The Promise of Darkness by Chipka
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Description
For those who are interested, the sound of this image can be heard here
***
Tuley Park. I remember this place. Though scarcely-visited, it centers my childhood memories. It was always the landmark that identified a particular neighborhood: it was what I saw as I visited or left my maternal grandparents’ home. In later years, just prior to my journey to the Czech Republic, it was the place I’d go to look at imported slime mold, the place I’d pass on my way to one store or another: to buy toiletries, batteries for my then-new camera, or cigarettes to satisfy those late-night urges. It marked the early morning or late night breaks I took when serving as a live-in caretaker for my grandmother.
Now, it is little more than an empty park in a neighborhood devoid of contemporary significance. Memories dwell here, but they are fading, as all memories must. I find that comforting, deliciously fitting, as a mind overfilled with memories may resist new experiences. I have no reason to visit Tuley Park, no reason to walk by it and watch the sunrise, but I walk by it on occasion. I don’t live nearby, but one particular bus route offers its convenience.
On one of the days I managed to leave work reasonably early, I walked from the truck yard to a bus stop on Martin Luther King Drive. I was in the mood to walk, in the mood to see what changes might have grown in the neighborhood I once knew so well. On a level, nothing had changed. The houses looked the same. The trees and front lawns looked the same. Even the house once occupied by my maternal grandparents looked the same. The new residents have not yet stamped their indelible identity onto the place. The ornamental benches—once my grandmother’s pride and joy—remained. The window to my bedroom—where once I always saw my cat, Natasha, sunning herself—bore the marks and patterns of weathering that I once knew intimately. There was no cat, however. The house held no internal life that belonged in any way to me. I was, if anything, a ghost there: the source of cryptic little marks left on door posts and floors.
I passed the house with scarcely a thought, ducked through the crumbling viaduct nearby, and walked northward. I passed Tuley Park as the first hints of a storm blew over the city. I stood for long moments, simply looking: struck by the architecture of the field house and the sheer absence of humans in the playing field. The park was lifeless on that day, desolate and forlorn. I smiled at the rightness of that, thinking of the coming storm as the kind of promise that can only come before a radical change.
Though I live in Chicago now, not unusually far from Tuley Park, there will come a time when this city is little more than a chapter in the past: pages in a book I have little interest in re-reading. I like that in as many ways as I like the approach of dark and windy storms.
* * *
I took this picture last month and post-worked it today. As is my custom, I listened to music that somehow became a part of what I was doing. Music and image are always separate, but I am always fascinated by the connections they gain through my own subjective take on one moment or another. As I worked on this, I listened—as is my habit—to one of the soundtracks marking the television series Battlestar Galactica…the re-imagined version, rather than the 1980s classic. I liked the way the brooding tune informed my postwork, and stirred memories of that same tune heard on headphone speakers as I passed Tuley Park.
For some reason, the embedded link doesn't want to work, but but the song in question can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EQXEIoZrZE.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, listening, and commenting.
Comments (30)
danapommet
This is a great neighborhood memory shot. Every time I go back to Massachusetts, I drive around my old neighborhood. I like this very much as well as your always informative narrative. Dana
sathyajeeva
great shot and memories.the colour tone is extremely cool
SoulEatar
This is obviously a heartfelt work - I don’t know if you intended all the artifact from the post work - as a friend I would say that it is a negative distraction form what could be a very compelling image - please contact me if what I say is not clear or If I can help with other ways to create effects - I am no expert - here to learn and support my fellow artists - Take Care -
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
wysiwig
Thomas Wolfe once wrote "You Can't Go Home Again". I have always disagreed with that. Of course you can go home again, it's just that someone else lives there. Whether that is the ghost of who you used to be or actual people I find it irresistable. Perhaps I'm trying to find out the point where things changed, where the path divided setting me onto the one I travel today. I love what you've done with this, especially the sky. And your narrations always drag me out of my laziness and make me think. FYI - Sandra46 has been posting pictures of her trip to Prague.
