el paso daily photo blog by chacal la chaise

El Aso ProMusica morning concert: Bach [Flickr]

2012-01-27T10:55:37-08:00

my high school 'commonplace book' [Flickr]

2012-01-23T18:13:57-08:00

i dragged it out and made a collage of its pages after reading this article in the atlantic.

'Commonplace Books': The Tumblrs of an Earlier Era
www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/01/commonplac...

Happy New Year! [Flickr]

2012-01-22T16:51:51-08:00

chacal la chaise posted a photo:

Dorothy Thorpe teapot safely arrived [Flickr]

2012-01-22T14:56:59-08:00

chacal la chaise posted a photo:

Preserving the Trans Mountain Scenic Corridor and redesigning theWestside Master Plan under Smart Codes

2012-01-17T23:52:00.001-07:00

Update: January 19, 2012
Below, view the embedded (hosted on Scribd) and linked document forward by Charlie that was originally sent by:

Shamori Rose Whitt, CNU-A (email)
Smart Growth Planner
Planning and Economic Development
City of El Paso
(915) 541-4477

Charlie Wakeem, President of the Coronado Neighborhood Association and Jim Tolbert (producer of the wonderful blog, elpasonaturally©), are great sources of information concerning El Paso and land development, especially about sustainable living with sensitivity to the environment and open spaces remaining near Transmountain and the Frankin Mountains State Park. Whether through a neighborhood association update, or social media, each man communicates information. Recently, Charlie sent out an email promoting a new round of charrettes, which seek to gather citizen feedback on the proposed TxDoT Transmountain Scenic Corridor project. Charlie writes:

Preserving the Trans Mountain Scenic Corridor and redesigning the Westside Master Plan under Smart Codes.

Please commit to attending and participating in one or both of the Public Meetings. You may also personally interact with the Dover Kohl and City staff teams at the Design Studio.

Get the word out to anyone you know! Please ask them to commit to participating personally as well.

Northwest Masterplan Charrette:

1. Hands-On Session:
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 5PM to 9PM,

Canutillo HS Auditorium;
6675 S. Desert Boulevard, 79932

2. Northwest Masterplan Work in Progress:

Saturday, January 28, 2012, 9AM to Noon,

Canutillo HS Auditorium;
6675 S. Desert Boulevard, 79932

3. Design Studio: (Open to the Public)

Monday, January 23 to Friday, January 27, 2012

Canutillo Independent School District--Board Room
7965 Artcraft Road, 79932

Hours of Design Studio:
Monday-Friday, 9AM to 7PM
El Paso Plan: Northwest Date Card

cat and cat stitch [Flickr]

2012-01-14T16:41:16-08:00

chacal la chaise posted a photo:

spicy [Flickr]

2012-01-14T15:54:53-08:00

chacal la chaise posted a photo:

2012: the way

2012-01-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it will be a banner (red) year. Or, perhaps this post represents the new year's resolution to create and publish blog posts on a regular basis. In any case, this post supports those working at the old El Paso Saddleblanket Building urbanart project. To view it, take the I-10 West Downtown exit and drive towards Oregon and West Wyoming Streets (google maps view).

There on the corner you can see this brief public arts project. If you cannot get there, I invite you to check out my Flickr set with images captured on December 26. Note that the building (as noted on the Flickr set page) was purchased by the City of El Paso in 2011, which will demolish it in February 2012. Currently, the city is considering various uses for this highly visible and rather important piece of land (as it sits atop I-10, at the NW edge of downtown proper) and on the edge of the museum/library complex and near to the historic San Francisco district. As for me, I'm just hoping it can again become a venue for outsider and emerging artists as it does today.

Pax in 2012 from Foxes Arroyo!

