Get Lost

The only way to get to know New York City is to get lost. And for a native that can be a challenge. I take public transportation because it’s cheap and fast. On Sundays, I often explore the city with subway trips to various destinations like Coney Island or the Bronx Zoo. But on the long journey to foreign neighborhoods, when my creative juices begin to flow I get a sudden urge to jump off the train at the next stop. Standing disoriented on the platform, I look for the exit. I climb the stairs out of the darkness and into the light. The busy streets are filled with colored faces and rich smells. This blur of unfamiliar images jars my imagination to the point of pure excitement. Exploring neighborhoods gives me a sense of the old and the new. My work thrives on the unknown. In fact, I draw and photograph only what I need so as not to recognized them later. It doesn’t matter where I am as long as I never been there before. I take out my pad and camera and start to explore the area. As soon as I become comfortable I know it’s time to move on.