A Lament for the State of Prospect Park's Arches
In this weekend’s Streetscapes column in the Times, Christopher Gray writes about Prospect Park’s five arches, which he believes “show the sensitive, humanistic possibilities of the city — which its citizens have betrayed.” How’s that? In most cases, because the insides of the structures now sport graffiti. Gray’s choicest words are about Meadowport Arch: “This…
In this weekend’s Streetscapes column in the Times, Christopher Gray writes about Prospect Park’s five arches, which he believes “show the sensitive, humanistic possibilities of the city — which its citizens have betrayed.” How’s that? In most cases, because the insides of the structures now sport graffiti. Gray’s choicest words are about Meadowport Arch: “This marvelous, inspiring work, a 100-foot-long Grand Central Terminal waiting room of polished cedar, with rounded benches and a cross-vaulted pavilion, was lovingly recreated in 1988, barely a generation ago. Now, after all that intention, money and effort, Meadowport Arch is a madeleine for New York of the 1960s and 1970s. The graffiti vandals have sprayed their way through the interior, and the city has seen little choice but to paint over four long runs of the casing. Only the topmost ones, out of reach, are intact, almost perfectly so — reminders of the humane sensitivity of the original design. The paint job is slapdash, with drips on the benches, but that only reflects the native tragedy — that we had this beautiful, democratic thing, freely given to all, and yet destroyed it.”
The Fate of Prospect Park’s Five Arches [NY Times]
Photo by wallyg.
“because of (lack of) public funding, scrapped it.”
-that is what we are told, but I prefer to believe that members of the Board and senior staffers broke into the president’s office and duct-taped him to his desk until he agreed to call off the exhibit.
Is anyone going on the walking tour this Wednesday? Blayze? I will be there, spray can in hand.
By going on the “walking tour” on Wednesday, you consent to full body search, electronic scanning, iris matching and dna-from-coffee-cup lifting. NRA members are exempted. No, Minard, you may not wear your hockey cup.
And, by the way, it is not a “tour”. I have little information to impart. Everyone there will have just as many interesting things to say as I will, probably more. And anyway I don’t like walking tours. Writing is much more efficient. It is just a walk. I put in “requiem” to make it sound vaguely cool. And anyway, anything more that 15 people is an unruly mob, not a tour.
Christopher
Although some of the wood was rotting, I did not see any stench, litter or homeless people. Actual results may vary.
Christopher Gray
Your are probably correct; my only response is:
Your manifest ass-kissing, fills me with a profound despondency for the future of autonomous rumination; The prospect that all precepts will be inextricably linked to approbation or profit, foretells the holocaust of our society.
It’s a big tent. And anyway, don’t blowhards get to be represented on the Supreme Court?
Young fella, how do you think Lady Gaga got where she is today? Purple, my friend, purple.
Bring your dog!!!
Isnt there a way to effectively articulate a love for the architectural features being described and a sadness to its destruction/neglect – without comparing it to the apocalypse. I think so.