Almost Ready

Since March, the Natatorium at IUPUI has been undergoing 

the first phase of its renovation.

For a long while, water was kept in the pool to prevent

possible damage from falling tools.

The lane lines were loosened, floating on the water 

all summer. Recently they were removed,

the pool was emptied, repaired as needed, then

cleaned and polished. The diving platforms

were shrouded in plastic like a Cristo installation,

then they, too, were resurfaced, making ready

for the next practice of aspiring divers.

For months, I've stood like a child in front

of a candy store window, watching the tile setters

at their trade. Now the workmen are cleaning 

up the dust of their work, the pool has been refilled 

and will, once again, be cleaned for swimmers,

who will return for their practice sessions

in about two weeks. I can hardly wait.

Clear As Mud

The water flowing from the Central Canal into 

the White River looks as crystalline as one might want, 

but as the sign a few feet away advises, 

looks are deceiving. 

Segregation

After swim practice Friday, I walked over to the Canal.
While a bit cooler, the day was sunny and beautiful.
People were walking, running, cycling and
skating alongside the water, enjoying every moment.
I saw turtles sunbathing under the Washington 
Street bridge, a heron ot two in flight over
the river, and ducks and geese taking a mid-day
siesta. Their naptime brought about a question:
Why were they segregated?
Under one bridge, there was a flock of mallards
dozing and drifting in the water.
Under another bridge there was a flock
of geese. Well, the birds were primarily geese;
a few confused-looking mallards paddled around
as if wondering how they got there and
where were their buddies?

And then there was this guy.

Where did he belong? 

His expression makes him look as 

though even he is a bit confused
because none of the other 
geese look like him.

Another in The Public Collection: Nautilus

When we become engrossed in a book, we are taken 

to another world, visiting places imagined

and real that we can build on to change our world

and to become the person we want to be.

Artist Katie Hudnall has addressed this with Nautilus,

her contribution to The Public Collection.

This bookcase, crafted from materials resourced from

Indianapolis buildings and from crates used to

transport the artwork from old Wishard Hospital

to Eskenazi Health, is meant to evoke

the image of a ship, one that travels our imagination.

This bookcase can be found in the lobby of 

the Fifth Third Bank, just south of Eskenazi Health.

In the curled part of the shell, there is a little room.

Press a button and a light comes on

to illuminate a little bookcase; it is a staircase,

rising towards the light, or books carrying one to the moon.

In itself, that is charming, lending itself

to whatever stories one may care to explore.

Just a Sliver

Mornings are beautiful, even the gray, rainy ones.

Saturday morning, I left to go to a little

swim meet, and stepped out into a cool day,

with the sun just beginning to nudge its way over

the tree line. It was still inky black

and a sliver of moon rested its bottom

on a wisp of passing cloud, just below the

remaining stars. I stood at the bus stop and marveled

at it all. If I didn't get up early to swim

I'd never have gotten to see this wonderful,

starry morning.

Big Fish on Virginia Avenue

The southeast part of town, about a mile from the center

 of downtown Indy, has seen a large amount of restoration, 

renovation, and development in recent years.

I had occasion to visit one of the neighborhoods earlier

this week and was tempted to just set up

homekeeping right then and there.

The buildings are a mixture of restored storefronts 

and contemporary architecture. The result is a pleasant

neighborhood of businesses, residences, and

restaurants. For a number of reasons, it has always

been a dream fantasy of mine to live in a place

that was an old storefront with living quarters

just above, much like those shown below.

One day soon, before the weather turns cold,

I am going to get a bicycle to explore

the neighborhood to see whether such a home

would be possible for me.

It's right on the bus line, surrounded by little

restaurants, galleries, and coffee shops.

What's not to like?

Art in Speedway: Larry Poons

Well, not really in Speedway, but back to the Canal

where the leaves floating on the dyed water made me think

of artist Larry Poons' op art paintings from the 1960's.

The golden leaves floated at different depths,

giving a similar effect as of his "Northern Grave,"

where the colors undulated front to back

on the red surface of the canvas.

Poons, who is now seventy-eight, was one of my

favorite artists when I was in art school.

His Op Art paintings teased my eyes; I loved the

way the vari-colored ovals were balanced and hovered

on the background color. The first one I recall

seeing was green. It just sang to me,

which shouldn't be a surprise because

Larry Poons first studied music at 

the New England Conservatory of Music

before deciding to become an artist.

Mallard on Red Water

From time to time, the Central Canal is dyed 

to help promote a holiday or event. 

On St. Patrick's Day it becomes that nasty,

flat green. It is pink during Cancer Awareness

events. Monday found it an odd, dark 

red for, what? National Butchers' Day? Bleh.

No matter, because the reflections from

the trees complimented the water

and it didn't keep this duck from happily

grooming and bathing itself.

October Theme Day: Shelter

For the past year, the federal court building has been undergoing

renovation, maintenance and restoration.

Earlier this spring, I found stonemasons grinding out and 

replacing the old grout between the limestone and granite slabs

that make up the surface of the structure.

To protect the sculptures that greet visitors at the main

entrances, shelters have been constructed to protect

them from falling objects, be they stone, dirt, or human.