an unseen force
they walk the streets by day
and by night.
their home upon the back
a pack to go.
ready to blow.
you don’t see them
but they’re always there.
their’s is to strike fear
in our hearts
for they no longer care
if they live or die.
why would they care about you?
I’ve always detested the expression ‘buyer beware’
coz it usually means some poor bastard has signed a contract while simultaneously dropping their drawers and bending over…
plot:
high energy couple walks in to a cellular store in music city, Nashville USA
they tell the personable salesman that they are artists, movie makers & composers
they need a service, MOBILE (to mean they spend a good deal of time on the road…)
that supports their work, their lifestyle…
for once in their lives…money is no object
not a problem Sir…
maximum unlimited everything
- Great.
the couple are so excited…
even the deposit and initial gouging barely unnerve’s our heroes
second billing cycle…
to settle account: $1400…
now money flips from being of no object to a very important one
why? why? why?
frantic call to customer service.
quick…where’s the 35 page, tiny densely printed contract.
data usage = 74Gb
‘customer service’ sounding like dad…
have you two been watching movies?
Err…YES, of course
its kinda what we do
well…we dont recommend that.
but, it says in the small print
on page 26
DATA SERVICES: PERMITTED USES
item #IV:
may use for UPLOADING downloading,
AND (GETTA LOAD OF THIS)
STREAMING of audio, video, games…
excuse me ???
nah, we always warn customers don’t watch movies…NEVER
folks, JUST DON”T DO IT
one flick will use 12Gb
WHAT!!!!
but the lady at american cellular said
you’ll never scratch the 10G allowance each month
warning, you are super dangerously close to the maximum data usage allowed…
we queried our dutiful sales person
she even fixed our phone so the text messages would stop
final scene:
in a flash the couple decides happily,
no, ecstatically
that really one monthly bill is quite frankly one too many anyway
please connect us to financial services
yes, yes, yes…of course we will pay your ‘$289 bill’ on friday
and in december we will pay the remainder in two
payments of $560 each
thanks dude, you’ve been awesome today
that sounds great…
thank you once again
VERIZON
couple kicks back, turns on netflix movies
and lets ‘em stream for four days until there’s no signal available
midnight friday
fade out….
I quote John Gardner in my title //
It seemed so appropriate //
Even though the challenges have appeared enormous we have jedi’d like sky walkers //
Or sleep walkers…in this heat! I don’t think so //
Anyway…
We have received a thousand blessings from the sky //
Chris called from the street as we drove by ‘you guys changed my life’ //
Emma never usually talks to anyone but ‘you two are different’ //
‘I haven’t laughed this hard in awhile’ //
Three shining lights from the youth group at Holy Name thought we ‘went together like peanut butter and jelly’ //
We had a super lovely lunch with them too //
My art has found new homes with the young and old //
Some awesome cool and creative ones have entered in on our fun //
With a very special nod to Liz over at…
Guess who’s gonna be a featured artist on July 3rd ??
We are all so very psyched!!!
Ooooo…so much news and so little time on the library computers !
And meanwhile we’re just out an’ about //
Spreadin’ the word //
Diggin’ the love
And always tryin’ to do what’s right…
Hey Vernon //
Think ’you really ARE dreamy’ ??
Just like our fans at lunch said ??
I have to agree
Plus you got style man…
vernon rust style
Check out our new series // its our way of tacklin’ hardship //
Helping others by knowing we care…
Anyone who knows or has spent anytime around me is all too familiar with my passionate revolutionary spirit and love of debate.
Having spent 25 years in the profession of nursing, I have basically seen it all and a lot you wouldn’t want to.
Quite frankly, my crash and burn from arguably the noblest of devotions to duty and my God-given calling on this planet was because of precisely that. I really did…’I cared, too much’ and its an impossible way for one of God’s humble servants to live…
I was a terrified teenager when the docs in England finally decided to remove my tonsils. I suffered countless days sick from school, extremely happy to be on the settee at home, reading fiction, comic books and the works of Hardy, Orwell, Longfellow and Laura Ingalls Wilder…
Already my curiosity and love for American history , life and culture was very evident for I found myself engrossed more and more in American literature…Faulkner, Hemingway and Fitzgerald…
So the night before surgery, a dedicated caring, forever youthful third year student nurse took me under her wing and kept me busy helping make tea, talk to other patients and distracting my neurotic countenance from having a downright meltdown there on the ENT ward…
I do not remember her name, but at the age of 18, I proudly announced to my Mum that I wanted to go in to nursing.
After, she spluttered tea and a horrified ‘what?’ at me, I kinda saw her point. She had to spend countless hours calming me down, talking me out of a panic attack, a child riddled with good old garden variety agoraphobia (of which my grandmother suffered) and specifically emetophobia (a dark secret I have kept to myself and one that really cramps your party going style!).
