Alleys
Long after dark, I venture into bleak urban settings, seeking out their elusive splendor. With the city humming in the background, I find inspiration where there should not be any. With a family history of homelessness, I carried the belief that I was next, and developed a need to create monuments out of these shunned places.
My determined and intense outings often lead to journeys into dangerous neighborhoods. I’ve run from street gangs, been accosted by crazed drug addicts, and have had guns pointed at me. If the police see me lurking in a dark alley, often I am questioned and searched.
Although positive life-affirming perceptions are not usually associated with dark and decaying alleys, within this acute urban decay I find moments of peace.