summer in the city

Jeff Tweedy wrote a song a few years ago that a bit of an anthem. The plot is summarized by the line, "I'm coming home via Chicago." (It's a great song). I'm out of New York, out of Illinois, and back in the Twin Cities. Briefly, about finishing my time in NYC, it was hellish. Very hectic and very stressful, but its done. Papers due in one week period: 10 pg, 4 pg, 3 pg, 2 pg, plus art, not to mentioning packing to come home, not to mention packing art to mail home. My final critique took around 15 hours to prepare for. Though, packing art to mail is one of the most obnoxious things I've ever done in my life. Disregarding the unpleasantries of my last week, things were well. I frequented a lot of great coffeehouses and drank much black coffee. I was a little upset that my last day in the city was full of downpouring rain, although as I finished packing at 3.45 a.m. (may 17) and started walking to the subway, I've never seen the city more peaceful. When I got off the subway at JFK (way out in Brooklyn) at 5:45 a.m., get this, I heard birds chirping. Now, I had heard a bird or two in the city chirping before, but not a dozen. Add this to watching a Brooklyn sunrise, it was a good way to leave the city.

Count five days in Rockford with friends and family, finally being able to relax. Rockford is really green and has zero skyline! I hope to make several trips there this summer.

As far as Minneapolis and Saint Paul are considered, it's great being back. My first evening back was spent taking pictures of the Minneapolis skyline. Hard Times Cafe, the Black Sea Restaurant, Coffee News Cafe, County Cyclery. Guess what, I converted my ten-speed bike to a single-speed! No more derailleurs for me. For employment, I'm working at the Frogtown Summit Partnership. Frogtown and Summit are two neighborhoods in Saint Paul. It's an urban outreach aimed at helping the communities. Lots of very wonderfully diverse peoples in Frogtown and Summit. Its really quite the perfect job for me. I'm very anxious to start next week. And for living, I'm on-campus for June until I move into my apartment in July in Southwest Minneapolis. After this post, this blog shall become defunct.

I'll end by saying something special. You may understand or you may not.
It's summer in the city.

finishing,

You'll walk through the park and see a dozen pink trees and numerous green trees. It's a sign that we can forget the obnoxious winter. Brooklyn to Manhattan, home to school, via bicycle is actually faster than the subway. Now, the subway takes 25-30 minutes. Biking takes around 22 minutes. Now, the farther you go, the less that is true, but I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to bicyling.

Yesterday was good. We, the NYCAMS crew, had an excursion to the Museum of Modern Art's Restoration lab. This statement should be obvious: As paintings, sculptures, photographs grow older, they wear down. We didn't get to see the photography department, though we had a private tour with a friend of John's in the sculpture and painting department. It wasn't so much as being in the same room as famous art, for you can do that in the museum. It was something about seeing The reverse side of a Pollock canvas. Seeing X-rays of Picasso paintings. (X-rays to show the layers of metallic paints and to see what is the original layers and what a previous restoration did to the painting). Watching the application and learning about the process of restoration toward Edward Hopper paintings. (Using solvents and relaying varnish). A Tanaka painting that was mismanaged in the transportation and the someone put their hands onto the edge of the canvas while they were carrying it. (Hand oils applied to canvas will, over time, attract dirt and grime). Readministration of waxes to bronze sculptors to protect from little children's hands. This fascinating wooden chair sculpture, even though it was on a pedestal in a the musuem, some tourist decided to sit in it and it cracked.... a lot. So, to summarize a paragraph: wow.

The afternoon, however, was spent researching Christo and Jean Claude. If you don't know them by name, search for them on google images. They are probably most recently famous for their installation of "The Gates" in Central Park (February 2005). Over the past thirty years, they've done "Wrapped Pont Neuf, "Islands," "Valley Curtain," "Running Fence," plus many other fascinating pieces. I'm writing my research paper on their "Wrapped Reichstag" from 1971-1994. This quote, I'll try to use in my paper. "I believe very strongly that 20th century art is not single in the realistic experience. It is the very deep political, social, economical experience. I live right now with everybody here." Though their art is temporary, usually only lasting two to three weeks before it is taken down, it is also the process of the art. People who hate the idea of it and voice their opposition are part of the art too. I watched a documentary about his Wrapped Pont Neuf (the first bridge ever built in Paris). One man was arguing to another about the wrapping. One exclaimed how much he hated it and how it was not art. The other disagreed and said "regardless, if it was not for this piece, you and I would never have met. Would never have talked." Part of the important of the work is in the social dialogue of the pieces. I like those two. Christo and Jean Claude.