Reviewing the images, MJ noted a tie to El Chuco's #OWS (#Occupy) movement. Here, the Chase Bank building and the grasping hand provide a glimpse into the lives of those seeking a better life and the symbol of the 1%. Some #Occupiers do it by scaling fences and walls that attempt to keep them 'in their place' and out of sight. Others do it by shouting down the 1% with stickers, paint, photography, and social networking.

anniversary dinner in b&w [Flickr]

2011-12-30T20:51:36-08:00

chacal la chaise posted a photo:

anniversary dinner [Flickr]

2011-12-30T20:50:02-08:00

chacal la chaise posted a photo:

HIP_346744379.883821 [Flickr]

2011-12-27T22:25:33-08:00

chacal la chaise posted a photo:

HIP_346744354.621128 [Flickr]

2011-12-27T22:25:28-08:00

chacal la chaise posted a photo:

11-11-11

2011-11-11T11:46:00.001-07:00

Originally posted in Heather Champ's ancient (ca. 2001) Mirror Project (via waybackmachine.org), I offer this for 11-11-11, Veteran's Day. Thanks again to Heather for the project and permission to upload this image. Originally, the project was aimed at people taking their own pictures in a mirror. This posthumous image was one of two that I know were published on the website.

Stanley E. Drapes

Among the large collection of family photographs, is this one taken by my late father-in-law, Stanley E. Drapes. We have hundreds of photos dating from 1935, but this photo is one of our favorites.

The look on his face and the light from the window helps create a ghostly quality to the image. It helps show the apprehension of being young and in the service.  It is likely this picture was taken in 1940 in his hometown of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He placed the camera on his wife's, Lucille's, dressing table to steady it.

At the time, he was in Battery "D", 120th Field Artillery, 32nd Division, of the Wisconsin National Guard. The photograph was taken before he was sent to Louisiana for training.

Amusingly, his son Michael, dates pictures of his dad by the amount of hair he had. "This is a very unusual picture for me, as I only knew my dad as bald. In most of the pictures of him when he did have hair, he was wearing a hat."   Stanley retired from the service in the 1960 and went on to work at White Sands Missile Range, settling the family permanently in El Paso, Texas. In 1991, he and Lucille celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary along with their four children, their spouses, six grandchildren and many friends. He passed away a little over two years later.

Recycle-redux-reshare

2011-10-19T22:35:00.001-06:00

How To Build A Pallet Day Bed | Prudent Baby

Earlier this month, I replied and reposted an image and link from my Tumblr feed. I thought I would also repost it here with the memory the image prompted.

Too long ago to want to admit, the now defunct magazine, Metropolitan Home, started out as Apartment LIfe, which began in the late 60s. Colourful and practical, this bi-monthly then monthly magazine exemplified a general audience which followed the Whole Earth Catalog mantra/ethos of recycling, basic cooking skills, and general do-it-yourself articles for those (younger boomers at the time) feathering their nests. We loved and thoroughly dog-eared our copies of this magazine until the publisher dumped the practical of the late 70s recession era, and turned to the more over-the-top and luxe (read coke-fueled) envy of the go-go 80s and 90s.

The fun thing about the magazine were the ‘guest’ home images ala Architectural Digest. Of those, I remember the New York apartments of the now divorced Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher and Michael and Deanna Douglas (Jan. 1980).

Sadly, after the boxes of our old issues got soaked in a leaky storage shed, I bid them farewell around 1990 or so. LIke old LPs, we had hauled them from El Chuco to Santa Fe to San Angelo and back again to El Paso and it was sad for me to let them go.

That said, one of the articles that has stuck in my mind after all these years is the instructions for making a pallet day bed just like this one. There were a number of pictures of different chairs and sofas, but the one with the caster wheels was my favorite.

Traveling

2011-10-15T22:10:00.001-06:00

Last weekend we drove to Santa Fe for an overnight visit. We went not to shop, like many would do, but instead left El Paso to get out of town for a few hours. What makes Santa Fe so special are its hidden secrets, which surprise--you just need to know where to look. We don't know very many, but the ones we do know are worth every cent and time it takes to make the 4 1/2 hour drive. It is even worth navigating the "(un)safety zone" that runs from Belen through to south Albuquerque, the I-40/I-25 interchange, and northward towards La Bajada Hill. Back in the day, La Bajada was a steep, narrow, two lane road. Going, you needed a standard transmission vehicle just to get up the hill (we had a 1978 Audi Fox, 4-speed). Coming down you better have good brakes, especially in winter. It's tame now, and quite a boring ride. But the scenery is still gorgeous.

