Incomprehensible

A popular foreign movie: show times, 1:15, 3:30 and later. First one, half empty, the second time, filled to the gills. Wouldn’t you figure this out on a holiday, and maybe, just maybe get up and out for the first one? The line was around the corner, excluding the many disappointed wannabe attendees.

The Pianist in the Atrium

 

 

 

 

Love these pictures.  Note the pianist.  Bent forward, playing soothing mid-day music to a lot of people, sitting around not listening. Photo #2 shows you the context.  He is there, beneath the large piece of art work, which is multi-stories tall.  This is an inner courtyard in a public space.  There are table and chairs and plugs. Food emporiums are tucked discretely under the lip of the balcony on which I am standing to make the picture.  After a while of listening and watching, I noted that the pianist was not bending over, but resting his back against the wall.  How astute.  I had been here months ago, and his playing space was more central to the whole.  He has had the piano moved to support himself against the wall.

Pickpocket

A description you won’t want to miss. You can see Apollo Robbins in action on youtube by putting his name in the search box. Or you can read a detailed article about his talent in the New Yorker, January 7 p 38. Either way you will not be casual the next time you are jostled in a crowd, or distracted by stranger, just about anywhere.

IPOD

Used an ipod for the first time this week while being mobile about the City. You can see the results. Much fewer observations. That surprised me. When one is tuned into the music, there is far less, to almost no interaction with the world around. I experienced this for the first time. Gave insight into what all those ear-plugged persons are experiencing, on the street, on the subway and bus and walking. It not only takes one out of the moment, it also takes one away from interaction. For me a dilemma, for others perhaps something completely different.