After researching, Jameson, Chantel, and I went to this spot in South Williamsburg overlooking the water that I found. Being along the East River, most of it is blocked off by piers, docks, or expensive restaurants. I'm glad that I explore a lot because this was a beautiful location.

springtime,

Whatever headache or pain I expressed toward being stuck in New York City has passed with the winter's cold weather. Springtime is gorgeous and the masses are frolicking in the parks. I disregard the fact that every flower I see was planted within the past three weeks. I've been sleeping with my window open, enjoying the breeze. I don't mind the noise of the city, so much as the delivery truck that shows up every night from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. It's not that it is deliverying food, it's that it keeps its noisy engine running the entire time. On a greener note, I'm riding my bicycle so much my calves twitch. fyi, muscles twitch when they are tired and sore. It forces one to stretch or get injured. I've even become pretty darn good at stopping at lights and such and not dismounting. I can be stopped at a red light, not moving, and not have my feet stabilizing myself on the ground. It's a great feeling.

I was in Philadelphia this past weekend, which was another remarkable experience. For a Friday, Saturday, Sunday recap: Art show, fishtown, photographing scary abandoned warehouses, thrift shopping, a psalters concert, visiting friends, unexpectedly seeing friends from brooklyn, visiting R.E.Load, riding around on a borrowed bicycle, and don't forget - good coffee and conversation. Just like the Joni Mitchell song. I'll be back in a matter of weeks, although suddenly, I stopped counting down the days until my return. It's too enjoyable. The coffee, the tea, the weather.

On a final note, I registered for classes last night. I'm pretty anxious for next Fall:
16 credits total, with: Contemporary Democracies, the Political Quest, a Theology of Poverty, Two-Dimensional Design, and Introductory Spanish. Both Contemporary Democracies and Theology of Poverty, I'm super excited for. After completing those, I'll have 86 credits. Taking 36 credits during my interim 08, spring 08, fall 08 and interim 09, that should be at exactly the 122 credits I need to graduate a semester early. Why a semester early? I reply, why spend 15,000 dollars on that extra semester.

recent news for the taking,

I've noticed a similarity between tourists in New York and prospective students at Bethel. They're curious. They eyeball the locals with interest. They see and hear of only the best, most-attractive parts of the city/campus. The list continues. Now, there is a difference. I don't despise prospective students. I despise tourists. I never want the term "tourist" attached to me. Other news, I'm going back to Philadelphia next weekend, not to be a tourist. I've decided to start a portrait series of all the people I stay with, in every city that I visit. This project, however, will take years to finish. Likely, it may never be finished. I've decided that this weekend is the perfect opportunity because #1 it's the small lull before a ridiculous amount of work for the end of the semester. (All due the same week, 3 page paper, 4 page paper, 10 page paper, photography project, art show). The #2 reason, I'm tired of New York. I was talking with Wayne Roosa on Friday night, who is out with here with the NYCAMS advisory board for the weekend. I was speaking with him about how far my photography has come since arriving late January. The photo I sold this past summer, I opened up its file on my computer, along with many previous images that I had liked quite well. I don't like them anymore. Regardless of how far my photography has come, I need a break from this city, and that is what Philadelphia is for.

I've been having adventures though. That is what New York City is for. Last week, I saw Rosie Thomas and friends in concert. The headliner was "Rosie Thomas and friends," which meant: Denison Witmer and Sufjan Stevens. The show was brilliant, dare say I, better than the Regina Spektor show.