But, ”Helen” she said “you’re so squeamish, how will you cope as a nurse?”
I never could answer that but confronting my fear, irrational or completely rational (you be the judge!) certainly helped and I thrived on helping and caring for others for many years.
My nursing experience and knowledge made it possible to travel to America and I worked at Florida Hospital in Orlando for many years.
I specialized in pediatric oncology nursing and developed a thirst for continued learning and research about better, safer treatments, symptom control and cures.
It wasn’t long after entering the US to nurse that I started to witness a trend towards the over prescription of medication, tests and procedures by doctors…
The world of pediatric oncology proved to be the only exception with the documented improvement in cure rates and survivorship programs. So, naturally it was a field where I felt I could honestly and with a clear conscious, care for my patients and their families.
Otherwise, we’re out there, legions of nurses, techs, aides…chasing our tails; drawing blood, over medicating, over testing and preparing elderly people (or any age for that matter) for crazy procedures and surgeries…
It’s exhausting…try a 12 hour shift on a saturday night. Anywhere…the pediatric unit, the emergency room, psychiatry, geriatrics…
You would not believe the psychological impact on a 50-60 hour a week, night nurse from a little town outside of London! Folks, it wore me OUT…
So when Vernon returned to the car this morning, smiling broadly about the headlines of the Tennessean today : ‘patients need less testing, treatment doctors say…’ www.tennessean.com
…it was in beautiful acknowledgement of my rant earlier on this week about countless painful and costly procedures and surgeries and the fact that many have suffered because of the greed of the medical establishment.
Oh! and I know, I have heard it umpteen times from the doctors…’well, we have to cover every angle’, ‘what if the patient sues?’ ‘we have to rule that out’ and ‘what about missing something, how about mal practice?’…
and believe me, even though they look like they know what they are doing, act like it, seem to give-a-damn,
Don’t be fooled…
Hmmmm….do you really want me to start talking about the medical mistakes I’ve seen? Probably not and I choose not to dwell on the innumerable, avoidable, unavoidable and downright tragic…
Instead when I think about my nursing years, I try to concentrate and reflect on the joy of caring for children, working side by side with outstanding pediatric oncology practitioners, seeing the positive results of my work and dedication …
But tucked right behind all those warm and fulfilling memories is the fact that healthcare reform in America is a VERY long time coming…
H. Bird
(ex-RN and former IV drug user) now spends her time livin’ laughin’ and lovin’ the arts, namely writing, drawing and photography…
addendum:
I wanted to share with you my favourite of all poetry by Longfellow ‘A Psalm of Life’
What the Heart of the Young Man Said to the Psalmist
Tell me not, in mournful numbers, "Life is but an empty dream!" For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; "Dust thou art, to dust returnest, " Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Finds us farther than to-day. Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,--act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o'erhead! Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing Learn to labor and to wait.
…Or having graffiti delivered right to your door.
I covered in a recent blog, photographing freight train graffiti but I am beginning to realize that this is turning in to a massively huge sub-section.
Or hub-section.
I have landed a home right near some awesomely busy, busy railroad tracks just north of Nashville.
Every day, every hour is a graffiti hunter’s dream….
Honk, Honk…
Quick, gotta run up there and see whats coming through.
There is so much great stuff rolling by, I’m having a hard time keeping up with it all.
My photo’s are backing up on me. I feel artfully constipated…
Have I uploaded?
Have I downloaded ? Sideloaded? Middle loaded? God Lord…wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy too many shots of trains.
Trains waiting on the tracks, or whizzing a long…just a wee bit too fast for my camera (I really do need to invest in an SLR).
See…or should I say hear, right now as I am writing, at this very minute there’s one going by.The temptation to jog up the street and up on the tracks is so hard to resist. But, I must control my urge. Everything in moderation, please!
I have gotta draw a line. And pardon the pun.
There’s simply no way I will catch all that graffiti, especially when it’s zipping by.
I am excited. Each dawn brings a new day…a day of brightly painted mobile canvas’, all craftily, ingeniously and fantastically bombed!!!!!
This has completely morphed in to a full-time, fantastic hobby. Better still…a crazy wicked interest. I do not mind a bit. And I adore how its all connecting so beautifully to Nashville’s very own Wildchild, Vernon Rust. Songwriter, performer, character extraordinaire! 
He has totally immersed himself in my outlandish interest and fascination for graffiti.
He welcomes a jaunt up to the railway line.
He has become an invaluable member of thegraffitihunter crew.
He be one of my homies….Rock on Vern!
You are The Man….
