Warm. Blue. The Atlantic Ocean at last. It was so quiet. The entire neighborhood on pause. Empty carnival rides, closed up refreshment stands. Soft wind blew paper and sand gently across the Boardwalk. Old men and women strolled comfortably along—so unlike the streets of Manhattan. So quiet. I followed Jason to walk away from the rest of the class. He and I, in the quiet, captured little moments in the sand, in the pier, in the sky. For the first time here I breathed deep the scent of salt and felt at home.

Yesterday we went to a lecture at the offices of Digital Railroad, an online network for photographers that hooks them up with clients by cataloguing their work etc. Connie Evans, a painter, photographer, and art administrator, spoke to us about her work helping artists find resources and residencies and her journey through her own art. It was encouraging in many ways. Her work is centered around the concept of following the parts of images that interest her most—dissecting the textures and moods of place and time, finding a desert of peace inside herself.

Today we traveled to the Queens home of Roy Gussow, the most famous artist I’ve ever met. He is nearly 89 years old and still working. Some of these pictures are from his studio. Gussow’s home, garden, and studio are filled with maquettes of sculptures, tools, bits of trees and shells, and artifacts. It was fascinating to see the process of how he “draws” a project out using cardboard and wood.

I got tickets to a better play, I hope. It was pretty easy and so I'm a little nervous. Except I took the wrong subway getting there... but I was amazing at transfering to the right one. There was this awesome tunnel over to my transfer. Vendors and commuters and tourists all mingling. There was a stretch of the tunnel with prophetic signs indicating Christ's comming and impending wrath. If I hadn't been nervous about getting to the box office I totally would have photographed for a while.

January 20th
Last night we saw “Beautiful View” at the Public Theater. It was a two woman show with minimal props and beautiful light and sound. Though the story was specific to a relationship between two women in a unique relationship, I felt that the story had a universal appeal that came from its simplicity.

January 17th
We moved to Chelsea today. It is much more convenient down here. It will be nice to have the copy center close by but I'll miss the cathedrals and beautiful brownstone, not to mention the solitude. This trip is full of solitude for me and I was relishing that while uptown. It's so much easier to be alone when my surroundings have class and grace. These surroundings have character, but honestly, Burger and Cupcake down the block? With its garish pink sign? I'll love shooting here but I will miss the boulevard of Broadway and the tree-lined walkway of Columbia University. 



January 16th
I’ve learned a great deal while working here in New York. Already I know myself in an entirely different way. I’ve learned to navigate the subway, that most European delis have terrible food, and that I am strong. I’m not perfect but at least I’m strong. There is a sign above a bookstore along our section of Broadway that says, “nobody who can write worth a damn ever writes in peace,” or something like that. But it applies to life as well: nobody who gives a damn ever lives in peace. 



For some reason my PLU blog account doesn’t like me and won’t let me sign on. So here are a few of my past entries that I wrote and saved.

January 13th

In the age old tradition of J-term trips, everyone NOT going on one keeps on reminding all of us that it will be wonderful. Yesterday Bea and I met and went over a possible itinerary for all the places we'll visit in New York. Yup, it will be wonderful. I can't believe that I'll actually be photographing Coney Island, visiting the Guggenheim, and seeing Wicked on Broadway. It almost feels like I'll be living in one of the movies about New York that I've seen so many times. That won't really be me on the Subway, but Kate Winslet playing Jamie Forslund in Steven Speilburg's The Big Lutheran Adventure!