The power of goodbye

A week completely in the sign of the farewell. First the goodbye to the beach life at the beginning of the week and then the experience of the last days in New York, before the return trip to Basel.

The week started with rain and a lot of wind. I’m always amazed at how warm it stays even when it’s cloudy and wet. And how quickly you can go back to the beach after the clouds break and the sunshine returns. I still started this week rather melancholy and according to the overcast sky. I often have a hard time with goodbyes and the end of the carefree beach life saddened me a bit.

The blessings of technology

But the last evening was a funny one thanks to a show by Hedda Lettuce, who made me laugh a lot. On the very last island morning, I was woken up by the sun again. We had a video conference with our architect regarding the housing project in Basel. It’s nice how everything works nowadays and how technology, if used correctly, can give you so much freedom. It’s only thanks to this that I can allow myself to live location-independently for a longer period of time.

Farewell beloved island

After the meeting, I left for a last walk along the beach and ended up having to force myself to walk away from the shore and not look back. My heart was so heavy. And then we sat on the ferry across the South Shore and as Fire Island shrank to an insignificant line on the horizon, all was well again for me too. Once the goodbyes are done, you realize what goodbyes, what the end of something generally always is: the beginning of something new! In this case, another week in New York City. I think there are worse things!

Urban Gardening

In my story from July 31st I wrote about a carefully planted vegetable garden, located in the middle of Jamaica’s densely and urbanly populated neighborhood. An oasis, lovingly tended by a man, that inspired me. I saw the scene on a previous train ride, but didn’t make it in time to take a photo of it.

On this train ride back to New York I managed to photograph the garden from the moving train. Even the man is in the picture.

After the rain comes the sun again

The city has received me then first of all again with rain. I used the day to work in the studio and for doing various household things, such as the laundry.

The following day began again with a cloudless sunrise over Harlem, which I watched from our kitchen window while thinking about the sunrises on Fire Island. Instead of the rhythmic sound of the waves, this sunrise was filled with the typical background noise of the city: the sirens of ambulances and cars driving across the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue.

Architectural High Line Highlights

The fascinating thing about New York is that there is always something new to discover. And it always has something superlative that is trumped within a few months by something even more spectacular. A walk along the High Line from Hudson Yards down to the Meatpacking District is a good way to experience that. One architectural masterpiece follows the next and the changing planting of the High Line offers ever new, exciting perspectives on it.

Celebrating the last day

With a last run I said goodbye to Riverside Park on Sunday. I came this time never to run in Central Park. Somehow I like Riverside Park better, even if both offer interesting city views. We spent the evening on the Arlo Rooftop at NoMad from where the New York skyline can be admired so closely.

From the studio

I’ve worked out another king in the last few days and now have a trilogy put together. In the next steps I will refine and alienate the combinations and prepare everything for printing.

For all Photos of the week click here