Citynoise.org: a public photoblog where people with a love for the urban form, modern world, or a general appreciation of their environment gather to post stories, narratives and often upload photos of their favourite cities, hometowns, travels, or current locations. http://citynoise.org 2013-06-20T12:14:07+00:00 text/html 2013-06-17T03:58:07+00:00 http://citynoise.org joey http://citynoise.org/article/11621 <img alt="Art Museum Visit" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/51059.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/co/denver">Denver, CO</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/joey">joey</a>. Continuing the <a rel="tag" class="subtle" title="tag/Road Trip Sights" href="http://citynoise.org/tag/Road Trip Sights">Road Trip Sights</a> 3 DAM_ Denver Art Museum building looks like a ship sailing through the Citynoise Pop art sweeping up local trash Horse made from sticks. No it's a horse made of <a rel="tag" class="subtle" title="tag/bronze" href="http://citynoise.org/tag/bronze">bronze</a> sticks Golden people riding an elephant in the permanent collection forever text/html 2013-06-17T03:55:09+00:00 http://citynoise.org Franny Wentzel http://citynoise.org/article/11620 <img alt="The Fuhrerbunker" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/51063.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/ny/schenectady">Schenectady, NY</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Franny Wentzel">Franny Wentzel</a>. Thanks to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban Renewal" rel="tag" title="Urban Renewal on Wikipedia">Urban Renewal</a> the little city of Schenectady received many examples of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutalist architecture" rel="tag" title="Brutalist architecture on Wikipedia">Brutalist architecture</a>. Most were civic structures - like additions to the city's Middle Schools and the Police Headquarters - but there were a few privately-built structures... We like to call it the Fuhrerbunker but it is, in fact, a bank. It replaced the Lorraine Block - one of the few dedicated office buildings in a downtown largely devoted to retail. Since the early 70s it was the Schenectady branch of the Albany Savings Bank - incidentally their Albany headquarters replaced one of that downtown's best classic hotels. Sometime around the turn of this century Citizens Bank took over the property... ...and made a few changes of their own. This was once a wall of bronzed glass. Where there used to be drive-up teller cages... ...sit-drive up ATMs. Oh hai <a rel="tag" class="subtle" title="tag/robot face" href="http://citynoise.org/tag/robot face">robot face</a>... More useless angles... text/html 2013-06-14T11:54:44+00:00 http://citynoise.org serial killers unite http://citynoise.org/article/11619 <img alt="Canal Walk" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/51057.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/sydney">sydney</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/serial killers unite">serial killers unite</a>. text/html 2013-06-11T16:44:23+00:00 http://citynoise.org wendy mortimer http://citynoise.org/article/11618 Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/hooley+%2csuurey">hooley ,suurey</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/wendy mortimer">wendy mortimer</a>. can i "claim to fame ". myself and michele gallagher of netherne management had the burial grounds at netherne cleared... am in contact with netherne management and hoping to have the area grassed over and wild flowers planted and seats for reflection purposes. i have been campaigning over the year (with adrian falkes) to have it cleared. and at last it has . my late great great aunt and a friend in australia her relative is buried there ,along with forgotten soldiers and relatives.my name is wendy mortimer . my brother brian mortimer we met michele gallagher last wednesday to view the cleared cemetery. we are hoping to get volunteers to keep the brambles at bay and to have the area grassed over ,the remains of lynch gate cleaned and the viewable gravestones too.the original head stones were all removed in the 1950's.there are wild animals there that are protected ,so any work there will have to conform with the laws.at last NETHERNE CEMETERY IS CLEARED... i had a campaign going with the croydon guardian newspaper.... text/html 2013-06-03T21:39:53+00:00 http://citynoise.org Franny Wentzel http://citynoise.org/article/11617 <img alt="Moon Shot" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/51056.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/usa/monroeville">Monroeville, USA</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Franny Wentzel">Franny Wentzel</a>. 40x zoom picture of the moon taken from my front porch. text/html 2013-06-01T22:05:04+00:00 http://citynoise.org joey http://citynoise.org/article/11616 <img alt="Road Trip Sights 2" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/51050.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/wy/cody">Cody, WY</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/joey">joey</a>. Springtime in Cody, and Sheridan Ave rush hour <a rel="tag" class="subtle" title="tag/traffic" href="http://citynoise.org/tag/traffic">traffic</a> in the city named for Wild Bill Buffalo Bill's Museum - it's safer on the inside. