Archives (Thursday Doors)
I am
ephemera–
the residue
of paper and glue
maybe saved
but maybe
not—no one
sees me now–
I am
neither lost
nor found–
just here
Seeing Man Ray’s “Revolving Doors” prints at the Met made me think of all the collages I did in the 1980s, including many of abstracted doors. The prints, “a mix of figurative and mechanistic forms” were first collages, and then transferred to prints with porchoir, a stencil-based printing technique I had never heard of.
There were 10 different prints, which Man Ray mounted in what he called revolving doors. Supposedly when you spin them, they work one to the other in a kind of cinematic composition.
The collages of my youth were much simpler than what I do now, which is the opposite of how things are supposed to go. I like them, but I could never recreate that style.
They were packed away in storage and forgotten for over 30 years, until I decided to clear out my portfolios. A lot of them used Pantone Paper left over from my design work doing color paste ups of stripes. I’m sure all that work is done on a computer now.
I still collect all kinds of paper–it’s a big component for my art. I prefer texture and working with my hands to screens. I’m also aware of the fact that it disintegrates. Which is part of its appeal, its non-preciousness.
The prompt this week from Dennis at W3 to write from the point of view of some ordinary non-emotive thing made me think–paper in and of itself is insignificant. A collage I do and then put in a portfolio and never look at in a way ceases to exist. But everything takes on meaning if it intersects our lives. Something like a broken stapler or even the lint in a dryer can take on a lot of meaning, depending on context. And there is always context.
I’ve also used Esther Chilton’s writing prompt word save.
And don’t forget to check in with host Dan Antion for more doors at Thursday Doors.
I’m taking an early break for the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!
The Shops at Columbus Circle (Thursday Doors)
when the night comes early we seek the light–
bringing the stars inside to sing and soothe us–
a glittering quilt to hold against the cold
I stopped in the shopping mall at Columbus Circle to use the bathrooms the other day and was surprised to see it was already lit up for the holidays. But it was gloomy and cold outside, so it was a welcome sight.
Outside the corridor that leads to the bathrooms is Bad Roman, “a new modern Italian restaurant” according to their website. The doors are interesting–is it a snake? I couldn’t find snake on the moderately expensive menu. But they do have lobsters for $125. A burger is $30, and most pastas are in the $40 range.
Even the escalators are festive. I like the glow.
The Shops at Columbus Circle, designed by Elkus Manfred Associates, opened in February 2004, and houses both stores and restaurants inside the Time Warner Center building. There is a large Whole Foods with a seating area for eating in the basement. Jazz at Lincoln Center is also in the building. And the public bathrooms are clean and well kept.
The entrance lobby features one of several copies of Botero’s “Adam and Eve”. This is Adam’s back. As noted by Atlas Obscura: “The Time Warner Center is no white cube gallery, so visitors are free to touch the art. So many hands have copped a feel on Adam’s, shall we say, humble nether region, that it’s been transformed into a substantial golden point of interest all its own.” There are lots of doors here, so the next time I’m taking photos I’ll make sure to get a view of Adam’s front (and Eve as well).
Did you notice that the hanging stars change color?
On my way home I was hoping to walk along Central Park West on the park side, but they are already putting up the bleachers for the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade.
My poem is in answer to Shaun’s W3 prompt to use internal rhyme. He suggested between 8 and 16 lines, but he also said he liked brevity (as do I) and I found I said everything I wanted in 3 lines. It has the feel of a sijo but with less syllables.
And don’t forget to check in with host Dan Antion for more doors at Thursday Doors.
Little World (Thursday Doors)
layered like
a mantilla caught
whrilwinding
joyfully
cascading through seasons of
perpetual flux
openings
crafted as doorways–
revealing
new patterns
through which to see our place in
the communal dance
a transformed
choreography
of threads
into wholes–
luminous constellations
made of light and breath
I’ve had these photos in my files since before I started looking for doors–2020 is the date on the sculpture, and it looks like winter from the state of the trees. I was always interested in street art and this one really appealed to me.
The plaque gave the artist–Samantha Holmes–and the name of the work: “Mundillo (Little World)”. The work was intended to “translate the patterns of traditional Puerto Rican lacework” into a structure that would “weave its texture into the vibrancy of the surrounding community”.
The building next to it, at 95th and Columbus Avenue, always looked to me to be public housing of some sort. There’s a lot of subsidized housing in the neighborhood. I decided to go back and photograph the building and its doors and do some investigation.
A typical mid-century brick building, which I was able to discover was designed by SJ Kessler and Sons architects and built in 1965, it turns out to be “luxury” rentals. At least in my world it would be luxury. One bedrooms at around $4500/month, and two bedrooms going for $6000. The building does evidently have a garage and a doorman and terraces, and it’s near to a Whole Foods, but still.
Here’s the side doors, and below, a view I took looking up.
And here’s the full view from the management company website.
You can see more work from Samantha Holmes and read about her at her website here. This sculpture seems to have been moved to another location–the corner is empty now, and the photos on the website are from a different place. I’m glad it’s still out in the world, as I found it enchanting. I like the way Holmes uses pattern and texture in her art.
My poem is a shadorma quadrille using De’s word of whirl. Also for dVerse, I’ve written about craft, as prompted by Lisa.
A mantilla is “a lace veil or shawl worn over the head and shoulders popular with women in Spain and Latin America”. I’m not sure if that qualifies as using the word veil in my Tanka Tuesday poem, as prompted by Yvette, but it’s in the spirit.
And don’t forget to check in with host Dan Antion for more doors at Thursday Doors.
Diane Arbus
was the inspiration for this week’s Kick About
The Kick-About #142 ‘Vertumnus’
Fun with foliage.
“The Door Is Always Open” (Thursday Doors)
Where shall we go this evening?
Side by side adventuring
lost in a world of words
Stumbling over and over
through a mysterious landscape
in a sea of happiness
Who are these strange creatures?
Dreaming their way through winter
awakening with the spring
Bound collectively
by the love of family
and the loyalty of friends
I’m not sure what got us on the subject of Moomintroll, but I remarked to my younger daughter that there was an exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library called Tove Jansson and The Moomins: The Door Is Always Open. She said “Let’s go!” and we did.
There were lots of interactive displays, including the house at the top, and these books with doors and information about the Moomins and their stories and creation inside.
The exhibit also included copies of the Moomin books in many languages, other adult books that Tove Jansson wrote, her art, and some of the toys, games, animations, shows, and other offshoots of the original stories and books. Jansson lived a full and self-directed artistic life; her “door was always open.”
I had never been to the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, although my daughter went there often in high school. You can apply for a card if you live in one of the other boroughs, and she had gotten one. The outside was under scaffolding, but the entrance on the inside is quite grand.
And here’s the entrance to the atrium where part of the exhibit was from the inside. It’s a beautiful bright space.
My poem is for Punam’s prompt at dVerse, to write about happiness. Nothing made me happier than to read aloud to my children. And the Moomintroll books were delightful in every way. If you don’t know them, and want to know more about them, their website is here. Speaking from experience, they are equally enjoyable for adults and children.
And, as always, look for more doors at Thursday Doors, hosted by Dan Antion.
I’ll have to calm down a bit, or else I’ll burst with happiness.
–Moomintroll
Spinning
This week’s Kick-About played around with tops.
Nnenna Okore
Wonderful art from the Kick-About inspired by new-to-me artist Nnenna Okore
method two madness 
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