Fashioned Bridge
A poem inspired by a stranger's turtleneck and the reverie it caused
Written May 10, 2022.
Fashioned Bridge
Certain clothing is a bridge to reverie— your yellow turtleneck brings me to Three Mile Island. The Talking Heads— a ride in the old station wagon’s back seat— a long drive to Church, in reverse.
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Today’s writing
It’s incredible the things that can spark reverie in us. Last year, I saw a person in a yellow turtleneck. This brought me immediately to drives to Church in Amesbury, Massachusetts as a child in the 80s or 90s. My great aunt Lillian had an old station wagon with a rear-facing seat in the back. I always felt like we were breaking the law the entire time. I also wasn’t sure if we’d make it, or if this was the best way to travel, even for short distances.
I’m curious if you’ve had a moment where something simple inspired a teleport to your past. Was it an item of clothing on a passerby? The smell of a stew, or bacon, or a pie wafting from a neighbor’s window? A stranger’s perfume in an elevator? The light hitting a stream on an autumn morning?
Can’t wait to hear from you in the comments.
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Today’s art
From April 10 to May 15, I’ll be sharing my work on a project entitled 36 Days of Type.
I will be basing my alphabet on the work of Koloman Moser, of Vienna Secession fame in honor of my alma mater, the Savannah College of Art and Design. Each year, the design department did a show of the best student work in homage to the artists that ‘seceded’ from Vienna’s Academy in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some of the artists who became secessionists were Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, now household names.
“2023 Edition of 36 Days of Type is finally here! From April 10 to May 15, every designer, illustrator or artist is invited to share their own creative take on the letters and numbers from the Latin alphabet and share it with the world, as a global and simultaneous act of creativity exploring the boundaries of typography.” —from the 36 Days of Type website
When the 36 days are over, I’ll go back to being an editorial illustrator 2022’s works. Thanks for following along with me. If you’re on instagram, you can follow my work here. And you can follow what I’m sure will be an awesome curation of the best work from this project at 36 Days of Type. Maybe a few of mine will make it there too!
I’m also going to include quotes from designers, letterers, and fellow graphic nerds as often as possible. There’s some witty ones in this world, so this should be fun to share. If you have a favorite designer or artist, I’d love to hear your favorite quote in the comments section. I always find it fascinating to hear which quotes stay with us along our independent journeys.
Please feel free to comment on any post!
Like a graphic, hate a poem, feel some of my commentary is bizarre, or out of context? Do you want a print of one of the art pieces? Do you know a publisher who might enjoy one of my poems? Do you know something I don’t?
If you can’t tell, I love questions at typaphobe. So, ask away! Discussion will only make the publication better, so I look forward to hearing from you.
“The picture is the imitation and converted reality of the goods, in short, an indirect substitute for reality.”
—Herbert Bayer
You are much more literary than me. The thought of someone in a yellow turtleneck makes me think of the kids show The Wiggles. Hahaha.
I do love your poetry. This poem has me feeling nostalgic for the 70s, even though I was 4 when that decade ended.
Excellent. Invoking Proust.