Sea_Dog
Great work. I always enjoy the way you can include so much into a narrative and image. This one made me think of times long ago in my childhood. My father's sister and her family lived in Detroit. I've always had this idealized picture of Detroit in my mind - sitting on their front steps playing with my cousins and the neighborhood kids. In short - a 1950's, leave-it-to-beaver life. This past Sunday 60 minutes ran a story about the sorry state of Detroit today and showed some decrepit, abandoned house that looked a lot like what I remember my aunt's house being like. Amazing how an image and a few words can do all that. Well done, my friend.
beachzz
Grandmother's house--you always touch these places in me that take me somewhere else. MY memory house is in Hollywood of all places, a house my grandfather built. I knew it inside and out,and my cousin had Hollywood Blvd as our own private bike lane. There was the drugstore with an actual soda fountain and if we were really lucky, a few cents to actually BUY something. Usually we just sat there and tried to look busy. But, as I so often do when I see your fotos, I digress. This is a great shot, and the postwork you did gives it the the right effect--one of neglect and abandonment. It will always be there, in one way or another, and you will remember your grandmother's house.
auntietk
It has a bit of a military look about it, doesn't it? I had to read up on the park to figure out what I was really seeing. Excellent shot, and the clouds are perfect for your musical selection.
Sepiasiren
How in the world do you do that -- art is supposed to pull on the emotions but your work always calls to mind memories for me--I can poke up a few--like one very similar to beachzz and Sea Dog, sitting on my grandfather's porch in Arkansas as a child and smelling a storm coming in --the skies there would gather dark clouds and look like this--I can almost feel the pressure of this storm from this image and a somewhat bittersweet nostalgic pull--provocative, beautiful, amazing work a definite five start and fave
durleybeachbum
Thank goodness I have the great fortune to be in the place where my taproots go down 6 decades. A very thought-provoking narrative, I think in similar circumstance I should feel very differently. And, of course, a super pic.
flavia49
awesome work and image! fantastic!
helanker
OH WOW !!! This picture is really fantastic. I just love it. ANd I so loved your story about your grandmothers house, Now that I have peace in my mind to resd it. :-)
MrsRatbag
I love the feel of this, almost a mashup of Norman Rockwell and grunge...it suits so well! Everything is a little distant, and lends to the solitary and desolate mood. Well done!
zulaan
Love your postworks ! Beautiful scene.
wild_child
Awesome shot!
Meisiekind
Such gorgeous work dear friend! I love the PW!!! :)
Roxam
rich striking color, marvelous 'horizontals'
sandra46
EXCELLENT IMAGE, AND A TERRIFIC MOOD. THE POSTWPRK IS REALLY EVOCATIVE AND I'M ALWAYS ENVIOUS OF HOW YOU CAN CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF A PLACE, IN A PERFECT MIXTURE OF REALITY SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF REMEMBRANCE.
bmac62
Yes, I know the mood. I know the thought pattern. The music fits my mood as I think of my maternal grandparents' house. They were married in 1910. My grandfather was a civil engineer for the City of New York. Sounds like a good job title but he never made much money as an employee of NYC. More, I remember my grandmother...she told me great stories...of my Great Grandfather who rode as a member of the 13th New York Cavalry throughout the Civil War. Of his veteran buddies...all members of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic). Of his adventures chasing Confederate partisans all over the state of Virginia. I have his sword and his Photographic History of the Civil War...10 volumes, printed new in 1911. I recall every nook and cranny of their house. I vividly recall the smell of burning leaves in the fall. I recall the neighborhood...a scant 5-6 blocks to the subway station that took my grandmother and me to NYC and all the marvels it held for a boy of 9 or 10. My Turley Park was Queens, New York. I haven't walked by their house in more than 50 years...I need to go back and do that. Thanks for the inspiration and the memories. Your photo sets the tone perfectly! Bill:)
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent.
watapki66
Wonderfully done!
KatesFriend
The clouds and the coming storm seem apt for the music. A notion of autumn in summer. I get a similar feeling when I visit my hometown these days. Though, I don't recall any sense of bonding to that place (even though I lived there for 15 years) so the fact it slipped away from me is not too surprising.
ragouc
Great postwork....
Iceshark39
A really beautiful shot and lovely postworking on it. At first glance it almsot gave me a chill like looking at some of the ruins of gold rush era homes and buildings here in California. This, like those places, has a mood and feel all its own. Wonderful walk into the past and thank you so much for sharing it.
flora-crassella
FANTASTIC!!!!!!
EBSPhotographic
Just one word: Outstanding!
Wilby
Your talents both as a writer and a photographer are not wasted on me! Glad to find you and will enjoy perusing your gallery and stories every chance I get.
Bothellite
Your handling of your photos is just compelling. Something really tugs at me. Lucky find for me - you are. This is all very enjoyable. I'm a slow reader but relentless. Nice to meet you. So many familiar feelings here.
februus
I have seen time destroy so much that when posssible it is delicious to vanish into such a scene from ones life. Beautiful common splendor captured by film. Wonderful work.
FriedaFelicia
Quite like the almost dark and gloomy mood in this shot. It makes an interesting layered image. Also love the tones... they really add to the overall atmosphere.