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bill">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bill</a> text/html 2013-05-17T00:00:21+00:00 http://citynoise.org joey http://citynoise.org/article/11604 <img alt="Road Trip Sights" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/51031.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/nv/ely">Ely, NV</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/joey">joey</a>. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express Route. It's old, 1920's old. It's a little run down, it's rustic “Off the beaten track” in Ely, The Hotel Nevada and Gambling Hall maintains the traditions of the grand hotels of the world. We stayed across the street at the Jail House Motel & Casino. text/html 2013-05-16T22:53:46+00:00 http://citynoise.org joey http://citynoise.org/article/11603 <img alt="World's Largest" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/51030.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/wy/afton">Afton, WY</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/joey">joey</a>. The weird stuff you can see while traveling the USA in a Chevrolet. Like an <strong>elkhorn</strong> arch. text/html 2013-05-15T23:11:44+00:00 http://citynoise.org Michelle http://citynoise.org/article/11602 <img alt="Sailing Boat" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/51029.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/on/toronto">Toronto, ON</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Michelle">Michelle</a>. text/html 2013-05-08T18:53:57+00:00 http://citynoise.org luna park http://citynoise.org/article/11596 <img alt="Studio Visit with Skeleton Krewe Chris" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/51016.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/la/new+orleans">New Orleans, LA</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/luna park">luna park</a>. On a recent trip to New Orleans, I had the great pleasure of finally meeting long-time Flickr friend, fellow graffiti photographer, and artist, Chris of the Skeleton Krewe. He not only showed me some of his hometown’s best graffiti spots, but also graciously invited me into his studio and agreed to answer some of my questions. <strong>Please introduce yourself. How long have you been making art and how did it all start? Tell us about some of your various projects.</strong> Hi, my name is Christopher Kirsch (but I mostly go by Chris). I am New Orleans born and bred. I am a self taught painter, print-maker, photographer and papier mache artist. I am the leader and founder of the New Orleans’ Carnival Club, the Skeleton Krewe. I have ongoing series of musicians, either New Orleans’ or Delta blues. I also paint portraits of Skeleton Krewe members and my newest series is somewhat “anatomically correct” animal skeletons, kind of inspired by textbooks and circus side shows. <strong>What inspires you?</strong> Life in New Orleans and the American DEEP South, mainly Louisiana and Mississippi. Life & death in New Orleans. New Orleans’ rhythm & blues and Delta blues. Food and culture found in the Southeast region of New Orleans. <strong>You have lived in New Orleans your entire life. How has this shaped your artistic practice? What is characteristic of New Orleans folk art?</strong> I’m born & raised here. I’m a rarity these days. Tons and tons of transplants moving in, and it ain’t necessarily a good thing… I grew up drawing and painting, no one ever told me “how to paint”. So I do what I do and have developed my own style over the years: being self taught, I define myself as a folk artist. Anything I find around me is inspiration for my art: I’ve painted everything from musicians to food, po-boys & crawfish (a.k.a. sandwiches and crawdaddies). <strong>What is Skeleton Krewe and why is it important to you?</strong> The Skeleton Krewe is a small New Orleans Carnival Marching Club. I started it in 1999 by myself and have slowly grown to 40+ members (although not everyone marches each year). I know everyone personally, have taught each one to do papier mache, how to paint their suit, and about face make-up. We try and hold ourselves to some strict carnival standards. Each year we make new heads and try to keep to some level of secrecy. We lead one parade on the Friday night before Mardi Gras and we also march early on Carnival morning. Some photos can be seen here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeletonkrewe/sets/72157632751329891/">www.flickr.com/photos/skeletonkr . . . e/sets/72157632751329891/</a>. <strong>To what extent do you use found or recycled objects in your work? What is their appeal?</strong> As an artist, I pretty much live hand to mouth, so I am always on the lookout for anything I can paint on, from cabinet doors to old shipping crates and 55 gallon drum lids. I really don’t like canvas, it has no appeal to me, no character… A rusty 55 gallon drum lid tells a story and then you just add onto that story by adding your own art to it. <strong>Why did you start painting portraits of jazz and blues greats? Do you listen to their music while you paint?