Cy Twombly in Downtown Indy

The textures and muted shades of concrete and brick

on a downtown building reminded me 

of Cy Twombly drawings. For whatever reason,

I can gaze at the artist's drawings for long periods of time,

lost in the lines and scratches evoking long-lost

civilizations and mythologies.

The rebar emerging from the concrete walls 

of this old building, and the graffiti below seemed 

to echo some of Twombly's interests. 

I stood there a good while, gazing at the wall, 

its textures, and subtle changes in tone. 

In a time when every imperfection is screeded

over by a coating of scratchy taupe stucco,

this wall was a visual delight.

Cy Twombly. Untitled. 1964/84. Oil stick, wax crayon, and
graphite on canvas. 80-1/2 x 98-1/4 ins.  Whitney Museum of Art