Sunday, August 28, 2016

IN Light IN


Friday and Saturday night saw the presentation of
IN Light INan 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.






Friday, August 19, 2016

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.



Thursday, August 4, 2016

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.

Monday, August 1, 2016

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.