We entered town via Old Pecos Trail. It connects to old Santa Fe Trail,
and ends at the back of the La Fonda Hotel near the Loretto Chapel.

Usually, we go to Santa Fe to check on how the City Different fares these days, especially the parts of town we know well. These are comfortable places--downtown, with its tiny Plaza and Governor's Palace with the women of various Northern New Mexico pueblos selling their turquoise and low temp wood-fired red and black pots; crooked, narrow Guadalupe Street near our bed-and-breakfast; and, of course, Casa Solana, our old neighborhood where we lived for four and a half years, located just over a mile from the Guadalupe Inn where we always stay.

Gate, private home, San Francisco Ave., south of

Paseo de Peralta.

The bed and breakfast is owned and run by the siblings of an long-established Santa Fe family. It is adorable, quiet, and reasonably priced. In the morning, made-to-order breakfasts are always tasty and filling, and the conversations interesting and intelligent. It is a gem, tucked away from the over-the-top pricier hotels downtown. Unpretentious, local, simple, and kind. It is a marvel. Then again, that is the way the secrets of Santa Fe open themselves for you.

We drove around for a quick review of the downtown area; it was good to see Santa Cafe, Tia Sophia's, and Pasquale's were right where we left them, although many of the galleries were gone and replaced by new ones, which was expected. Dressman's was still on the Plaza, but the Ore House now has a new name. Copious strands of beads still bedeck the windows of Gloriana's Bead Shop, and Kaune's grocery still remains open for business. (We wondered if they still allow people to charge their monthly purchases, or if they now only accept debit and credit cards.)

Later, we wasted time driving down the dreaded Cerrillos Road (a mess and under construction) to peruse the tourist trap Jackalope. But first, we had lunch.

Building facade, San Francisco Avenue
south of Paseo de Peralta.

At Tomasita's, we waited 45 minutes for a table, but our timing could not have been better because those arriving a few minutes later via the Rail Runner from Albuquerque were informed that the wait time was now one hour. They muttered and complained openly, "You'd think things would have settled down by now," referring to the even more hectic Indian Market weekend craziness. We didn't care because we had all the time in the world. That evening, we sat at La Choza (the younger sibling The Shed) and waited the requisite 45 minutes there too. Both served excellent New Mexican food--I had stacked red enchiladas at La Choza and chiles rellenos at Tomasita's.

After breakfast Sunday morning, we had a nice long visit with our innkeeper, and then headed to town to walk around for a bit. We ended up having coffee at Starbucks on the Plaza. It was nice to sit in the dark cave of this corporate cup o'joe, read the New York Times, and connect our devices to wifi. Afterwards, we left downtown, and once more drove down the dread Road Cerrillos to check out the new location of Artisan's art supply store.

For decades, it was located on Canyon Road and was a great source for artist's supplies, but it was also very claustrophobic. Artisans has served the artists of Santa Fe for so long that on the register, a copy of a check, written and signed by Georgia O'Keefe, is proudly displayed. This bright and spacious location has enough space to display many sizes and shapes of easels, storage containers, all kinds of oil, acrylic, and watercolor paints, and their various brushes. It is a dream of a store. I bought a new storage plastic briefcase to hold my color pencils, and an interesting Micron-like pen with extra nibs and refills, sized .03mm.

OL Guadalupe, tile installation, private home, San

Francisco Avenue near Guadalupe Avenue.