philadelphia

My professors of history would be ashamed of me. My professors of Sociology and Anthropology would be esctatic to hear of my experiences in Philadelphia. I did not visit the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall, nor did I feel like I needed to. This excursion to Philadelphia left me with a strategy for how to travel anywhere. My advice, do it alone. Meet people.
I never would have went to the Philadelphia Pretzel Ride if I did not start talking to people. The Pretzel Ride is this weekly cyclist gathering at the steps of the Museum of Art (the rocky steps) at 11.30 every Tuesday night. The ride starts from the steps in West Philly and culminates in Southeast Philly at this pretzel shop. Amazing pretzels and ridiculously cheap prices. Mainly though, it's getting pretzels fresh off the oven racks warming you up from a cold ride. If I didn't start talking to people, I would not have gone to the weekly potluck of some Fishtown locals my age that I met at a coffeehouse. I arrived in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon and was intending on leaving on Friday afternoon. Thanks to the generousity of the potluck kids, I extended my stay an extra day. Truly wonderful people whom I would not have met at the Liberty Bell.
My stay was centered around traveling. I had arranged to borrow a bicycle before I arrived and picked it up on my first night. I do attest, bicycles are the best way to visit a foreign city or land. Every night, except Friday evening, was stayed with friends of my friend Stacy. Monday and Tuesday I stayed with a wonderful couple of....well, anarachists. Very hospitable and gracious. Very open and "do whatever you want" type of people. Wednesday was an odd day, for after arriving in the afternoon to drop off some of my gear, I threw out all my plans for the day. The place I stayed at was the Camden House in Camden, NJ, directly across the water. The Camden House is a new-monastic community, in a similar manner as the Simple Way in North Philly or Jesus People USA in Chicago. The friend of Stacy's that I contacted, in the house of 7, ended up being the only person I did not know. My friend Jeremy, whom I know from Minneapolis, was living there. When he left Minneapolis, he intended upon travelling and travelling and settling somewhere. It looks like he found Camden, NJ. I'm glad he's there because Camden needs a lot of help and healing. Statistically, it was was the most dangerous city in the U.S. 2003, 2004, and 2005, and isn't much better now. The other people that I knew were the Psalters, who are a band of nomadic wayfarers. They live on their bus, although they were finishing up a winter at the Camden House. I can't say I knew them personally, but I've seen them a good number of times in concert and are fantastic to spend time with. Thursday was spent with some college kids in South Philly and Friday, obviously, was spent with the potluck hobos/bohemians.
What I saw, I won't recount in detail. Just understand that Philadelphia was wonderful. After lots of coffeehouses, museums, and community, I connected some bits of information that I had been troubling me for several weeks. In my time in New York City, I've realized that I could never live here on a long-term basis. Originally, I associated it with being homesick of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. I reasoned that I was being biased toward the Twin Cities, linking great memories to minnesota and detaching myself from New York City. Perhaps, New York City is too manic, too intense. Writing this does not mean that I am not having an absolutely splendid time in the city. It is a wonderful and magical place, it truly is. After visiting Philadelphia, I understand that there is something about medium-sized cities that NYC will never have. It is somewhere between coffeehouses, bicycles, and community. Strangely, after four days of not showering, you start to feel really clean. Maybe these thoughts are side effects of those four days.

i said march would be brilliant,

There is a rhythmic aspect in painting that curses my hand, rendering it incapable of brushwork. While I have never understood this act of fate, I have the opportunity to ignore fate. I do not enjoy the phrase “painting with light,” but the majority of my photography is centered on the formal qualities of the Abstract Expressionists. I am not for recreating Hoffman, Klee, Pollock, or Still, though influence deserves credit. Structuring light into the aesthetics of form, texture, and color found within neglected urban landscapes shows how the smallest technical details go unnoticed in modern societies.

That, above, was my introductory paragraph to my artist statement. Below, one abstract image and its reference image. During art critiques in previous weeks, I had the idea thrown at me of shooting reference images of what the actual photographs were. I started shooting with this idea in mind and has really made the series come together conceptually.
As far as being done with midterms, I didn't shoot a single photograph until last night. On Sunday night preparing for critique, I was at the studio from 2 p.m. until 5 a.m. However, writing my research paper for class on Wednesday, was quite the experience in itself. How can a four-page paper be worth forty percent of your grade? Simple, it must be a quality paper. Midterms aside, I'm going to Philadelphia tomorrow. I've made an itinerary, though it probably won't be followed too strictly. Oh, did I mention, I've found a bicycle for my stay in Philadelphia. But Jordan, how did you find a bicycle for five days, you ask. I have my wits. My bus ticket was twenty dollars and I have no sleeping expenses. Spring break in Philadelphia may turn cheaper than a spring break in Manhattan.

solutions,

The passing of blame is an ever-occuring problem in New York City. It is my biggest quirk. I'm used to understanding an issue and working to solve it. I had surrounded myself with reconcilers in Saint Paul that I had grown to believe in the goodness of humanity to resolve. In theory, I may support the "Bike Ride to End All Wars," but as I read about it, all it will be is protest. Civil disobedience has its place in society. I am firm believer of that. However, protest without solutions is not productive. Casting blame will not solve the issues. Recently, there was a game organized by a conservative group at NYU being played in Washington Square Park. The game, "Find the Illegal Immigrant," sparked some pretty heated arguments throughout the city. Mostly, everyone is sparring to have their voice heard. I found a coffeehouse that occassionally hosts civic forums on cultural issues. I can only hope to attend a good number of those.

Midterms are rapidly approaching and with them, responsibility. I'm writing a research paper on Francisco Goya's Third of May. It fantastic to write on Goya because of how much I value that painting. It ranks somewhere in my top five. As far as photography goes, this is recent work. The photograph from a few weeks back, as I had many questions, was one image. When I shoot digital photography, I avoid editting as much as possible. Uta Barth may find success in the editting process, I disagree. To summarize my thoughts on this image, I'll say as little as I can. I'll never give away the answer as to what it's about, though if you force me, I'll hint. As for your clue, I want the viewer to believe they are looking at a painting. This is a landscape. Good luck. There is no correct answer.