</strong> I started by doing portraits of two of the most famous (dead) New Orleans musicians: Professor Longhair and James Booker, 2 of New Orleans piano greats! Their music is just embedded into our lives, we grew up knowing the lyrics to their songs before we even realized who they were. In my teen years, I grew up with punk and through The Clash, my life came full circle: The Clash covered a New Orleans standard called Junco Partner and it made me realize how special New Orleans music is. The Clash took another New Orleans great on tour with them: Lee Dorsey. And a couple of years later, when Lee Dorsey died, some of the members were his pallbearers. Anyway, this all brought me a greater appreciation of New Orleans. Later on, I started getting into the blues and traveled throughout the Mississippi Delta, visiting some of the great historical sites of the blues. And yes, I always listen to whoever it is I’m painting at the time – I find great difficulty in painting musicians that I don’t like. <strong>How is the graffiti & street art scene in New Orleans? Are there any particular local artists whose work stands out in your opinion?</strong> Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has been a spray-cation destination. I can’t say that I approve of this, but it has brought some greats to New Orleans. Read More Books has been here a couple of times in the past 8 years and dominated. You Go Girl has been here a bunch and UFO 907 came a few years back. And of course Banksy was here and did some really great, politically motivated pieces. I enjoy all their work and then there are some natives that really stand out: Harsh has been the dominant graffiti artist for years and years. Meek has also been around. Then there’s a batch of younger ones that I like a lot: Uzit, Achoo, AMYK and MRSA. We also have to deal with the Grey Ghost, who goes around buffing everything. He’s nuts and he’s dangerous – if you watch Vigilante Vigilante (<a href="http://www.vigilantefilm.com/">www.vigilantefilm.com/</a>) you can find out more about him. <strong>Where can people see more of your work online? How can interested people contact you?</strong> I do a lot of art markets and festivals in and around New Orleans, but I do have a presence online: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeletonkrewe">www.flickr.com/photos/skeletonkrewe</a>. I also have two groups on Facebook: "New Orleans Folk Art" and "Bare Bones Studio". And people can email me directly at christopherkirsch@yahoo.com. I’ll be setting up some sort of eCommerce site shortly. text/html 2013-05-04T07:29:04+00:00 http://citynoise.org Franny Wentzel http://citynoise.org/article/11591 <img alt="The Wedgeway Building" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50950.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/ny/schenectady">Schenectady, NY</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Franny Wentzel">Franny Wentzel</a>. Since the mid-late 1800s the Wedgeway Building has framed the view from <a href="http://citynoise.org/article/10920">Erie Boulevard</a> to <a href="http://citynoise.org/article/10449">Lower State Street</a>... One would think it's an integral part of the neighbouring Kresge Building As this Googlesat view shows... ...it's its own separate entity. The Wedgeway began life in the mid-1800s a single storey covered walkway on State Street next to the Myers House which would've otherwise had frontage on the Erie Canal. Later in the century the little wedge would gain a couple extra storeys and a fancy bay window. In this turn-of-the-century view it was known as the Wedge Building. This canal side view shows a slice of the Wedge before construction of its five storey annex. Some time in the early 20th century a new facade was installed and the Wedgeway served as the marquee and arcade to the State and Erie theaters on Liberty Street. By the sixties both theaters had closed and their auditoriums were gone by the mid-80s... ... but the marquee has proved useful for <a href="http://citynoise.org/article/11579">community announcements</a> and advertisements. That with a bit of composing... Let's step back... And have a squint at some details... Before we step inside... ...for a look at the Wedgeway's arcade. The first of the three businesses using the arcade is a tattoo parlour. Signs at cross purposes... Reminder of the theater days. Used natural light for most of the arcade views save for this flash image... The second business is a barber shop... The Wedgeway was once billed as the largest office building in Schenectady. Here's the fancy-schmancy elevator lobby. Not the stairway to heaven... ...and probably not the waiting room to purgatory ...or any other portal to the hoary nether regions OK... so there is one place for spirits... Pub patriotica... A look at where we've been before we go... ...and some recent repair work. For such a margina structure it seems fairly well-maintained. While we adjust our eyes to the light... ...let's have a look in one of the theaters that used to be here. The State had closed in the 1960s (the Erie had been torn down in '63) but was still standing till the mid-80s. There was the usual talk of maybe fixing up the place but there were only enough community resources at the time to save <a href="http://citynoise.org/article/10456">Proctor's</a> theater. So down she went... To this day her ghost remains. Now she provides parking for business in both the Wedgeway and Kresge buildings Artsey back-of-house views Artsey Erie Boulevard views Rainy day view from a decade ago... Artsey ironwork... text/html 2013-04-23T00:15:28+00:00 http://citynoise.org Franny Wentzel http://citynoise.org/article/11579 <img alt="Greetings to Boston..." src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50924.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/ny/schenectady">Schenectady, NY</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Franny Wentzel">Franny Wentzel</a>. ...from the Wedgway Building sign downtown. "BOSTON We mourn with you We're proud of you FBI YOU GOOFED! 