Afterwards, we drove the Turquoise Trail (back route to Albuquerque and I-25) so we could see what was going on in Madrid. A mining ghost town, Madrid is a kind of last bastion of southwest hippiedom and free thinking/living. Its once greyed, tiny mining shacks look much better today than the last time I saw them. Its main drag was in full bloom--a veritable ren fair(e), complete with big dogs walking around without leashes, bikers parking their Harley's on the dusty shoulder, flowing skirts, waving banners. All exuded that kind of happy community that welcomes out-of-towners and their cash.

But, all too soon we were out the in door, driven past Golden, and onwards past Cedar Crest. We sailed down the road towards the interchange that threw us southward towards El Paso. Our 36-hour vacation was coming to a close.

I don't miss working in Santa Fe, but I do miss living there. I miss the climate, the vegetation, and the whole atmosphere of the place. Once we were migrants to the City Different, but now we are tourists again.

Commodities

2010-11-09T12:43:00.003-07:00

bookshelf
Originally uploaded by chacal la chaise.

This morning, I received an interesting email about the selling of books. It seems that book buyers troll universities looking for those who may want to sell the advance or desk copies of books acquired during the school year. Good timing too as the gift-giving season is around the corner and who doesn't need extra money. Whether I would or not (because I'm not allowed to anyway), is not the reason for writing here. It's about seas of papers and shores where flotsam and jetsam end their days. While I may be scraping off the foam of the idea, I may be incorrect in some of these statements. And, if that's the case, then I apologize in advance. But I think I have it about right.

Until today, I was not aware people actually came around to buy books by the pound, and this got me thinking. In many ways, publishing is akin to the fashion industry in the way that the remainders, overruns, and shelf worn end their days—in landfills, second-hand seller databases and garages, and developing countries. The latter receives remaindered t-shirts, shoes, and pants. It is the former where books end their days. This brings up a weird confluence regarding the publishing industry and tax law. This, I suppose, can also apply to how the fashion industry operates too. Which also happens to vehicles, or any commodity for that matter. But vehicles are also parted out or chopped, while books and to a lesser extent, clothes are resold, redistributed, and recycled by the item. It all still adds up to the idea of books as commodity whether we like it or not.

Remaindered books, which are those that booksellers have left over (and at a decreasing rate as physical booksellers are rapidly disappearing,) cannot be donated to libraries or goodwill, and then written off as a charitable deduction. For example, a publisher cannot give away extra or damaged books, and then take the cost of those books as a deduction. This is because they already have COGS (cost of goods sold) factored into their bottom line that was accumulated from producing them in the first place. However, i can purchase books from them (presumably they can give them to me, too) and i can take a tax deduction if i give them to a charitable organization. This is because i don't have a cost of doing business associated with those books (and, as the libertarians would argue, we don't have a flat tax). We get to itemize deductions if we already jumped through the hoops and fallen into Shadow, the homeowner vortex with the much sought after interest deduction. Such a precious.

But what about the books? They become denuded and remaindered, their covers ripped off (paperbacks, for example) and the front matter struck with a magic marker.

Sounds like rape, doesn't it? These books are shipped from say, B&N or Target to the publisher who must then destroy them. If you've ever bought (or even received books in that condition, you've held contraband in your hands. It all seems so unseemly.

Yes, book publishing is a strange kind of enterprise. We are horrified at the thought of destroying books, but publishers have to do it because of taxes, balance sheets, assets, liabilities, and just plain doing business. Moreover many of those destroyed books end up that way because 1) the price rose and they need a new cover, and 2) they redesigned the cover art because they sold a few and now want to 'refresh' the item, and must now take back the old copies and bring in the new. For a long time now, books are neither a vessel for literature, art, knowledge, information, or dreams. They are simply a commodity with a shelf life, like milk and white bread. I would have added Kodachrome, but we all know what happened to that.

Lincoln Park murals: Pachuca

2010-10-05T15:46:00.005-06:00

Lincoln Park murals: Pachuca
Originally uploaded by chacal la chaise.

