Little World (Thursday Doors)

layered like
a mantilla caught
whrilwinding
joyfully
cascading through seasons of
perpetual flux

openings
crafted as doorways–
revealing
new patterns
through which to see our place in
the communal dance

a transformed
choreography
of threads
into wholes–
luminous constellations
made of light and breath

I’ve had these photos in my files since before I started looking for doors–2020 is the date on the sculpture, and it looks like winter from the state of the trees. I was always interested in street art and this one really appealed to me.

The plaque gave the artist–Samantha Holmes–and the name of the work: “Mundillo (Little World)”. The work was intended to “translate the patterns of traditional Puerto Rican lacework” into a structure that would “weave its texture into the vibrancy of the surrounding community”.

The building next to it, at 95th and Columbus Avenue, always looked to me to be public housing of some sort. There’s a lot of subsidized housing in the neighborhood. I decided to go back and photograph the building and its doors and do some investigation.

A typical mid-century brick building, which I was able to discover was designed by SJ Kessler and Sons architects and built in 1965, it turns out to be “luxury” rentals. At least in my world it would be luxury. One bedrooms at around $4500/month, and two bedrooms going for $6000. The building does evidently have a garage and a doorman and terraces, and it’s near to a Whole Foods, but still.

Here’s the side doors, and below, a view I took looking up.

And here’s the full view from the management company website.

photo Rose Realty

You can see more work from Samantha Holmes and read about her at her website here. This sculpture seems to have been moved to another location–the corner is empty now, and the photos on the website are from a different place. I’m glad it’s still out in the world, as I found it enchanting. I like the way Holmes uses pattern and texture in her art.

My poem is a shadorma quadrille using De’s word of whirl. Also for dVerse, I’ve written about craft, as prompted by Lisa.

A mantilla is “a lace veil or shawl worn over the head and shoulders popular with women in Spain and Latin America”. I’m not sure if that qualifies as using the word veil in my Tanka Tuesday poem, as prompted by Yvette, but it’s in the spirit.

And don’t forget to check in with host Dan Antion for more doors at Thursday Doors.