Off-Center

While waiting for the bus the other morning, I was looking around

for something, something to take a picture of,

when I noticed the shrubbery at the corner had been removed.

Their absence revealed a cement base, perhaps for a security light.

With rocks in its water-filled center, it looked, however,

like an outdoor swimming pool for faeries had been revealed

to the passing traffic. Or a small drinking pool for birds.

While I took my pictures, I set my tote against the signpost, 

with my ever-present coffee mug keeping it company on the sidewalk.

It's a Beautiful Morning

As I left for work Wednesday morning, the day was dawning clear. 

The horizon to the east was just beginning to show pink as

the sun rose from behind the treeline. One bright star glittered

against the remains of an inky sky. I even started to sing --

"It's a beautiful morning,

I think I'll go outside for a while ..."

But it was cold. Frost covered just about everything.

A few weeks ago, roses bloomed, one last gasp of color before

a shiver of winter air flung their petals to the ground,

one kind of beauty replacing the other.

P.S.: This is mostly bull shit,
I'm already tired of the cold and
want spring to return. Now.

Entry

Visitors to the Indiana State Museum are greeted by this tall sculpture, 

INDIANA, its letters standing on one anothers' shoulders.
I imagine it wrapped in a big trench coat, running about the country 
pretending its a bigger more powerful state.

 The drive outside the main entry has this low-key installation 
at its center. The buildings in the background are hotels 

and parking garages. The winter brown brush is a wildflower garden.

Textured Tuesday: Black with Blue

Someone must have driven over the newly coated lot, 

picking up the fresh sealer as they went. Whatever, it created

the opportunity for the blue stripe to take on added character, 

creating the illusion of depth as it weaves itself from front to back

of the gray and black patches.

Winter Blue

The warmer seasons have faded away, leaving only traces 

of their color and flair. The browns above have

hints of their complementary blues, saving them from

drab boredom. The wilted blooms below

look as though they've been out all night, only to

be caught off guard by the colder temperatures.

Can you say, "Rode hard and put away wet?"

Acne Laughs ...

Ha-ha-ha! Ho-ho-ho!

Downtown Indy was busy this morning.

I first went to the Indiana State Museum which was bustling

with families milling about with kids of various ages.

There was a choir singing Christmas songs, with dutiful

moms and dads in attendance to see their beloved spawn 

sing all the standards at about three-quarters the intended speed.

I finished my shopping there, then went to Circle Centre Mall,

which was also packed with people in various stages

of holiday shopping duress - two weeks out, so still too early

for outright desperation. The dominant group

this weekend was the overwhelming number of teen-age

girls running about, their long, coltish legs sticking

out below little cheer-leading outfits, and their

hair as be-ribboned as any Russian gymnast's.

Apparently, there was a competition being held at the adjacent 

Indiana Convention Center and the girls were biding their time between 

events by wandering the stores with their parents.

Oh, yeah, "acne laughs at soap and water."

Walker

At various times during the year, I stand at the corner of Indiana Avenue 

and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to catch a bus.

Located on the northwest corner of downtown Indianapolis,

these buildings are two of the few remaining traces of what had once

been a vibrant African-American community.

Madame C.J. Walker was the country's first African-American millionaire.

Her skills as an entrepreneur made a success of her hair care products, which are 

still sold today. She incorporated her business in 1911 in Indianapolis 

as Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, producing 

a line of beauty and hair products for black women.

A life-long philanthropist, Madame Walker supported the NAACP

as well as the historically black colleges. She began the development of

the Walker Theatre and Building before her death in 1919. The project was

completed by her daughter and became a center of pride for the 

African-American community from the 1920s through the 1950s.

Along with the decline of the surrounding neighborhood, 

the building faded from neglect, becoming nearly derelict 

until its restoration in the late 1980s.

I've ended up by taking photos of the sign atop the building 

in various seasons and weather. The photo above 

was taken a couple days ago, while the top picture

was taken in April, eight months ago to the day.

I haven't been able to locate any details about this beautiful 

little building. When I moved to Indy in 1978, I knew 

the building as Arlene's Records. It's brick exterior was painted white,

surrounding structures were unsalvageable and were demolished.

This building has been restored in recent years and

enlarged to accommodate apartments and office space.

It's always been just about my favorite structure.