911 now 416" Corner bit says 'Rent Me' and has a number for the sign company. text/html 2013-04-20T22:37:50+00:00 http://citynoise.org Michelle http://citynoise.org/article/11578 <img alt="A Grumpy Cat" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50917.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/on/toronto">Toronto, ON</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Michelle">Michelle</a>. text/html 2013-04-16T02:55:25+00:00 http://citynoise.org Franny Wentzel http://citynoise.org/article/11575 <img alt="As Seen at Todays Boston Marathon..." src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50908.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/ma/bostan">Bostan, MA</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Franny Wentzel">Franny Wentzel</a>. One marathoner's sweet message to her fellow runners, made into a cruel mockery. As taken by my <a href="http://citynoise.org/article/9634 ">news photographer friend</a>... text/html 2013-04-04T18:09:58+00:00 http://citynoise.org Michelle http://citynoise.org/article/11570 <img alt="Kensington Market Graf Truck" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50897.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/on/toronto">Toronto, ON</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Michelle">Michelle</a>. text/html 2013-04-02T17:12:27+00:00 http://citynoise.org Franny Wentzel http://citynoise.org/article/11569 <img alt="Just Before the War of the World - American Cities a Century Ago" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50861.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/"></a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Franny Wentzel">Franny Wentzel</a>. A selection of images of American cities sent to my e-mailed box the other day - taken from around 100 years ago... 1.Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, in 1917.   2.Atlantic City, 1910. 3.The main street of Memphis, north of Avenue Gayoso, 1910. 4.Station“Louisville-Nashville”, Florida, in 1910. 5.Forsyth Street, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1910. 6.The beach in Atlantic City, 1915. 7.Grant Avenue after an earthquake in San Francisco in 1906. 8.Thompson's Dairy milk wagons, Washington, 1927. 9.Washington, DC, 1914. 10.Cadillac Square, Detroit, Michigan, 1916. 11.Ninth Street, Washington DC, 1915. 12.Main Street, Richmond, Virginia. 13.Corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, 1910. 14.Broad Street north of Spruce Street, Philadelphia, 1905. 15.View of Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn in 1909. 16.Fire at 55th Street, New York, 1915. 17.Fifth Avenue, New York, 1913. 18.Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 1907. 19.The New York Public Library, New York, 1915. 20.Wall Street, New York, 1911. 21.Fifth Avenue, New York, 1913. 22.Manhattan, 1907. 23.The northern part of Fifth Avenue, New York, 1913. 24.City Hall in New York. 25.Dexter Avenue and the Capitol, Montgomery, Alabama, in 1906. 26.Valnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1910. 27.Washington, DC, 1913. 28.Broadway and the New York Times Building, New York, 1915.   Bonus images from the cache of, but not shown in the e-mail from which I built this article. I had to guess at some of the locations. Cincinnatti, Ohio Central Boston, Massachusetts North Market Court House - Greenwich Village, New York, NY, 1906 The remodelled and enlarged Grand Central Station Philedelphia (or DC). Downtown Brooklyn. text/html 2013-03-17T19:11:54+00:00 http://citynoise.org Michelle http://citynoise.org/article/11565 <img alt="Still the Best Baby" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50798.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/on/toronto">Toronto, ON</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Michelle">Michelle</a>. text/html 2013-03-11T01:14:22+00:00 http://citynoise.org AG http://citynoise.org/article/11564 <img alt="Junction Gentrification" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50778.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/canada/ontario/toronto">Toronto, Ontario, Canada</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/AG">AG</a>. There is a slow gentrification happening of the Dundas St. W. in the Junction Area of Toronto. The first photo I snapped several years ago, and an updated pic from Google. text/html 2013-03-11T00:21:49+00:00 http://citynoise.org Michelle http://citynoise.org/article/11563 <img alt="Hawk in the City" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50750.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/on/toronto">Toronto, ON</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/Michelle">Michelle</a>. <a rel="tag" class="subtle" title="tag/Kensington market" href="http://citynoise.org/tag/Kensington market">Kensington market</a> alleys Behind a restaurant in <a rel="tag" class="subtle" title="tag/Chinatown" href="http://citynoise.org/tag/Chinatown">Chinatown</a> Scadding court mural. Ace Lane mural Red Tailed Hawk in the city Bathurst and College <a rel="tag" class="subtle" title="tag/Sneaky Dee's" href="http://citynoise.org/tag/Sneaky Dee's">Sneaky Dee's</a> text/html 2013-03-04T22:34:05+00:00 http://citynoise.org janet http://citynoise.org/article/11560 <img alt="Montreal 7am Jan.'13" src="http://citynoise.org/cache/thumb/50717.jpg" />Posted in: <a rel="tag" href="http://citynoise.org/place/montreal">Montreal</a> by <a href="http://citynoise.org/author/ janet"> janet</a>.