we all come from somewhere

heated pool

We all come from somewhere, often non-descript inceptions but a place nonetheless. That place has time and the stage of the world connected to it no matter how ephemeral and gossamer the threads that bind. Often I look back and find nothing. Nothing of importance, little in significance to the grand happening of the world. Isolated from the zeitgeist of change, revolution, war that was 1968, the year I was born. But like a labyrinth that is difficult to trace, even the most solitary of events, lonely of figures and small of scale is part of the grand connection, the flux of small particles and spirit that make up a time.

It is into this that a lonely woman gave birth to her only child in hiding. It was there that I was given to nuns and called “John”- the most common of names – possibly to be lost in the mass movement of mankind, to lose origin. It was there that a weary heart returned to lay claim on a child.

We all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

we all come from somewhere

 

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Signs

Signs are ubiquitous.

Signs

This sign is from a Native American Indian reservation powwow.

SignsThis sign is from Selma Alabama.

SignsThis sign commemorates the Anniversary of 9/11.

SignsThis sign is naughty.

SignsThis sign is in bad taste. It was during the anniversary of 9/11 in NY.

SignsThis sign is homemade. North End of Boston.

SignsThis sign is corporate and homemade in Harvard Square.

SignsThis sign sucks! It means GMO and it is all over our American roads.

SignsThese signs are cool and exist in almost every town.

SignsThis is a road sign.

SignsThis is a more descriptive road sign.

SignsThis is an old sign being re-used.

SignsThis is a sign of the times.

SignsThis sign is of a bad habit.

SignsThis sign is Montana cool.

SignsThis sign is also Montana cool.

SignsThis sign exists at every Motel/Hotel.

SignsThis sign means stop.

SignsThis sign is of a by-gone era.

SignsThis sign represents the forgotten American motel.

SignsThis sign goes with the VFW sign.

SignsThis sign is the opposite of the GMO sign. There are practically none of these.

SignsThis sign represents trains.

SignsThis sign is confusing.

SignsThis sign represents inner city beauty.

SignsThis sign represents cultural foods.

SignsThis sign means we like Obama.

SignsThis sign means wtf?

SignsThis sign means “we don’t care about your property value.”

SignsThis sign means crap for sale.

SignsThis sign means we can’t spell.

SignsThis sign means “support the little guy.”

SignsThis sign is typical urban.

SignsThis sign is cute.

SignsThis sign is outmoded.

SignsThis sign means music and beer.

SignsThis sign means country.

SignsThis sign commemorates the old American roads.

SignsThis sign means signs are mobile.

SignsThis sign means “drinks for sale.”

SignsThis sign means beer and babes go together.

SignsThese signs promote shows.

SignsThese signs are a combo of the old and the new.

SignsThis building is a sign.

SignsThis sign makes you feel safe to park your car.

SignsThis sign makes me want to use credit.

SignsThis sign should be in a museum.

SignsThis sign is old school.

SignsThis sign is simple.

SignsThis sign is provocative.

SignsThese signs are typical billboards selling stuff that is bad for you.

SignsThese signs represent moving.

SignsThis sign represents a call for help.

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more empty spaces

empty space photographs by Robert Castagna

empty space photographs by Robert Castagna

empty space photographs by Robert Castagna

empty space photographs by Robert Castagna

empty space photographs by Robert Castagna

empty space photographs by Robert Castagna

empty space photographs by Robert Castagna

empty space photographs by Robert Castagna

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empty spaces

empty spaces photography

empty spaces photography

Lately I’ve been drawn more and more to empty spaces. I’m not sure if it is a fad or a defining change of interest. What I find odd, is that space (emptiness, vacancy, nothing) is defined by its borders – the things, objects, walls, nature – that surround it. Emptiness is in between, the open area. That the space can be translated onto a two dimensional surface is even more odd. Perspective has something to do with it, but it’s also just the lines of horizon…

empty spaces photography

empty spaces photography

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Moon Rising

Moon Rising

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More Medford

Medford

More pictures in and around Medford Massachusetts including the Royall Estate.

Medford

Medford

Medford

Medford

Medford

Medford

Medford

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Medford

Medford flag

Medford gable

More pictures of Medford Massachusetts. To see more pictures go to Medford Photography Gallery.

Medford hardware

Medford indian

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McCulture

McCulture and the Golden Arches

McCulture is corporate culture gone wild with branding. I like to envision a far-off future era wherein an archeological dig here on earth is uncovering scores of “golden arches”. These symbols of two bent french fries could easily be mistaken for religious iconography and so it was. Their omnipresence and their height, high above the trees so that they can be seen on every highway over the horizon, glittering in the sun, suggest a metaphorical bridge or gateway to a heaven in the sky. The archeologists and social scientists would hypothesize a great spiritual movement once existed where travelers would “drive-thru” to receive their enlightenment. Their theories would be stretched as they dug further and found burgers, fries and soda as the main remnant of a once great church. Possibly, they would say, daily tithing, was reciprocated with edibles, the body of the divine. Once this theory was avowed, there was no turning back and the logical progression of religious zealotry and fast food would meld.

McCulture and the Golden Arches

McCulture and the Golden Arches

And why not a religion of fast food that was bad for you? Since all that mattered was the suggested heaven, the spiritual haven of the soul, why not pollute the body, the cows, the fields and the world. It is only secular after all. And so the theory goes, as this once great McCulture, worshipping two bent fries, kills off their planet. A tacit suicide to reach that nirvana of corporate profit. Amen.

McCulture and the Golden Arches

McCulture and the Golden Arches

McCulture and the Golden Arches

McCulture and the Golden Arches

McCulture and the Golden Arches

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condon shell

 

Condon Shell in Medford MA

 

Condon Shell in Medford MA

 

Condon Shell in Medford MA

 

Condon Shell in Medford MA

 

The quality of light in early morning or late afternoon winter months is more vibrant and crisp. Shorter days with a higher quality of light. Richer sky blues, golden hued rays of sun. Living in Medford I’ve learned to explore the surroundings, jumping into my car when the light is right. Condon Shell is located along Mystic River in Medford Massachusetts only a couple minutes from my studio. The mural on the shell is entitled “Music of the Mystic” and painted by the Tufts University Class of 2005. It was designed by Yetti Frenkel.

 

Condon Shell in Medford MA

 

Condon Shell in Medford MA

 

Condon Shell in Medford MA

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the anti-tourist

A walk along the beach - the anti-tourist

Walking the Beach: The Anti-Tourist, The Anti-Vacation

It’s November and I’m walking the beach in Italy. All destinations are closed. The only movement is the intermittent stray who strolls the sand for solace, the opposite pole of the crowd-seeking tourist. These solitary figures reside in the area, unlike me – the anti-tourist.

I find beauty in the abandoned, the left and forgotten. Allow me to view the shell without its adornment, the stringed lights unlit, the lost shoe. It is in these empty spaces that narrative abides. The boat overturned, the painted white tent poles that contained vendors of food, the empty seats and barren sands. Short stories are housed within each moment, a populace that expands within the space and its imagination.

Swimmers, bathers, vacationers en masse. They are all there for me. But in my time they come and go, there is no wait and I have it all to myself.

 

A walk along the beach - the anti-tourist

A walk along the beach - the anti-tourist

A walk along the beach - the anti-tourist

A walk along the beach - the anti-tourist

A walk along the beach - the anti-tourist

A walk along the beach - the anti-tourist

A walk along the beach - the anti-tourist

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