I read a super cool comment, from a super cool contact on Flickr.
“You and Vern peep hella trains” he said…for sure, for sure!
And your music ain’t bad either, Vernon Rust….
Graffiti artists generally don’t want to be photographed or in fact noticed in person. They just want their art to be seen. Even then much of it is hidden, tucked away in abandoned places. Only the dedicated of graffiti hunters will find it, or other artists.
They are a nocturnal breed that goes about their business disguised and blending in with their surroundings. They tend to work in teams having crew members, friends, fellow artists look out for them while they paint.
I have been extremely lucky on my travels to catch some pretty awesome artists doing what they love the most. Out in plain sight, for all to see. As you can imagine, it’s a rare event and one that is only sanctioned by the powers-that-be or city officials.
It was while on a quick trip down to Los Angeles that I happened upon a very cool area on Venice Beach. There are community walls on one area of the beach where artists are allowed to do their thing. I sincerely hope it is still the case because I am aware of some crazy new ordinances put forth by the city.
There is a case recently discussed online (ref: American Bar Association journal) regarding one of Los Angeles most prolific graffiti artists. His name is Cristian Gheorghiu and over the years he has been fined $28000. He is an extremely talented artist and has made his way in to the world of fine art, gallery shows, etc. Apparently the city attorneys aren’t overly fond of his talents and have filed to prevent him from using his tag on canvas. Thank heavens for the ACLU, who is defending the artists constitutional right of free expression.
Hence the basic need for a darn good cover when you’re out brightening up the planet!
Anyway, I met this awesome artist who allowed me to photograph him extensively while he painted. I was using my first digital camera, an Olympus and I, also had close at hand my 35mm manual Olympus which unfortunately malfunctioned on me but not before I snagged some pretty cool photo’s.
We stayed in touch for a bit and he kept me updated with all the new pieces that he was working on. I had inspired him to get a decent camera and to photograph his work.
He told me, unhappily that his parents were pushing him towards a more business oriented career path. They complained that there is no future in his art.
I could not have disagreed more. I urged him to follow his heart, to do what he loved to do…
My only hope from our brief time together on that beautiful and creative afternoon is that he would.
He had inspired me in so many ways. I hope I had made a similar impression on him.
Not only did I start painting a heck of a lot more since that day on super cool and zany Venice beach but I believe I began to really understand graffiti, its form, expression, the technique, the freedom surrounding its beauty and also how to apply it to my photography.
It’s as though everything came together during that trip.
News Update:
This week in print, Tony Cella and Simone Wilson look at L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich’s war on public murals and the moratorium that has left many artists seeing their sanctioned work get buffed almost before the paint has even had time to dry.
Two such artists are Sand One and Vyal One, who recently painted a mural on a downtown restaurant with the owner’s permission. It lasted less than a week. Good thing Nanette Gonzales was there there to document their beautiful creation.
cut and paste link – http://blogs.laweekly.com/stylecouncil/2011/10/sand_vyal_mural.php
Keith Plocek LA Weekly 10/18/11
I awoke this morning thinking about what to write. My last few blogs have been a bit fluffy…’Ooo, priceless moments, happy people’. Having spent the past summer kinda down-on-my-luck, struggling and well, lets face it, basically homeless, the subject has grown very near and dear to me.
I have always,and I mean always since I can remember felt for the poor, the downtrodden, the side of society that most do not see or wish they didn’t.
A homeless woman said to me this summer “my dad threw a bright lime green t-shirt at me for Christmas and said ‘here, go get yourself noticed’” She had spent much time in a coma following a car accident and subsequent head injury. The tracheostomy scar still noticeable on her throat. A constant hoarseness to her voice as a reminder. She lifted her shirt and showed me the tube feeding scars on her belly.
Having run away from an abusive drunk boyfriend (and I suspect father) she lived by the seat of her pants, from city to city. Hustling for food, hitchhiking rides, bumming smokes….
Her voice trailed off when she told me the story of the lime green t-shirt. Her eyes became distant, her internal pain became externally palpable. She mumbled “but Dad, I spend all of my time trying not to be noticed”. “When you’re homeless, no one wants to notice you and no one sees you”.
People talked to me on the streets. So I utilized my idle, homeless time wisely and listened to them…
Most just wanted someone to listen, someone who cared enough to hear their story…
They had heard plenty from the fed and clothed and comfortably off, saying…
‘Oh, they choose to be that way. They have no worries, no responsibilities. They are lazy drunks, beggars, dirty.’
What I heard was…
“I’d go home if I had one…..”
They had wound up on the streets for a variety of reasons; job loss, bankruptcy, loss of a loved one, estrangement from family, drugs and alcohol, post combat situations…including life’s battle.
