about 
small things that I'd probably chase 
a red laser dot around the room.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Drizzly Night


This may easily be one of the more F'd up pictures
 I've ever taken, but I don't care. I like it.
What started out to be an image of four cyclists, 
possibly delivery men for a couple 
of the nearby restaurants, became a layered 
image showing the intersection 
of three separate stories, not one.
From the inside, there's me reflected in
the Starbucks' window, the tan and green plaid
of my jacket showing faintly at the corner.
Then there's the shopper passing through
the scene, a shallow blur of anonymity, 
while the four men chat among themselves 
near the bicycle stand.


Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Blue and Gold



Looking across the plaza outside 
the IUPUI Library, the Marriott hotel 
reflects sun and clouds,
adding color to the otherwise 
overcast day.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Crystal and Azure



Outside, the day is silver
The rain makes a crystal curtain
between that time of dreams 
and daylight.
Everyone needs a dream
to make the disappointments tolerable,
Something to reach for.
I reach for you, pull you to me, in me.
Your warmth spreads inside
Until I burst into stars
and rise, laughing,
to kiss your azure eyes.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Evening Sun


Just a few days before this picture was taken, 
the sun was a fiery, glowing orb perched
in the center of the road, just above the trees.
On this day, however, the sun has already
dipped below the treeline and the only
glowing orb is that provided by
the tail and head lights of the cars.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Hosta Situation


As the season begins to turn to autumn, 
the hosta browns showing its ribs.
Whether its shade-loving leaves were burned 
by the sun, I don't know,
but it looks as though its edges 
were seared by heat, not cold,
as it turns in on itself,
and bows to the coming frosts.


Thursday, October 9, 2014

Street Art: Minimalism



Long ago, the owners of an auto parts business 
on North Capitol Street painted over the glass block 
walls of their building. The blocks probably
replaced windows for security reasons while
still allowing light in the building.
Over the years, the blocks have been painted white
to keep passers-by from seeing the warehoused
parts. As the paint peeled, more coats were added
giving the surface even more texture. 


Pictures like these are easy to find.
Textures, patterns, and depth with just the right
bits of color are always around.
However, if one tried to create it purposely,
it's another matter altogether, one involving a clear
vision of one's intent and absolute understanding
of one's materials. I found a number of
paintings by Robert Ryman that illustrate this point. 
While called a "minimalist", his paintings 
are loaded with variations in tone and texture
that keep them lively and interesting.
Several years ago, one of his white paintings 
sold for $9.6 million. Next month,
expecting it to bring $15/20 million.


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Rising Moon, Ebbing Sun


The overcast broke up late Tuesday afternoon 
in time to give us this wonderful sunset.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the contrails
gleamed in its light and the shadows of semi-trucks passed
below me, beginning their journeys west on I-74.


I turned around to see this beautiful full moon,
gleaming proudly against the lavender sky,
as though it knew the treat it would bring during
the early morning hours.
Unfortunately, I slept through the phenomenon
of the Blood Moon and need to be satisfied
with the beauty of the gleaming opal I saw last night.


Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Going Forward ...


The day is so dreary it almost seems 
as if the sun forgot to rise.
The sky is thick with clouds,
a puffy quilt between us and the blue sky.
I am waiting, waiting for a phone call
to make an appointment for an interview, 
waiting for the workman who's supposed 
to fix a problem in my apartment.
The cat ran away when he came.
We couldn't find her, so now I'm waiting 
to have the work rescheduled and,
needless to say, I am waiting for 
my silly cat to reappear 
at some point in the next few hours
from a secret nook she's found.
Waiting.
What is the difference between waiting
and patience? So far this week,
I've missed two opportunities to swim
through waiting. It seems that patience is putting
in the work towards a desired result,
while waiting is putting oneself at the mercy
of others' whims and schedules.
My swimming is teaching me that I need to
be patient because it takes time to 
reach a goal. However, the act of waiting
takes away my control over a situation.
I am nervous and bored with waiting because
I want to be in the pool, swimming
towards a goal.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Cafe on the Canal


I went down to the patio at the Indiana Historical Society,
a place where I could sit out of the sun 
to write or sketch. Next to the Canal, 
the site seemed private, despite the constant parade 
of joggers, cyclists, and people in paddle boats.
Flocks of geese and ducks came in to alight on the Canal, 
sending up sprays of water as their feet braked
on the surface. I sat for a half hour, feeling as though
I had the place to my own. When I left, I realized
another woman had the same idea;
as she sat under a cafe umbrella, she read
her e-book, probably with the same
feeling of peace that I'd enjoyed. 


Sunday, October 5, 2014

Street Art: Too Blue


This time, it must have been the water utility guys, 
marking their lines along the Speedway streets.
A few feet away, traces of a spot where the blue paint 
was spilled marks the intersection.


And this should be imprinted on all 
of our minds by now, and we should make
certain it is the last time it happens.


Saturday, October 4, 2014

A Weekend of Classics


The Circle City Classic weekend, 
held the first weekend in October, is an event 
that's grown exponentially since its 
inauguration in 1983.
At its core is a football game between teams
from traditionally black colleges, with a band contest
between the schools' bands during the half-time.
From these events add on the CCC Parade
and a schedule that includes a plethora of pageants, 
clinics, concerts, luncheons and breakfasts.


These pictures are from the Circle City Classic 
Pep Rally, featuring the marching bands 
of the Central Kentucky University Thoroughbreds 
from Frankfort, Kentucky, and the 
Central State University Invincible Marauders
from Wilberforce, Ohio. I was doing a volunteer stint
at the Circle Theatre Friday night, so got to see the
Marauders. They performed a version of the
Star-Spangled Banner that was warm and mellow,
free of the histrionics that can be a part of
our national anthem.   


Of course, there was the usual contingent 
of drum majors, cheer squads, flag bearers, and 
dancing girls, like the pretty Tiara shown above.
Children, sitting on the curbs or held by their parents,
were enthralled by the sound of the brass 
and drums (as were their parents).


Just about every day, Indianapolis news is often 
dominated by the tragedy of another shooting, 
another young person, usually an African American male, 
dying at the hands of another. It happens so often
we tend to forget that the majority of people are working
hard to put their kids through school so they can 
become educated and productive citizens of the world.
These kids -- the musicians, the dancers, the flag
bearers, the steppers and line dancers
are representative of their parents' and neighbors'
efforts put the lie to the image we see too often.


Friday, October 3, 2014

Paddling on the Wide Open Waters ...


... of the Central Canal.
About a quarter mile south from where this
picture was taken, one can rent a paddle boat
or a kayak to explore the length of downtown Indy's
Central Canal. One will be able to see the
vast array of goldfish that have been liberated
in the waters and see mallards and Canada geese
who have adopted the water way as their own.