SATURDAY!!!!
Summer is a busy time for Artisan’s Asylum inmates who participate in communal participatory public art events. Firefly , Figment and Burning Man are the kind of events where there are fire dancers, trance music, awesome fashion and body adornment. Some of the innovative creations involve computer programming, El wire and LEDs that glow at night. (As far as I know, since I have not attended either FF or BM yet.)
The exciting discovery of my weekend was riding my bike over the new bridge linking the new North Point Park to one in Charlestown. I have been waiting years 4 this to happen! With all the recent urban improvements, I honestly think Boston rivals Disneyland! In addition to the amphibious vehicles (Duck Tours started here!), boat cruises, double-decker buses and Hubway bike rentals…..
the multi billion dollar Big Dig project that submerged the expressway opened up access to the waterfront and created the mile Rose Kennedy Greenway. Although more ambitious plans were never realized, (no great loss – who needs another museum?) My favorite part of this amazing open space is the stream like water feature where people gather and dip their feet in cold refreshing water!
FIGMENT!!!!
I was welcomed to Figment with the song, Shake Down Street, band members perched on top of their truck….(I have not seen this since….Let it be Beatles, U2 concert in NYC Letters to Cleo in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate about You)
Kids were tossing pink & blue foam hoops onto B’s orange traffic cone stars. Jacob was displaying his awesome gaff tape SS. Enterprise.
I was entranced by a dog made of neon chicken wire that not only had a sound track but looked otherworldly thru my Cell phone camera.
As I followed the path I came upon a circus tent like structure with an aerialist hanging from long red strands ala Cirque de Soleil, a place where I wrote a personal fear on a red piece of fabric to be pinned up on a line with hundreds of others.
Then I arrived at the installation of perfectly aligned rows of yellow strings suspended over head. The sensation of all those tiny strings flowing over my arms and face as I walked thru was very enjoyable and reminded me of the under-utilization of my sense of touch.
When I reached the grassy clearing where the techno djs were performing I had a seat and ate some Chinese broccoli I got from a food truck, soaking in the awesome vibe and realizing what a transformation has taken place in Boston.
I watched as the guys assemble the big suspended sculpture rotating & starting to glow, sculpture, I spied a winged garden fairy while the big shrouded figure in the mural looked on.
SUNDAY!
I took the opportunity of the courtyard sale being planned by my neighbors to try to sell some art. I constructed a display mechanism using a metal coat rack I had found on the street years ago. It had been a long time since this captive had seen the light.
The Basement: a story of passing time, family traditions and hoarding ….. or “Collecting and the Creative Mind.” This is one of my most important principles: If you save it, it will come in handy someday, and when that day comes!!! Eureka! You win!!
It was a long, humid morning with no sales until a lovey older woman did me the honor of purchasing my Black & White Burst Clock. It’s the one on the bottom left. I gave it to her for a bargain price, but by far the highest price paid for an item at the sale. I am so happy she liked it and plans to hang it over her stove.
As I told her, the collage on the surface is made with three black & white patterns, 1. music notation, 2. a photo-shopped bar code like pattern and 3. an engineering diagram which my father drew dated 1979. A round cornered frame is filled with small spherical black pieces…. and a digital clock is adhered onto a silver “sunburst-like” heat sink.
Thanks Guys it was Fun hanging out!!!
Hacker Creations 