I met a fascinating cross-section of humanity. An intelligent, bright and resourceful group that included many artists, musicians, writers. A community of souls that generally look out for one another, help each other, try to get by from day-to-day.
I never felt threatened.
I always felt appreciated.
More importantly I felt accepted, even with a camera.
I was allowed in to their world because they wanted someone to listen, someone who cared.
I learned valuable life lessons this summer. Lessons that I have waited my whole life for. Things I knew already, but I didn’t really and honestly know.
I had to lose it all before I realized I had everything.
‘There is a greater army that besets us round with strife,
a starving, numberless army at all the gates of life.
The poverty-stricken millions who challenge our wine and bread,
and impeach us all as traitors both the living and the dead.
And whenever I sit at the banquet, where the feast and song are high.
Amid the mirth and music, I can hear that fearful cry.
And hollow and haggard faces look in to the lighted hall,
And wasted hands are extended to catch the crumbs that fall.
And within there is light and plenty and odors fill the air;
But without there is cold and darkness and hunger and despair.
And there in the camp of famine in wind and cold and rain
Christ, the great Lord of the Army, lies dead upon the plain.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ‘ The Challenge
‘
…Or how I miss my hometown!
Well, I never really have photographed
graffiti or street art in London as it became a passion of mine while living in the US. Except for the one Banksy shot of Che on Camden lock bridge, taken twenty odd years ago. The piece is no longer there and forever frozen in a photograph. Camden town has changed somewhat over the years but I still love it! And it is the first area that I head to when returning home…
I walk miles upon miles when back in London, utilizing The Tube whenever possible but since I hate to miss what might be going on above ground, I find myself clocking up quite a distance. A map of the underground is really quite deceptive. One or two stops can mean a 30 minute journey on a train when you could probably walk the 3 or 4 blocks. Sometimes a similar couple of stops is only five minutes but too far to walk. I guess a lot has to do with how far underground you have to go and Bank is a stop that is buried deeply beneath the streets of London. Still, I love to ride The Tube. It too is great for people watching, listening to buskers and marveling at the very long escalators up and down to the trains.
However, riding a bus, being in a car or train, may save your feet but there’s just far too much action on the street…watching people going about their day-to-day business, the sights, sounds, smells of a city and of course, street art…
Slyly placed, easily missed by many and an ingenious way to express yourself street art in my mind, is fascinating!
Although I didn’t discover much in the way of stellar graffiti, I did find a few tidbits and some wonderfully humorous and well placed stencil art. I adore stencil art! I have been known to utilize this wickedly quick technique myself on a few occasions and on canvas. It offers the chance for a dynamic, consistent and often funny, if not politically motivated way to post a favourite design or motif. The stencil is pre-made, of course and only gets better and stronger with age and (spray paint!) use…throw it up quickly on a chosen wall, garbage can, newspaper stand, paint and you’re done….or so I’ve been told.
I have long been a fan of Jef Aerosol, who happens to be a legend of the street art movement. From France, he started to utilize stencils as far back as in 1982...check out jefaerosol.com for a whole host of his super cool art and street projects. C’est magnifique!
I really lucked out in Camden Town. I found some great graffiti while walking along the canal, especially in the tunnels and was able to catch some interesting slices of life, too. I was told by a kid zipping past me on a bike ” I can do much betta than that…”
“I betcha can“ I called after him…”So show me” But he disappeared down the towpath, as quickly as he had appeared…
Part I of many London posts…thegraffitihunter.com
San Francisco
I snapped this shot later in the day & having hiked all over The City.
I have often utilized the stars & stripes in pictures.
To me, it is an eternal symbol of freedom, equality & justice even though policies & practices often reflect economic or manipulative motives.
Ultimately, to me it represents freedom of expression and freedom of speech. A freedom to believe what you believe and to never fear oppression for holding that belief.
See, lets face it…freedom of expression includes any act of seeking, receiving or the imparting of information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.
However, in practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as libel, slander, obscenity or the incitement to commit a crime.
But, hang on a minute - in the International Covenant on Civil and political rights (the ICCPR) article 19 states that “everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference” and “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice”.
Alright lets get painting….
No – wait a minute!
Alas…
Article 19 goes on to say that the exercise of these rights carries “special duties and responsibilities” and may “therefore be subject to certain restrictions” when necessary “for respect of the rights or reputation of others” or “for the protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals”.
So the risks faced by graffiti artists that share their thoughts, feelings and creativity in public places and without prior authorization from the powers that be are great and dare I say it, their boldness can be applauded!
Why do it ?
For many reasons…
For they boldly go where no man, or painter has gone before….
Keep on writing.
Jaut Cares…
and so does The Graffiti Hunter
