The Other New York

Upcoming show at the Lodi Laundromat
1600 Lodi St, Syraucse, NY 13208
will be part of The Other New York.
At the Lodi site there will be a photo-give away from 2 to 4 pm
on September 13th.

Just following the Lodi photo-give away
there will be an  opening reception at Light Work
this Thursday, September 13th  from 5 to 7 p.m.
The address is: 316 Waverly Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13244
Anyone in the area is welcome to come to either venue.

Summer in the City brings kids out to the streets. It reminded me of my own childhood spent riding around doing stunts on bicycles. The kids on the Northside will ride their bikes and boards anywhere, the middle of the street preferably.

I am back in Syracuse, back on Lodi. First stop, checking in with Xai to get permission to hang out next week and prepare a new body of pictures for the upcoming  "The Other New York" biennial sponsored by the Everson Museum.  Xai asked Reth what he thought and he also gave the green light. So, I'm back on the streets, talking, connecting, taking pictures.  These women had recently been to a wedding and their hands were decorated with tell-tale henna.

Lower 9th

After finishing up at the Tire Shop with some pictures of Gladdy and her grandson, I made a short visit to the lower ninth ward to see how things were at the Lower 9th Ward Village.  Mac has continued to draw volunteer groups from all over the country.  He's painted his message and vision out on the front of the place.  He still envisions bringing more of the former neighborhood residents home from all the places they have scattered.  I talked to people who were just getting their insurance settlements and getting ready to rebuild. Many houses remain boarded up. There's still not much more than the orange store and a gas station on the main street, although some people are growing vegetables and keeping chickens for eggs and such like.  The gaps that need filling are still bigger than I can get my  head or heart around.   With characters like these, though it's hard to lose hope.

Barber Shop

I got invited to take pictures at a barber shop on Gentilly near the race track. Curious. I had tried to take pictures at a barber shop in Syracuse and was declined by the owner a few years ago. That was a bigger place. This was a smaller operation and the people working there were open to letting me hang out. Watching men touch each other with such gentleness while performing this seemingly mundane task of giving a hair cut was profoundly moving.  There were a few good laughs too.

Hopes, Fears, Dreams, Connection

Back in New Orleans for the first time in a year, I found being alone on the streets talking to people got me out of the stress of life as a resident at the hospital. It was good to be away from the cold academic sphere, to hear unpredictable bursts of music from every street corner and restaurant. I visited Joe Peters and got one of the young men working there to take our picture together. Mr Peters always inspires me with his commentary on life, relationships, kids, dogs, work, place, community. I talked to him about having a show someday at the tire shop and he surprised me by saying he would be agreeable to such a venture. Sometimes, I still think of walking away from the stress of medical training, but I know that I there is something that I get out of the demands of my professional training that keeps me going even though it squeezes me until I feel I'm going to pop. It gives me something to fight against. Don't we all need a good fight?

Back in New Orleans

Just preparing to visit and reviewed last pictures only to have my hard drive crash, so I'll be going back empty handed. Zen. Let go. Here is a picture form the visit before the last. It was stored elsewhere. Everyone has something. No one has everything.