If a photograph could describe how I am feeling right now the above image would be it. Rickety, crooked, broken, rusted, blocked, closed, out of service, weathered - you get the point.
The image is from a collection called Blocked that I have been curating for years, it’s not complete and I am not sure it ever will be. I didn’t start out with then intent to create this collection, it just kind of happened. I take a lot of photographs, and when I went back looking for a particular photo I started noticing a theme. This is one of those themes, these images have grabbed my attention for years, subconsciously it was something I had been working on without knowing it.
Before I get into they why of that feeling, and hang with me it is not all dark and moody, let me start with telling you what you are looking at. This place holds a special place in my memories. The building here is the Lakeside School, located in… Lakeside Ohio situated on the shores of Lake Erie. It is one of only a few continuously operating Independent Chautauquas that persist in the 21st century.
I have been to Lakeside many times over the years, thanks to my best friend whose parents have a cabin there. Many great summer trips were had running around the town, arcades, putt-putt, shuffleboard, swimming and fishing from the docks. I tried to find some information on when the school was built and what year it stopped being used but my search didn’t turn up much. A fun fact I did learn, the 26 court outdoor shuffleboard facility is used for national tournaments.
But back to the feeling I mentioned above. If you have been a long time reader of my newsletter you know that I have a less than perfect back. This tall photographer has done a number on himself over the years, if I just would have listened to everyone who told me to protect my back as I was growing up.
I have been working with a trainer and/or been in physical therapy going on 3 years now and in the last 6 months things have been going really well. Getting stronger, working out the kinks if you will, but then I noticed things started feeling off. I am not sure of the cause, perhaps it was too much time spent ducking in my short basement, maybe I did something in training, maybe I didn’t do enough training, or maybe there is no reason and it just is.
But here I am with my back seized up and it feels like I am starting over again. Frustrated is an understatement. Everything is sore, it takes quite a bit of effort to stretch things out and sitting or standing for any period of time is, well painful. And of course, to add insult to injury the weather has decided to be unseasonably warm, even some flowers poking up.
I have been told I have seasonal affective disorder, although I call it winter in Ohio. We had 18 days in a rows without sun, just cold and grey up until the recent warmup. One of the ways to combat S.A.D. is to just get out side, so when you can’t get outside and the sun actually comes out, it adds even more frustration.
So while my body feels rusted and broken and I feel creatively blocked since I am not able to get out and about, I try and remind myself that this too shall pass. Like that rusted fire escape and blocked doors, change is right around the corner. That fire escape is still standing, that boarded up door can be removed and open the exit again. Winter will soon be spring. (Thanks Punxsutawney Phil)
And speaking of right around the corner, turning the corner of this school, you see another view. This old building while not functioning as a school any more is still standing and it functions now as a bit of an art exhibit with the boarded up windows becoming colorful murals.
I hope that if you are dealing with sickness, injury or the winter blues this newsletter is a reminder that change isn’t far off!
-Karl
A quick note, I will be at an Art Affair in Tipp City on April 13th!