Ubiquitous

Looking like some odd portrait for a family

of circus acrobats, these chairs are stacked in a backyard

on Indy's Old Northside neighborhood.

The neighborhood is made up of numerous homes

in various stages of restoration, renewal,

and remodeling.

These pictures were taken Wednesday evening

as I walked a couple blocks from 

the bus stop to the Indiana Landmarks Center.

At one corner, a contractor who obviously

 took pride in his work, had embedded

a small plaque in a sidewalk he had installed.

While I couldn't find information

related to the sidewalks in this neighborhood,

Mr. Foster was responsible for the

construction of sidewalks, about a half

mile away, in July of 1893.

Here, nearly 125 years later, the quality

of the man's work is still apparent

in that it is still in use.

Autumn in the Streets

November Theme Day: Out of Focus

My little camera is too small to take super-sharp 

action pictures. It's too dark in the Natatorium to get

clear shots of the swimmers at speed: 

in natural light, they appear blurred, but when I

adjust the shutter speed, the light goes away.

However, I actually like some of the results, which I

use as reference for my drawings.

At times, the swimmers seem elongated,

 becoming even more a part of the water.

I like to watch how the liquid moves and flows

around their bodies, separates and then

rejoins its fluid self as the swimmer

passes through.

When I am swimming myself, I like

to see the water flowing past my goggles

when I turn to breathe; the more correctly 

I am able to swim, the more

quickly the water seems to pass.

I actively look for it and know to adjust 

my technique if it isn't happening.

And then ... and then, when I look at the bottom,

the water breaks the gridded tile into

facets and even the long black stripe becomes

diamonds, drifting away into a blur.

The theme for the first day of November, 

in case you haven't figured it out,

is Out of Focus. To see how other members of

the City Daily Photo portal have

interpreted the theme, just click on the

nearby link, or on the CDP badge

to the right of this post. 

Abstract with Red Splotch and Little Green Seeds

More street art, where the red splotch

took on a batch of tiny seeds,

reminded me of the work of abstract-

expressionist artist Robert Motherwell.

Maybe its appropriate, because

I was just leaving the Herron School of Art

when I saw this tiny bit of color

on the granite steps to the building.

Beside the Sea, no. 45. 1967
Acrylic and ink on paper

Gone Swimmin'

I got up early Saturday morning to be able 

to get to a swim meet on time. Afraid I'd sleep through 

the electronic beep of my radio alarm, 

I hadn't slept much the night before, so I was up

at 5 a.m., showered, had breakfast, made certain

my backpack had all the stuff I needed,

then left to catch the 5:45 bus.

A few minutes later, the bus rolled up, a giant

black box on wheels that held its light inside,

a lantern I could sit inside as the beacon

made its way downtown.

After transferring to a second bus

I arrived at an intersection where I walked

a few blocks east to the Ruth Lilly
Recreation Center found an outside entrance 
to the pool then sat down to watch the U of I
swim team's morning practice. 
On the way, I saw a lot of sculptures
dotting the campus grounds, some of them swooping
into space, others coming out of the ground,
as though born there.
The just emerging dawn lent a fresh feel
to the atmosphere and I felt as though I was
the first to see the world that day,
clean and new, unspoiled by greed and
current events.

It Ain't Easy ...

It's rained off and on nearly all weekend,

sometimes a gentle, misting shower, other times

a drenching downpour.

This was indicated by the way the rain

had soaked the utility pole on West 86th Street.

Wind had blown the precipitation nearly

around the pole, leaving a long, dry streak on

its north side. The result was a lovely,

jade green band in the middle of a field of

almost olive green. 

I Didn't Want to Look ...

I almost didn't.

I went to a morning swim practice

Monday at the Riviera Club, then took 
the bus home. While headed west on 10th Street,

I saw two young women standing in the middle of 

the street. As traffic passed on both sides

of the women, I wondered, "What the hell?"

because the street is narrow.  

