Knitting Sandwich

wishes in the breeze (and under the mattress)

Some time ago I was in a bookstore killing some time and happened upon this book called the the wishing year by Noelle Oxenhandler.  It’s a memoir about a woman who decided to make three wishes, write them down and put them under her mattress to see what happens. What is really refreshing about this author and her story is that she is incredibly down-to-earth and realistic.  Despite the fact that she’s writing about wishing (and despite the incredible fact that not only does she get her three wishes over the year but gets them in precisely the way she asked for them) it is quite the opposite of the new-age, uber-positive, higher-plane type book that you feel like you have to be somewhat other worldly to believe in.  This woman is extremely practical and cynical and funny and uncomfortable with wishing and real enough that you feel like she could be your girlfriend across the table from you in a coffee shop. More than once I found myself laughing out loud on the subway- she was a nice friend to take along for the ride.

Well it just so happens that at the same time as I was reading this book, I attended this art festival  in Dumbo.  And there happened to be an interactive art installation called Up All Night Dreaming by Tara Parsons which was this flowing white bed- and in the canopy, people were supposed to write their dreams on white ribbons and pin them to blow in the breeze.  It was completely beautiful, seeing all those dreams hanging out and swirling around.  

 

So of course I had to take lots of pictures. 

 

But I got so caught up in the picture taking I didn’t even think to put a dream of my own.

I regretted that later, especially considering this book I was reading, and went back the next day specifically in hopes of finding that magical dream bed and pinning on my wish.  You can imagine my disappointment when I got there too late and the bulk of art installations were gone, and the spot where the bed had stood was left with only cobblestone.  I decided to make the best of it and wandered a bit more around Dumbo.  Low and behold, in a deserted tunnel under the Manhattan bridge, I stumbled upon the bed- the only installation left standing.

 

So of course I couldn’t waste this opportunity to make my wish. 

And then last night securely placed them under my mattress.

Can’t hurt, right?

-cmv

art under the bridge

this past weekend was dumbo's art under the bridge festival.  what a lovely excuse to go back to dumbo with my camera (as if i needed one).

that pile of garbage is actually a human sculpture.  the artist, chin chin yang, is actually standing inside- with a sign encouraging people to decorate him, turing pollution into art. 

one of the best things about this festival is that it is so interactive, there are all sorts of ways that people can jump in and create their own art.

and there were even some representatives of the fiber arts.  there were quite a few of these crocheted people throughout. 

i couldn't help but be reminded of lindsey when i saw this one (there's an infamous picture from college of lindsey pretending to be run over by a car (of course hers had much more dramatic flair)).

and this piece, river's edge by john monteith- created a sea of oyster shells in the midst of the cobblestone. it certainly smelled like the seaside.

it was a wonderful afternoon.  can't wait to see what they come up with next year.

-cmv