Posts Tagged ‘Long Island City’
tossed and tattered
A cool vantage at the foot of the Maspeth Plateau.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One of the neat things about Western Queens is all about its declination and altitude. The terminal moraine of Long Island sets itself up starting over in Maspeth near Mt. Olivette cemetery, and a surprising rise in the level of the land becomes apparent. I’m particularly sensitive to such phenomena having grown up in a section of Brooklyn called “Flatlands” which is right next door to “Flatbush” and several communities whose names end in basin, island, or beach. That’s the south eastern flood plain, Astoria and Hunters Point are the north western- its Maspeth and Middle Village which are the start of the high ground. That’s why the Dutch came here first.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
These hillocks are bordered in modernity, unfortunately, by highways such as the Long Island Expressway – which swallowed up the otherwise wholesome Borden Avenue’s historic right of way. There is a pedestrian bridge which will carry one over the highway, which is where today’s shots were captured. When I was up there, I found a Bernie hole.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Bernie Ente was, amongst other things, a photographer who lived pretty close to this spot in Maspeth. Bernie was always annoyed by fences that obscured his shots, and would sometimes open a hole just big enough to stick a lens through. There’s still a few of his holes found in the industrial fencelines around Newtown Creek, some of which I’ve shared with others, and some I keep to myself.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is the view from the Bernie Hole over the Long Island Expressway. I think I might come back here with a tripod sometime, when a dramatic sky presents itself. Of course, if you want some strange looks and accusing stares thrown your way, walk around Maspeth at night with a dslr. I swear, a cadre of old ladies followed me from Maurice all the way to Middle Village the other night, convinced that I held some instrument of gleaming death within my camera bag.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
poppied silks
Sweeping, ever sweeping.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The loudest of all municipal vehicles, other than certain members of the NYC Congressional delegation, has to be the street sweeping trucks operated by the DSNY. Heard this one coming from blocks away, spinning its steel brushes and singing its song of internal combustion.
Ever get hit with the pebbles, detritus, and other shrapnel these things spin off? Ow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
convulsively against
They really like the sterile and antiseptic these days, huh?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Wandering about Queens, the shot above was captured at the Court Square station at the foot of the Citigroup Megalith incidentally, one always wonders what it is that the architects of modernity are trying to tell us to think. It’s actually where the “art part” of the building trade comes in to play, wherein an arrangement of blocking shapes and the massing of form accomplishes the delivery of an idea or impression upon the viewer. Get it wrong, you can literally drive a population crazy- just ask anyone who lives in a city project what budget driven homogeneity (and strict adherence to the crypto fascist theories of LeCorbusier) does to your head when it’s expressed in mortar and brick.
This spot at Court Square tells one such as myself that I’m trapped in a sinister exultation of all that might go wrong in America, and that an escape from this cylindrical construct of sapphire glass and shrouded steel should be immediately and expeditiously sought. Maybe that’s what they wanted, to help move people out of the subway as quickly as possible?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Some places in Queens, its obvious what the builders and designers intended, despite the post modernity and broad strokes of obtuse symbolism. Of course the Unisphere at Flushing Meadow Corona Park’s (the former Worlds Fair) is a unique sort of thing in a unique sort of place, but were it some Darth Vaderesque conglomeration of steel and bluish green glass with a 53 story tall building looming, would it encourage that same feeling of dread and entrapped menace?
Your humble narrator is largely ignorant about the fashions and caprices enjoyed by the modern architect, all I can tell you is I know what attracts my eye and gravitate toward those forms which do not impart unto me a sense of being imprisoned or surveilled.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Every era has its genius, its witty play, its fancy. Somebody is always trying to throw a curve ball at prevailing style. The 1960’s JFK structure above is a great example of form, function, and whimsy (and admittedly, asbestos contamination) in which you actually are being surveilled- but you don’t really mind it that much. Weird how it contrasts with the modern world, and even weirder that it suggests a long gone and hope ridden era – which was the 1960’s?
Can’t tell you what the ideal is, but it sure ain’t the walls of mirror glass which fly up toward the sky, for me at least.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
refractive power
Adrift on seasonal ennui, that’s me.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
T’is not a kind month, December.
Memories of childhood disappointment and debasements, diminished expectations, and dire existential crises are those anniversaries celebrated concurrently with December by one such as myself. Nevertheless, despite the short intervals of daylight, and lowered frequencies of natural ambience, your humble narrator stumbles forth to record the audient void of Queens.
Mainly, I’m looking for rusty stuff like the sign above, which is increasingly hard to find in Long Island City.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Occasion carried me to Hunters Point recently, and specifically that section of the ancient Dutch village which I refer to as Tower Town. Observed, extant, was an installation of some of that “green infrastructure” that area wags and the municipal princeps have been discussing and presenting to the general public as a prophylactic measure against the return of Hurricane Sandy to the Metropolitan area.
It was a tree pit, stoutly fortified against canine degradations, which hosted a plethora of ornamental cabbages.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I noticed cabbage in a Manhattan tree pit recently, and when I saw this installation of leafy plants one began to wonder if ornamental cabbage was “a thing.” My pal Gil over at the Smiling Hogshead Ranch, and the folks at Brooklyn Grange, tell me that we should be growing food everywhere we possibly can, literally every nook and cranny that light and water can reach. But ornamental cabbages? Why not try growing some kale or carrots, here in Tower Town?
I jest, of course, as in city wide aggregate the thousands of tree pits will add up to a significant acreage and offer a not insignificant amount of storm water someplace to go other than into the combined sewer system.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
receptive ears
Cool cars in today’s post.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One found himself down by the former 5pointz in LIC, which had recently been reverse vandalized.
It’s a shame, really. 5ptz was the only thing in LIC that brought the punters and foreign tourists out from Manhattan, but LIC needs more mirror walls and luxury condos, so it had to go. This is the way of things, I guess, but it’s a crying shame and victory for the forces of blandness.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While visiting the lamentable location, this interesting car with its hilarious vanity plate was spotted. The vehicle was a variation of a classic muscle car, although its registration sticker called it a pickup.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Sights such as this will no doubt be increasingly rare, as I saw the guy who got out of it heading towards the former 5ptz. Soon all one will see parked around here shall be Zip Cars, and tower dwellers unloading loads of big box store goods.
Luckily, vanilla ice cream can be obtained at Cosco in 50 gallon drums.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
The Newtown Pentacle 