Last Saturday I checked out the Brooklyn Museum for the first time in years (I can’t remember how many). There were three main exhibitions running and the place was packed. (The line took 45 minutes to get through!)

Anyway, our first stop was the solo exhibition of works by the sculptor Ron Mueck. I was going in with high hopes because in photographs his work looks truly stunning. In person, however, the pieces were less stunning and more creepy. Additionally, you couldn’t help but just keep looking for flaws and imperfections. It was weird. Kind of like when 3D animation gets close but doesn’t quite capture real actors.

Then it was on to the Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990–2005 exhibition. I can’t say how I enjoyed the work here because the exhibition space was so mobbed with people that the air was thick and gross. Between pushing through the throngs and breathing the stale air, we rushed through catching a couple glimpses here and there but not really spending any time.

Finally we reached Tigers of Wrath: Watercolors by Walton Ford exhibit which I absolutely loved. The guy’s work was so impressive, large, colorful, intricate and cruelly dark I was amazed. Another piece that really interested me in his pieces was the stories behind what they were depicting. They were so bizarre and based on famous accounts that I was mesmerized.

I should remember a couple things based on the day. One, to find out when the museum is the least busy and only go then. Two, to follow Walton Ford’s work for my next chance to see his latest.

Soon after coming home from Thanksgiving dinner, we started to hear a slew of fire sirens heading our way. Taking one look out the window showed what was up. Just past the corner on 4th Avenue at Prospect Avenue there was a huge fire engulfing the small buildings and soaring to over twice their height. From the terrible smell of the smoke my guess was the car servicing center full of tires was going up.

It seemed destine to spread to neighboring buildings and grow larger, but amazingly the firefighters quickly got it under control. Under an hour later it was just steam rising into the sky.

I should remember that firefighters really do kick ass.

(Update: Gothamist ran a story with my photos. Nice! I should remember that I might have a future as a news photographer.)

This year Thanksgiving involved a ride across Brooklyn to enjoy an evening meeting new family and catching up with old family. I should remember to at least try to stay in touch a little more with my family.

(photo: my woman’s calaloo)

I guess not all memories can be positive ones. I got a link today that reminded me that although I live in New York which allows me to be exposed to many different types of people, food, languages, art and more… living in New York also shelters me from the intolerance currently running rampart over the United States.

The link was a story on CNN about a Town that made it illegal to fly a foreign flag. That town is the 30,000-person town of Pahrump, Nevada, which is close to Las Vegas. I guess they had never heard of the First Amendment which guarantees freedom of speech and expression within this country.It really is too easy to forget that everywhere isn’t as enthusiastic about diversity as New York City.

(Side note: Racism is alive everywhere including from Sienfeld folks, don’t forget)

(Image: Three Mexican Flags in a Stiff Breeze, originally uploaded by Edu-Tourist.)

It’s amazing how fast things can grow online through shared interests, especially around major events like the New York City Marathon. After checking out the marathon passing less than a block from my place, I uploaded a couple photos to Flickr. I guess because the marathon wasn’t even done by the time I did that (and since I’m only 6 miles or so from the start) no one had started a Flickr group to cover this year’s marathon yet.

So, I started the NYC Marathon 2006 group and put my couple measly photos in there… Under a week later there are now 36 members with over 619 photos!

I need to remember to use more online groups to check out other people’s creativity.

Despite the fact that in the larger picture voting in New York doesn’t make that much of a difference since it’s so strongly Democrat, I hope that somehow my vote can help things get better… Cuz right now sucks.

(Image by plemeljr)

Just walked back up the street from checking out the marathon. It’s really convenient that the runners pass within half a block of my apartment. One of these days maybe I’ll have enough courage to try out myself.

Although I tried my best to get some good photos, I only managed a couple decent ones. Oh well, I guess there’s always next year.

In the meantime, I should remember to keep checking the NYC 2006 Marathon Group on Flickr to see what other people caught.