Week 2 February 7, 2018
It’s a strange sensation taking the train again to Jersey City. In the past, my journey involved walking 1.5 miles to the train station in Metuchen, taking the train to Newark. Changing to the PATH onto Journal Square and then the #10 Bus down Kennedy Blvd to NJCU. Now stopping at Journal Sq. and walking one block seems so easy. It’s a relief really…not having to drive. It frees my mind to wander; sometimes getting into the weeds but always pulled back to reality when the next stop is announced. But this coming Sunday I will be driving to Jersey City. It is expedient and it will be pouring rain. I don’t need to torture myself to get to NJCU.
February 12, 2018 Week 3
Leaving our residency meeting at several minutes past six last night I found that a fog as dense as matted cat fur had descended on the streets of Jersey City. The Newark Bay bridge construction added to the uncertainty of path finding. As I ascended the bridge the fog intensified to a distinctive sodium vapor orange and with my descent the red of aircraft landing lights in the distance made traceries through the orange mist. The industrialization of the Elizabeth Seaport area and refineries are amazing and terrible at the same time.
Which brings me to a friendly comment about time and the residency, time for all of us is precious. It feels to me that we are experiencing a little “mission creep” as the time has extended from a commitment of 5 hours to now over 7 (not including travel time). I understand the absolute need to be present and accounted for during the discussions and reviews but I for one would like to pay closer attention to the time and even volunteer to run the stop watch. I respect the other commitments we all have and feel the best way to honor ourselves is to keep to the schedule to the best of our abilities. Your thoughts?
I start construction today on the Ark Project. I have found and will recycle an old butcher block top for the base. The fine lines remind me of planking. I have worked out the dimensions of other supporting members of the construction and will use a birch plywood for the ribs and keel. I’ll post pictures as I work. Thanks for the input about a mobile “art on a cart” part B.