A couple of weeks ago, there was a terrific car show and gathering beneath these I-10 flyovers at Lincoln Park. Sadly, I missed it, but yesterday I was able to capture a few quick shots of new Chican@ murals. Like Chicano Park in Los Angeles, the murals depict important people and events in Chicano history and feature visual topics pertaining to Aztlán, the Guadalupe, folk art/rascuache and social-political themes and history important to Latin@s as the Mexican Revolution, the murder of Latino journalist Ruben Salazar, President Kennedy, brown pride--topics pertaining to La Frontera's culture, art, and people.

In the Pachuca I see all the defiance, strength, and passion of a young woman--she wears a stripped down version of the zoot suit and carries a daggered sacred heart, while wrapped in the flags of her land, family, and culture. Strong, proud, brown, and armed with what signifies her strength. Ready to battle anything that comes her way or tries to harm her family and friends, this Pachuca stands tall.

October butterfly in a Saturday backyard

2010-10-03T11:40:00.004-06:00

October butterfly in a Saturday backyard
Originally uploaded by chacal la chaise.

Seeds that blew into the yard have taken over spaces originally created for pine trees. These interloper native plants are now huge and blooming. As I shot the images, I suddenly realized the butterfly was not the only insect feeding. Alongside and above me a host of honey bees, bumble bees, and the biggest black hornet I've ever seen were feeding, too. Their humming and buzzing all around me, I decided to finish capturing these images to let them feed in peace before they took a shine to me.

I have a hardworking fellow come help with the shaping up the hedges. i told him we'd work on getting the backyard in shape after we do the front. And because these big backyard interlopers are blooming now (and they really are ugly to me,) MJ and i decided to cut them back after the first frost, or when the bees disappear from the yard.

Later, I'll go outside again to see who's there today. Last week, when he was working on the frontyard hedges, my yardman was accompanied by the biggest yellow swallowtail butterfly we'd ever seen. Yesterday, I saw a tiny yellow warbler on his way south to Peru. Warblers, according to our Peterson book, terms warblers as "birdlet," which is a perfect name. This little warbler (by coloration a male) is a little bigger than a zebra finch. i'm hoping to capture a better picture of him today, too.

fresh violators

2010-09-04T14:01:00.002-06:00

I had a very Felliniesque group encounter the other day at the "Costcos" when I went to buy another set of shelves for MJ's workroom.

Standing in line, I saw 50-inch flat screen TVs being wheeled out in all directions by middle-aged Mexican men with iPod shuffles clipped to their shirt pockets; women, wearing variations on a theme of tan espadrilles and pencil skirts, escorted brown leather club chairs and sets of pots and pans behind the men—sure sign of more newly filled safe houses.

Next, I heard a southern-sounding woman slap what appeared to be a four-year-old boy—her son. She slapped him in the face as he sat in the cart. Not a loud slapping pop, it sounded more muffled in tone. Sounded and looked like how the woman might smack a puppy for peeing on a rug. Why, hit the boy, I wondered.

At that moment, I saw him try to lick her arm. The woman screamed and she smacked him again while a man walking next to her yelled threats at the boy—his son. The kid, dressed in a camouflage outfit, remained silent. They looked around and saw me watch them. Quickly, they headed for the exit. The kid kept silently trying to lick his mother again. Lick her fat, pink non-tattooed forearm to make her scream once more. One lick for each smack on that blonde, butch cut head of hair.

Playing PA, I thought he has a mineral deficiency, celiac, pica, or is just plain neurotic from having to endure such horrible, screaming, ignorant parents. I last glimpsed them was as they walked out the door, just ahead of another 50-inch Visio TV destined for one more quiet scared street in El Chuco.

New Tumblr website: ¡fuckyeahguadalupe!

2010-08-13T18:07:00.014-06:00

Canutillo:: Laundry with Nachos and Guadalupe on the Side

For a while now, I've been experimenting (OK, using to a greater extent) the Tumblr web ap. My first site is here, with a new one here. The later is solely devoted to all things Guadalupe because it seems El Paso contains a large collection of urban art, etc., about whom Wikipedia explains is the Queen of Mexico, Empress of the Americas and Patroness of the Americas.