"What the HELL were they doing there?"

The bus slowed down and,

just before it reached where the women 

were standing, the bus driver screamed, 

braking to an immediate halt.

She unbuckled and leaped from her seat,

and was quickly on her phone to call for help. 

An oncoming driver had hit one of the women. 

I couldn't bring myself to look ... I don't have 

the emergency skills to assist an injured person. 

But when I finally looked ...  

the driver of the truck had come to a stop 

on the sidewalk and was out to check on the person

he'd hit. Other cars had stopped, the drivers had

gotten out to assist the victim and to

direct traffic around the scene. One of the bus

passengers was a practical nurse on her

way home from work. She pulled an

extra pair of surgical gloves from her pocket,

putting them on as she went to help.

On of the passers-by was an EMT who also

stayed on the scene.

It seems that anyone who had a phone

had called 9-1-1.

I see hatred and prejudice every day reflected

in the posts on FB and other on-line outlets.

But I didn't see it there, in the middle of the street

on Monday afternoon. All I saw was people,

black and white, working to help someone who'd

been injured. She was crying, scared, and hurt, 

but she wasn't alone.

Strangers had stopped to help.

I was reminded that I need to 1) take first aid classes;

2) people are generally decent and will do the right

thing; 3) never stand in the middle of the road 

to wait for traffic to pass, and 4) no one, except for

the POTUS or his equivalent, or a doctor, needs to be on

their cell phone while driving.

Wannabe Terrazzo

These spots of sidewalk are located just outside 

the entry to the IUPUI Natatorium,

heaved above the level pavement by the winter cold.

 Rather than dig them up and replace them,

crews have taken to smoothing down the

uneven edges to match their mates.

You can see the arcs made by the grinders, 

reflected by the light from the wet pavement.

Library: Theme Day, Three Days Late

Just short of a year ago, I posted about a series of art 

installations called The Public Collection.

You can read these posts here, here, and here.
They have proved to be popular, so much so that
the library is asking the public for donations of books
in order to replenish the sites' offerings.

Originally there were nine stations opened 

at various sites around the city.

Recently it was announced that a tenth

site will be added early next year

and that one of the installations at the IMA

will be moved to the 

Marion County Juvenile Center in order to

provide more books and art for the 

children at that facility.

IN Light IN

Friday and Saturday night saw the presentation of

IN Light IN, an exhibit of twenty-four light installations

designed by artists from all over the United States.

The event was to honor the 100th anniversary

of The Indianapolis Foundation,

Indiana's oldest and largest community 

foundation meant to continuously improve

the quality of life for the people of Marion County.

Although it was a "rain or shine" event,

IN Light IN was hit by heavy rains a few hours

before the lights were to be switched on.

As thunderstorms blew through, flooding many

intersections, I was still at home, but decided to go

as soon as the rain turned to sprinkles.

I'm glad I did and that feeling was probably

shared by the other folks who came, too.

While some of the installations were 

literally washed out by the rain, most were

up and running on cue, their lights pulsating,

changing, and glowing in response

to both music and the movement of the crowds.

Performers and models in lighted costumes 

walked among the spectators, laughing, chatting,

and posing for pictures. Of course there was

food and music. A first-rate gospel performance by

Rodnie Bryant and the Indie Singers were

part of an installation involving the Bethel A.M.E.

Church, and Projected Visions was presented by

a pair of artist/musicians from Los Angeles.

As the evening dried out, more and more 

people showed up, in some areas they were 

shoulder to shoulder. More performers

were in evidence and, as the connections

dried out, more of the exhibits were

 activated. Sadly, I couldn't stay longer

to enjoy the additional fun.

I only hope that this is just the first,

the inaugural IN Light IN.

A Contrast in Grids

A couple days ago, I came upon 

this lovely tangle of knotted nylon.

The red tile and gray, gridded mortar 

on the wall provided a controlled contrast

to the sinuous coils of an unused 

volleyball net.

