Crowd Sourced Public Art

May 7, 2021

Amarillo, TX to Little Rock, AR
Miles Today: 613
Total miles: 2,781
Gas in OK: $2.79
Roadkill: Two armadillos, one (possibly two) tortoises, one deer*

Happy Throwback Thursday

This is the famed Cadillac Ranch, in the freakishly flat and windy wilds of Amarillo, TX. I happened to notice on the map that it was close to the hotel I stayed in so I decided to head over before gassing up for Arkansas on May 7--yes I've got blog posts stacking up.

Why is it?

Why indeed. It is allegedly an 'art installation', which in America means that of course there will be some shopping available on site. In this case, it's cans of spray paint. Now, in many cities you can't buy spray paint if you're a minor. Why? Because you might make something look better---------------------->   

But seriously, I had some thoughts about this whole enterprise when I saw it. So I suppose that means it is art, since it 'evoked' something in me. Anyone who knows me knows that it's hard for something to NOT evoke something in me. I was disappointed that the cars are no longer recognizable as cadillacs. At some future point, they may not even look like cars anymore.

If you think about it, though, when you half-bury about twelve cars by the side of the road, you might expect that something will happen to them if you won't or can't protect it. In that case, you may as well just give in to the inevitable and even sanction it by setting up a spray paint point of sale.

I think there's something healthy about crowd-sourced art like this because there are so many activities that used tp be normal, everyday pursuits that have now become things that we watch, not things that we do. We all have the ability to sing, dance, and do art. I could even learn to make a basket (like, I mean dunk one, not weave one. I have woven one) if I practice. I am learning to dance. I will not be good at it, but it is not an undoable thing. Many of us think singing, dancing, acting, playing sports, and art are for artists, singers, dancers, etc. But those things are for everyone. Those of you who live in vegan group homes know what I'm talking about.

My favorite piece of crowd-sourced art is Seattle's gum wall. It is as gross as you want to believe it is. I think it's lovely. It is created by the artist's own teeth and hands, using their very saliva. So personal. Think about what the artist puts into this creation beyond just that: color of the gum, its placement on the wall, and even the shape the artist pressures it to take. 

The gum wall is big. There's plenty to assess when you contribute, and each artist does it differently. It's a form of control; you can leave your mark for others to see. It also feels a bit naughty because you're not supposed to stick your gum on the wall AND gum is gross! It's been in your mouth!

The gum wall is control and surrender at the same time. Once your damp nugget has been placed, it's up to the fates whether it will remain visible or remain there at all. Will someone cover it up? Maybe. And every couple of decades, they clean that wall (I mean, remove the installation).

There is a form of art called 'social painting', and no, it doesn't involve wine. This is something that I've done when I was in the Waldorf crowd. I liked it so much, I brought it to the Montessori crowd later. It's done with a group of at least six people and uses wet on wet watercolor. There is a paper for each participant, and the leader of the session will give instructions--you may be doing a landscape, or just painting colors onto the paper. You start on your own paper, and then when the leader says it's time, you rotate to your neighbor's painting.

What's that? You have feelings about someone painting on your painting? Interesting. Well, wait until six or twenty people do it. This form of art tells us a lot about ourselves and how we work with or steamroll over others. If you can do this exercise and notice what comes up as you do it, you can learn quite a bit about yourself and about what your find hard when working with others, when sharing. Are you trying to stand out or blend in? Do you think you need to improve everyone's work? Do you just make small marks around the margin? 

After all this talk about how much I love group art, why was I so mad when I saw how shitty these cars looked? Maybe because I was looking at the whole mess, instead of looking more closely at what people had done. Where were the beautiful details? You had to get closer. It did just look like a big mess if you tried to take it all in as a whole. The shape of the cars is all you could really get with a wide view. 

That's really the story of this trip. I've seen the whole mess of racism, the sham of rights, of equality. When you look at the whole it's a mess. But if I go closer and look at the details, I will get information about what works and what doesn't. From a policy perspective, these are the stories of impact that policy makers don't learn (#notallpolicymakers). You have to read The Color of Law to know just some of what's wrong with planning, zoning, and banking practices. You have to read The New Jim Crow to understand why our criminal legal system doesn't work and how it is racist. When you study the problems and solutions, you can pick up your paintbrush, gum, or paint can and get to work making group art. Find one place to beautify. Watch how you work. Check with others about your impact. But study. And then work.

In the above picture, I have unwittingly added to the art installation by matching the tire exactly. Sometimes things work out even if you're a hack.

*This is not a complete list of all roadkill between Amarillo and Little Rock; it is only roadkill that I noticed.

A Policy Rant: Little Rock Board of Directors will Write a Strongly-Worded Letter Annually

Section 5. Notification of Federal and State Officials.  

(a) Beginning three (3) months after the enactment of this article, the Clerk of the City shall execute the mandatory and ministerial duty of sending letters on an annual basis to the members of the United States House of Representatives whose District includes the corporate limits of the City, both Arkansas United States Senators, any Representative or Senator in the Arkansas General Assembly whose district includes  all or a portion of the corporate limits of the City, the Governor of the State of Arkansas, and the President of the United States. 
(b) This letter shall state, "The City of Little Rock, Arkansas, has passed an ordinance to de-prioritize adult marijuana offenses, where the marijuana is intended for personal use, and requests that the governments of the United States of America and the State of Arkansas take immediate steps to enact similar laws.

