San Francisco Oak Street’s is one of the “freeway” streets –
those 1950’s era cars-above-all-else ideas.
They ripped out streetcar tracks, narrowed the sidewalks and made three
lanes of one-way traffic zooming across the City. It’s noisy and full of exhaust. For a year before moving onto Oak, I dreamed
of living along a river. Little did I
know, the “river” would be a rush of cars.
The block between Scott and Pierce Streets is one of those loud,
high-speed blocks. But for those of us
on the sidewalks, it’s a different world.
After we negotiate the dangerous intersection at Scott and Oak with its
confusion of bikes and cars, we have one of the friendliest corner stores in
town. The forlorn laundromat next door
has a kindhearted ghost. The block is
full of some of the oldest and least picturesque of Victorians hiding under
asbestos siding. At the corner of Pierce
be sure to say to our neighborhood’s friendly watch
cat. All the cars aside, there is
always a huge crowd of butterflies who make the street their home. In the middle of it all I have some neighbors
who are dedicated recyclers, or I should say freecyclers. They leave all sorts of things out for
re-use.
Last month’s offerings including this unused roll of
carnival/raffle tickets left out on the street.
I couldn’t resist. But I really
don’t need to keep these coupons. Today’s
outgoing mail included some postcards incorporating the tickets. I also did a series of small, 3”x3” collages
made from the tickets. They were mailed
out with some more unused tickets so the artists receiving them can play it
forward and also use them in their own mail art.
I know what you mean about Oak street......
ReplyDeletelove the collage and many thanks for the wonderful "grandmother" collage card. I owe you mail. Just back from NYC -- and ready to make some art!
Got my tickets today Tofu, Gracias. Will do some art and send you some soon.
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