Wire Nuts

The most mundane things can spark my interest ...

These little red berries, sprouted at the ends of wires 

in digital phone lines, hang open to the elements.

They are street-side, near the bus stop 

I use to go downtown. I Googled "wire nuts"

to make certain I had the right term,

but there were none of these little red berries

shown among the images. However, they serve 
the same purpose, connecting tiny wires 
inside a mess of themselves in a small area.

I think they're cute.

Oh, Yeah, It's Theme Day: Doh!

It's another theme day and I've been rushing around, 

home-job-swim-repeat, for what seems like months, 

but has really only been a few weeks.

Gee, I even recall looking at the CDP page 

to find out what the topic would be for August, 

then promptly forgot about it.

Oh, well, here it is - a short presentation

of pictures of one of the many apartment buildings

that are being constructed in the downtown area.

I caught this moment as workmen were directing a crane

as it flew in some trusses for a floor in the new building,

just outside the Downtown area, at the corner 

of Massachusetts Avenue and New York Street.

The rents of most of the buildings starts at just over

a thousand dollars a month for a small, one bedroom

apartment. I have to wonder about this because

the property owners don't expect their tenants to become

long-term residents of their buildings; no, they

expect them to stay a year or to, then move on to

bigger jobs or to finish school and go on

to other places. In a state where the government

isn't exactly known for attracting businesses that

pay their employees a substantial wage,

who is going to be living in these buildings?

Where are the jobs and where are the educated 

workers who will be qualified for those jobs?

I also noticed that most of the crew working 

on this project are Hispanic. 

This is progress: earlier migrants seemed

to form the backbone of roofing crews who came

into the area during the summer, going from

town to town to put roofs on houses all

through the Midwest. And they do drywall

work, and they paint. Those that do good work

go on to have their own businesses, laying

the foundation for the new wave of immigrants

who will eventually become they mainstays

of their American working communities.

They are, perhaps, in the process of maintaining

and building the very neighborhoods

of which they will eventually be a part.

A Reflective Moment

This past weekend, I worked as a timer for 

the 2016 SwimFest, the long course championships 

for age group swimmers from clubs all over

the state of Indiana.

It is frenetic, crowded and noisy

with the shouts of family and friends

drowning out the sounds of the swimmers' 

rhythmic splashing as they swim

the length of the Natatorium's 50-meter pool.

Their slim, fit bodies belie the image

we get of the obese, couch-bound teenager;

these kids are fit, confident, and motivated. 

I am pleased to be able to help them

with my time because they also

serve to keep me motivated --

you have no idea how embarrassing 

it is to know that a 12-year-old can swim

any of their events in one-half the time

it would take me to do the same.

This pictures were taken after the meet Saturday night.

I was waiting for the bus as the sun set, 

and was able to catch the reflections of the fading light 

in the windows of the IUPUI Student Union 

building across the way.

A Bit of Macadam Plaid

Earlier this year, the street department worked 

to repave New York Street, just outside the Natatorium.

They made islands, installed new lighting, and

reoriented the stripes in some parking areas.

Of course, this has resulted in an area of nice gray

tweed, interspersed with a pattern of black and yellow

bars at right angles.It makes a fine clan tartan

for the families of all street workers,

spiritual descendants of John McAdam,

inventor of the method of paving

that led to the asphalt surfaces that now

cover our streets and highways.

July Theme Day: Look Down

The street maintenance department of Indianapolis

may not be so great at making sweet, 

tidy repairs, but they somehow manage 

to be sublime street artists 

in the Abstract Expressionist manner. 

Compositions such as these exist all over the city; 

I've taken enough of these sorts of photos 

to be able to mount a large exhibition. 

Consequently, today's theme, Look Down 

was right up my alley, so to speak.