We Do Entertainment and Fast Food

May 6, 2021

Albuquerque, NM to Amarillo, TX
Miles Today: 301
Total miles: 2,469
Gas in NM: $2.79

 What we're good at

Here I am with my friend, cardboard Gus Fring. One thing I learned from living overseas is that the major influences in and exports from the U.S. are entertainment and fast food. I can't say we're good at either one of them, but we are prolific. One thing we are very good at that some of the countries I've visited were lacking in is construction safety. And we probably have our propensity for litigation to thank for that.
The 'real' world of American culture is heavily influenced by the entertainment industry and pop culture, and nothing makes our dreams come true like being able to see where our favorite characters made meth and dissolved bodies.

It happened to Albuquerque

Anyway, Albuquerque was lucky enough to be the setting for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Some are unhappy about that, because what generally comes along with fan worship is a sense of entitlement and ownership of the places and people from our favorite stories. This attitude leads to a lack of privacy for some, and can include people throwing pizza onto the roof of your garage. 

Let's monetize this

It's not unusual to cash in on this type of craving people have to try to make their favorites come to life. It's something I spent a fair amount of time judging and poo-pooing. But I guess I've been back in the U.S. long enough to dive in and try to grab the fantasy just like other fans. And my visit to the Breaking Bad store was everything I wanted and more. 

They had a museum with fan art and bona fide props. I dove right in. There were t-shirts and aprons and shot glasses and coasters, mugs, masks, monopoly, and blue rock candy. It was nuts, and I spent fifty bucks. But what I also got was a man behind the counter (the owner) who shared my enthusiasm for the fantasy I was chasing. I asked him about one scene that was filmed in front of a yellow wall. I wanted to see that wall.  He knew exactly what I was talking about, and told me that it exists, that it is blocked off, and that they recreated the wall for filming somewhere else because there wasn't enough room to get the shots they wanted.

Have an A-1 day every day

Yes, you can take a tour of the sites in the show in a crappy RV. I absolutely would have done this if I had known about it in advance. One location I did go to was the site of the A-1 car wash. I thought I might actually get my car washed there, as it was pretty darned dusty and buggy, but I didn't want to bust my fantasy bubble by having a mundane interaction with someone who definitely would not be Flynn.

I took a picture from far out in the parking lot, and there was another fan doing the same thing. I shouted over to him, "All I need is for someone to tell me to have an A-1 day!" So he did, and I wished him the same. That connection to a real person was facilitated by our interest in something that didn't exist. But the last year (or five) has created enough distortion that 'reality' slips, making room for fiction; this fiction has been necessary for many of us to contend with reality. We've been forced to release the grip a little. 

In A Canyon, Not A Cavern

 Grand Canyon visit, May 4, 2021

One Canyon, Many Peoples

Above is a graphic of the tribes of the Grand Canyon, which has been home to humans for 13,000 years.

Below is a list of the associated tribes of the grand canyon, taken from the national park service website (linked above). I've included links to the tribe sites. Each of these websites has COVID-19 information on the landing page, but persevere and take a look beyond that. I've linked to a couple of constitutions also.

• Havasupai Tribe - AZ
• Hopi Tribe - AZ
• Hualapai Tribe - AZ
• Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians - AZ
• Constitution of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona
• Las Vegas Band of Paiute Indians - NV
• Moapa Band of Paiute Indians - NV
• Navajo Nation - AZ
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah - UT
• Constitution and other gov't documents
• San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe - AZ
• The Pueblo of Zuni - NM
• Yavapai-Apache Nation - AZ
  

Pandemic Plusses

Zero waiting for horrifically popular destinations like the Grand Canyon; zero crowds when you get there! Peak season for Grand Canyon is June-August, but one would expect crowds in any 'normal' May. Happily, there was no waiting at all to get in, plenty of parking, and very few people. Warned that parking fills by 11 am, I woke up EARLY and arrived around 9:30. (It strikes me that visiting something as beautiful as Grand Canyon National Park and focusing on parking is a very American thing to do.) Less trash! Less noise!

Trade-Offs

Very limited bus service means your choice is driving to outlooks; limited restrooms open; no gift shop/bookstore. Sad about the bookstore, but not the gift shop.

It's QUIET and indescribable

Despite Americans doing their best talking in 'normal tones' (full blast), the canyon was QUIET when the humans zipped it momentarily. I can't describe it and my pictures don't do it justice. It smelled good, it sounded good, and it's nicely kept up. I can't say I approve of the amount of driving within the park, as the views are dependent upon clean air, and clean air in general is just a good idea. I suggest mandatory busses. You're welcome.

