DAY 322
02.20.08
TREE 153
Yesterday I made plans to eat dinner with Norman and Father Paul. So after work I drove straight to the Mount. Norman wasn’t there so I went into the Loftus House and talked to Emily a little and also spoke with Lisa and Ardis. They were getting ready for a board meeting. Norm called and said he was running late and was going to head straight to Los Indios. I told him I’d high-tail it up my tree and meet him there with Father Paul. I called Paul and told him to get ready and meet me out in front of the Provincial Friary since my tree was right there. I bolted outside, went right up to the tall, skinny oak and began my pole walk. Just as I had done the first time, I put my hands around the trunk and pulled towards me, then got my feet up on the trunk as high as I could and pushed. Then I went hand over hand while stepping slowly but surely getting me to the first limb. Then, with haste, I did my best to scramble up and trough the many little limbs that poked in all directions. But there were plenty strong branches I could trust with all my weight and quickly I reached the very top. With my cold aching hands I ripped off the ribbon
and shot pictures of a old tree I had climbed,
up,
the Retreat Center,
the Friary,
the Chapel,
the Loftus House,
the field and lake,
down,
the koi pond,
all quickly because I had to go meet Norman. While shooting I heard Lisa’s loud voice as she was walking to the board meeting. I called out her name, and after struggling to spot me but eventually looking high enough, said something about danger and being careful. I told her not to worry. Then I focused my attention to the sky and the beautiful clouds and sun. I looked back down and saw Paul pull up in his Camry so I quickly began my climb down. He walked up to the tree and asked how I got up to the first branch. I told him to watch. On the last branch I hung, wrapped my legs around the trunk and slid down. Not exactly accurate but he got a kick out of it while worrying about my jeans. Then with dirty, bloody, and cold hands I hopped into his car and we drove to Los Indios… which actually is now El Nopal, prices are higher and no more 98cent draft beers. Very disappointing. Anyway, a good climb but I kinda wish I wasn’t so rushed. I fell as though it distracted me from taking in the experience fully. There always tomorrow. Another day, another tree.
3-5-09: It is very sad to think that so much has changed at the Mount. Father Paul is gone, Lisa, Ardis, Emily are all gone, the Loftus House has been taken over by the Friary and the residency program is practically over. All that remains is the clay program and a bunch of empty and unused studios in the Calving Barn. What a shame. And I still haven’t quite gotten over the Los Indios/El Nopal take over. But there is always La Rositas in New Albany.
—
Thursday, February 19th 2009, my second day in New Haven, CT visiting Yale. I had a tour at 11am with Sam Anderson. She is a first year in the sculpture MFA program. She gave me a great tour of the facilities, answered my questions, and along the way I ran into Noel (high school friend who is also a sculpture MFA first year). We made plans to meet up later that afternoon and I finished my tour. By the end I was pretty damn sure this was the best place in the world. The new sculpture building is huge and made solely for 20 students. Basically, there are some senior art undergrads who get small studios, but the 1st and 2nd year studios are frickin’ huge. I also found out that the 1st years are in charge of admissions for the next year. There is so much freedom and support, rigorous critiques, and fresh ideas. It got me pretty excited to apply and get working on my work.
Later that after noon I was waiting for Noel at the Sculpture building.
While I waited I looked for a tree to climb. I spotted one that looked like it would a good shimmying challenge. But I wanted to Noel to be there just in case of a hassle. He finally showed and I asked if he wouldn’t mind being my witness. He agreed and I went for it. I felt a little rushed because I didn’t want to inconvenience Noel too much. I shimmied up the tall twisting trunk. It was an effort since the first branch was a good ways up and the trunk was big around.
I made it, got to my feet and hurriedly took my shots.
Again, I didn’t take a picture of Noel because I wasn’t sure if he would care and I didn’t bother to ask. When I was up there I noticed that there was a white string stuck in the tree and dangling around the trunk.
When I finally decided to shimmy down I hugged the trunk and began to slide down. My leg got caught in a look of the string and I knew there was no way I was going to be able to take it out. I was going to have to pop the string. So I slid down a few inches and straightened my leg. No break, so I slid down a little more. Each time I tried to break the string it would run the skin on the sides of my knees. I finally popped the string and slid the rest of the way down but my fingers and hands were numb and scrapes and my knee at the side had lost a lot of skin and I knew was going to scab. That was the 19th of February and now it is the 5th of March and I still have a scab there.
Anyway, it was a good challenge but rushed (completely my own fault). Noel and then went to his corner studio and caught up for a few hours. At one point I realized that I could see the tree I had just climbed from his window so I took a shot.
It was really good to hear what Noel had been up to the for the last few years and to hear about his art. I think it is really great that he is doing so well and that he got into Yale. I just hope I have the same luck.