What I enjoy about posting to this new Tumblr is how I can publish new images about Guadalupe (and other topics) in a more timely manner than I've previously be able to do with Blogger. However, I don't see me abandoning this site anytime soon; this site should be about general El Paso images and the occasional (!) picture of our cats. But back to the Guadalupe.

I've located many instances of beautiful urban art that transcend the original meaning of rascuache--the common, the wretched, the poor--in El Chuco and elsewhere. This is all quite intriguing as she embodies so much about mestizo identity and the affect colonization has had on out indigenous psyches. Above all else, people seem to have an inordinate need to capture her, which in turn, makes others happy--all this wellspring of creativity brings out the best and most artistic in those who try to create her image.

While I have not forgotten this blog (as seen by the many spontaneous posted images from my camera phone), a lot of my online writing and research is now divided between three blog sites and my twitter account. And if that isn't the way to push out web content I don't know what is. Cheers!

urban art: cesar chavez/campbell

2010-08-01T20:59:00.004-06:00

urban art: cesar chavez/campbell
Originally uploaded by chacal la chaise.

One of the fun things about going out to shoot pictures with mj is that while he drives, i try my hand at drive-by shooting. I cheated somewhat with this one though because we were stopped at the light.
This mural is quite old and if memory serves, was vandalized at one time. Behind the palm tree is a portrait of the artist, Manny Acosta. Acosta passed away in 1989. Here is a bit of what Askart.com provides about Acosta:

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Manuel Acosta settled in El Paso, Texas where he became a painter, muralist, sculptor and illustrator. He studied at the University of Texas at El Paso and at Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles.

Student's Sketches article from the Monthly Illustrator (1895)

2010-07-25T12:32:00.000-06:00

Student's Sketches article from the Monthly Illustrator (1895)
Originally uploaded by chacal la chaise.

Currently, I am having too much fun reading through PDFs of“The Monthly Illustrator” from 1895. One topic of interest at the time was how illustrators had to contend with photography, and the ever-increasing technological challenges to their status quo.

However, even a pencil is a form of technology.

Another idea was that from the first pen stroke, students thought they were creating something special and good; and, this reminds me of how we must continually work at helping students to become better writers. While the article, “A Student’s Sketches” by Speed and Heustis is too optimistic as to whether or not a student actually thinks they are accomplishing something from their first drawing; this idea does bear consideration. Do other subjects in the humanities, business, or sciences allow students such instant feedback?

In accounting, you know when you the cash flow balances. In chemistry, you achieve something every time the lab stays intact. The same with dance—you didn’t fall down; or, music—the dog didn’t howl and your calluses are forming to perfection as are the glissandos played on a piano. Would perhaps a student of voice and music hear their errors and correctly sung/played piece? More than likely they would. However, what about those disciplines that are more subjective?

Why is it that writing of any sort, whether a resume or literature review, such a painfully acquired skill, art, or ability? Techné is hard, but when achieved, it is artfully composed and may even persuade. Yet, what pedagogical differences exist between teaching writing and teaching music, singing, and painting? What do finance teachers do differently from teachers of business writing?

If group work helps students become better writers through peer reviews, etc., do illustrators or musicians become better through collaborative methods, too? Peer reviews for artists helps. But does working on the same project (a mural, string quartet, or choir) lend itself similarly to what composition instructors see as good progress when student writers work together? I’m not talking about the end result, but whether or not their rate of learning or skill building increases or improves when working in groups.

Mobile Post

2010-07-15T23:12:00.001-06:00

found in our yard. it appears that it hit our bedroom window while being chased by a red tailed hawk.

more napping

2010-07-14T02:49:00.001-06:00

pumpkin

buddy napping

2010-07-13T03:35:00.001-06:00

2010-06-29T01:35:00.001-06:00

utep health sciences construction

2010-06-23T10:31:00.001-06:00

cottonwood flurries

May I come in for a moment, please?