Do not be influenced by scarcity issues

Plagued by 'buffet mentality'* and scarcity issues, I noticed myself starting to think that 'more is better' and felt the need to drive to another outlook. Suddenly, a trip that I hadn't even intended on making wasn't good enough and I felt like I should do more and see more. I just let myself notice that thought and decided, heck, I'm sure it's beautiful to drive 44 miles up and back but I can't really justify polluting, and I don't have the energy for potential traffic jams. A beautiful walk on the canyon's rim was enough! I said goodbye to it and continued on to Albuquerque, which I can now spell without any assistance.

*This is a rare condition in which a person (me) feels the need to eat before  going to a buffet or potluck because of an irrational fear that there will not be enough food FOR ME.

Cecil, not Cecile

May 5, 2021 

Flagstaff, to Grand Canyon, Winslow, and Albuquerque, NM
Miles Today: 505 
Total miles: 2,168
Gas in AZ: $3.09
Gas in NM: $2.79

Fairly long day driving, but got some great stops in at the Grand Canyon and in Winslow, AZ. I'll post about the Canyon next, but here's a bit about Winslow, where they have a nice little museum and some good iced coffee.

My Favorite Winslow, AZ Resident

Meet Cecil Creswell, former 'Harvey Girl' who quit the service industry to become a rancher and eventually rustle cattle. She changed her name from Olive to Cecil and began living as a man after spending too many years in an immaculate pinafore. 

Cecil  began her life as a rustler when she stole a bull from a neighbor, coloring it with henna so its owner didn't recognize it for three years. That bull and a couple of stolen cows started Cecil's herd. 

I learned about Cecil today at the Old Trails Museum in Winslow, Arizona. Yes. That Winslow.

The Seat of Government

While most visitors were gathered around the mural on Second Street that commemorates the Eagles'  song Take it Easy, I went through the museum and then sniffed out City Hall. It's a tiny building right by the railway tracks, and the council meets twice a month. 

In case you're interested, here's the city's tax code which imposes lodging and restaurant/bar tax of an additional 2% of the gross income from restaurants, bars, and 'transient' (under 30 days) lodging establishments. These taxes are in place for 20 years, and so far it looks like the council continues to vote for renewal every couple of decades. There's also a one percent tax on the gross income of every business (or person doing business) in the city. The revenue from this tax funds capital improvements in the city, and is something we can't do in Washington state because it isn't permitted by the legislature.

All Mod Cons in Winslow

Winslow is an old railway town, and although nothing remains of the roundhouse, marks of the town's past as a rail hub are still in evidence. Not content with just being a railway town, Winslow also became home to one of the nation's first passenger airports. 

Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT) was the country's first passenger airline, established in Winslow in 1929. Charles Lindbergh was tasked with mapping the routes and designing the airports around the U.S. There's some information about the airport here. TAT later became TWA. 

Grand Canyon Post Next

Some, but not all, of Route 66 still exists

Barstow, CA to Flagstaff, AZ

Miles today: 351

Total miles to date: 1,663

Took I-40 to Flagstaff , AZ today. Drove about 90 miles on Route 66 and would have taken it the whole way if I could because there was no one on it. But you the speed limit is 55 mph and I-40 is 75 mph in most places so I went for speed. I can report that I did not see Large Marge, but I did see the Bagdad Cafe.

Bought my ticket for the Grand Canyon tomorrow. This is an upside to the pandemic, because attendance is down so it will likely be less crowded than normal. I'm not sure where I'll be stopping tomorrow night because I'm not sure how long I'll be enjoying the views tomorrow. Apparently, the park is one of the ten most deadly national parks! What a thrill.

Civil Rights Trail

I'm not a podcast person. But my lonely COVID-19 walks around the neighborhood this past year required more than my playlists named Quarantine, Corona Times, Phase 1, Phase 2, and--lastly--Jobless. So I gave in and listened to the podcast Driving the Green Book. Later I heard author Deborah D. Douglas talk about her book U.S. Civil Rights Trail and thought about how I hoped to have the chance to make the trip someday. I bought Ms. Douglas's book and shortly after that I found that chance.

In April, I decided to visit my sister and brother-in-law in California and then take a 'side trip' of about 1,900 miles to travel some of the trail. I wanted to learn more about the momentous events of the Civil Rights era that my parents lived through but--inexplicably to me--never talked about. How could you live through the events of the sixties and never talk about that revolutionary time? It makes no sense to me. I believe my parents had the duty to take action during that time to combat the racism and violence directed at Black Americans and they failed to help the movement.

While the struggle has never stopped, the advent and growth of the Black Lives Matter movement, punctuated by the murder of George Floyd last year, is a time for all of us to fight for equity and against racism and discrimination. One way I found  to work in and support the movement was to volunteer for Campaign Zero. I am one of hundreds of volunteers collecting and analyzing police collective bargaining agreements from law enforcement in cities and counties large and small across the country. Campaign Zero is an effort to change policing in America. Please join Campaign Zero if you can, or find a piece of the movement for equity and justice that you can contribute time or money to.

My trip started in Seattle, and will take me through Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. My goal is to learn what I was never taught in high school. I have filled in many of these gaps through following Black Twitter; thanks for all the reading recommendations, BT! I also want to learn more about the policies and legislation behind our racist systems, and to learn the stories of individual and collective work by Black Americans that brought about change. 

Image of Edmund Pettus Bridge taken from Civil Rights Trail website.