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post images every day, allowing

viewers to see the world through the eyes

of the people who live in cities

all over the world. To see their contributions,

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Awww ... Urban Wildlife Watching

A couple years ago, construction workers converted 

a ditch near work into a marshy retention pond.

It's meant to hold overflow rainwater from surrounding

neighborhoods, preventing homes from flooding.

Last summer it seemed to be a wasted effort

because we had so little rain, but this year 

the reeds and cattails are happily standing in water, 

providing shelter for redwing blackbirds,

mallard ducks, and Canada geese.

A couple weeks ago, I noticed this goose roosting 

on a spot not ten feet from the road.

Last week I took another look and saw that

she had little bits of yellow fluff peeping from

beneath her own gray feathers.

Babies! She'd hatched her little goslings!

I could only see four.

A few days later, I saw she had gone.

I figured she's taken her babies to another, safer spot,

away from the dangers and distractions of human

intervention and annoyances.

Another coworker went closer to the nest 

and saw there were eggs.

Would she have just abandoned her eggs

or had she realized they weren't going to hatch

and taken her little family to a new home?

Dunno ... I Just Dunno

It rained all day Saturday.

When I first saw a group of these

guys walking down Pennsylvania Street

towards Monument Circle to ... who knows where?

I at first thought they had wrapped themselves in towels 

because they lost their clothes as participants

in some sort of mud fest

There were hundreds of them clad in various

styles of frocks from faded chiffon concoctions and

sequined mini dresses to "little" black dresses.

I laughed and shook my head; after all,

there is something disconcerting about a frilly tulle

skirt wafting around above a pair of stocky,

hairy calves. Every one of them needed instruction

in the niceties of wearing a gown. They reminded

 me of Vincent D'Onofrio as Edgar the bug

from Men In Black, who tries to master the actions

and mien of the human whose body

he had just taken over. 

Theme Day: Smell

The Theme for the first day of May is "Smell."

I posted another image of this same tree some weeks

ago showing its tiny buds against a background

of brown stucco. Since then, the flowers have come

and gone, too soon. All around, bunches of pansies

 have been planted in beds, against a background

of black mulch. Tulips have opened their

crowns to the sun and fallen away.

Today, hidden among the branches of its bush,

I saw the first rose opening, its aroma 

a promise still hidden amid the folds

of its petals. 

But I have smelled the rain,

those "April Showers" that bring

all the delicate colors I love so much.

And the scent of just-mowed grass

has wafted through the neighborhoods

in recent days as homeowners

wage a battle to keep their lawns from

turning into little jungles.

Pink

At the Car Wash

I pass through a nondescript car wash

on my way into work each morning.

Although it functions, it's rather dilapidated

and faded. There's no accounting for

some of the things I've seen in the half dozen bays - 

one time I saw a full-sized set of

mattress and box springs. One morning,

an engine block from a small car lay

on the floor of another.

Most mornings, I find myself

fascinated by the way sunlight illuminates

the yellow walls. A few days ago,

the floor caught my eye; the seams in

the concrete angled away from 

the wood-covered pit and tiny gouges,

made by the water from the pressurized hose, 

seemed to dance in space.

Stapled, Stabbed, Skewered, and Tagged

Where would we, the collective citizens of 

Earth's neighborhoods, be if all 

the utilities ever do go underground?

No longer would we be able to post news

of neighborhood yard sales, "wanted" posters

for lost pets and/or humans, directions to 

baby showers and weddings (often in that order),

cars for sale, and parties of all sorts --

Yahoo! Ain't it nifty! The big day's come!

Big John is FIFTY!

These poles have served us well; not only

have they carried news via their 'phone

and electric lines, they've served as

neighborhood news kiosks, posted with vital

messages made up from paper and pens

from a bygone era - the 20th Century. 

April Theme Day: The Beauty of Simplicity

T'ain't much, but I enjoy the way the vines 

are meandering across the silvery boards,

creating a line drawing contrasting 

their wandering ways nicely 

against the vertical fence.