2010-06-16T13:54:00.002-06:00

koroll bencini

2010-05-05T22:23:00.001-06:00

koroll bencini

Franklin Mountains poppies

2010-04-01T02:36:00.002-06:00

Franklin mt poppy bloom

CRAVE :: cafe

2010-03-12T22:25:00.002-07:00

Buddy II and Baudrillard.

2010-03-08T03:42:00.001-07:00

Buddy II contemplates his place in Baudrillard's System of Objects. Pet: A domesticated animal that occupies the space between humans and objects.

El Pisto Restaurant

2010-02-26T00:33:00.002-07:00

Originally, we were going to the L&J for dinner, but the place was too busy with no parking around the place for 3 or more blocks. We then decided to go to Overland Street near the convention cener and bus station. not too quiet, but great service and excellent food.

Discipline and Punish and the US Parking Slotted Pay Box

2009-12-19T18:47:00.005-07:00

US Parking Slotted Pay Box
Originally uploaded by chacal la chaise.

Texas plated cars with expired state inspection stickers receive a ticket, while the owners receive a court date. If for some reason there is need to reschedule, due to unforeseen events, a form (from an attorney) will abate the court appearance. Either fax or take the form to the Municipal Courts building on Overland Street, and pay the clerk 10¢ for a copy (she’ll give you a receipt for the money.) Parking availability in front of the building is nil due to all the reserved spaces for police vehicles and consulate cars (the Mexican Consulate is around the corner on the not so ironically named San Antonio Street.) Therefore, if a member of the public has business to conduct within the courts building, they must park their car at the US Parking lot across the street.

In Discipline and Punish, Michel Foucault explains how certain spaces work together to form areas which discipline, punish, and control public behaviors. These change and shift over time and by location. While a community designs their towns in certain ways over time, such collections of formations will create such barriers and constraints, which the public never sees or feels. The layers of buildings, torn down, others built in the same place, lanes widened, streets change to one-way, all result in outcomes never originally planned. In a painless but effective formation, such changes will punish and discipline. Whether these are designs and buildings situated to perform those particular outcomes, as with prisons and schools, there are also more subversive and invisible spaces that discipline those of us who willingly walk into a space and follow the implied or written instructions meted to us. I found one such space this week and was shocked when Foucault’s theory met with the place where I stood—in a parking lot across from the Municipal Courts building on Overland Street.

Most of the US Parking facilities are simple blacktop lots with diagonal lines and numbers to denote a space, along with a simple metal box at one entrance that accepts your coins and bills. In the case of this location, US Parking charges $4 to rent such spaces (0-12 hours). On a slow day, as this was, this means I paid for about 15 minutes of space rental time. What makes parking there so byzantine and punishing is not merely the amount you must pay, but how you pay. To pay for a space, put money into the corresponding slot cut into that red metal box attached to a signage pole. On the day I went, a pink piece of paper taped to the sign above the box politely asked people to pay in “cash, no checks please.” It is not so much the price of the parking lot space because this is America and the need and lack of choice drive space rental.

Yes, it is four dollars because hey, they want to see if you will pay with a $5 bill because you are in a rush or do not have change. It is also because the box with its slots work together with this location in a manner where you will pay; that is punish and discipline. The box disciplines by making you cram the money into that box, which you would not have had to do if you had had your car inspected on time. The slot punishes because you must stand and roll your bills so tight that you think about your grandfather rolling his own cigarettes with Bugler Tobacco. It punishes by making you remember that you miss him even though he died in 1975. Before you finish, you must make sure the money drops inside, so you cram the money into the box with a metal shive attached to the box with a chain. Overall, geography can and will discipline and punish, through this place, those spaces, and the box—across from the courts, as no parking is available on the street. Your money, the metal shive, the street, the courts, and the red box—that is discipline and punish.

Mobile Post

2009-12-16T09:36:00.003-07:00

New images based on Kaleidic Lite - #1