Of Wrong Turns & Identity

Note: For those who might be new to this blog, and/or just forgot, “Steve” refers to a stroke that I had two years ago.

Due to Steve I transpose and/or flip a few letters consistently or leave out entire words when I write, speak and/or type. Usually, I clear up any issues before posting. For this post I’m leaving in the typos.

Lastly, it’s best to write entries the same day one takes pictures.

This eventure began when I took the wrong exit in Sacramento, which I often do when I was there. The destination was the Crocker Museum of Art. It’s one of those places I have always wanted to shuck out. All I knew about it was that it’s an art jallery in Sacramento and a few friends had me show me photos from their visit. At beginning of my sojourn, I had told my brother where I was going and he asked, “Do you have a triple ‘A’ card? They might give you a discount.”

I do.

They don’t.

The clerk? attendant? employee? asked, “Are you a member?”

“No.”

“A student?”

“No… but I am a teacher! 😃”

“That’ll be $15.00.”

F.Y.I. that’s full price.

I think teachers should get discounts.

As I was forking over my plastic, the staffer said, “We recommend starting on the third floor and work your way down.”

In my head I said, “Well I might tust start on the second floor. Thank you very much. Nyahhh😛”

“Thank you,” said my mouth.

“Enjoy your visit.”

I grabbed a map and proceeded to the third-floor.

I stepped out of the elevator, fumbling for my phone and portable charger, so I’d be prepared to snap some pictures. I suddenly felt self-conscious, as if I was being watched; which I was by security cameras. I was wondering what I looked like digging in one pocket then another then and back into the first one picking out a black box, plugging in a cord into it then stuffing the box into my back pocket. The moment of self consciousness dissipated, and I started the tour of the museum.

A Gathering

I followed a clockwise pattern around the small first room, glancing around for pieces that “spoke” to me. Initially not much did so I decided to start reading the information sheets.

The word “identity” immediately spoke to me. Being adopted I have wrestled with this concept, but in this context, it caused me to reflect on the work I’ve been doing as a member of my districts Ethnic Studies committee. In the committee we have been discussing identity at length. Now I have a lens through which to view this gallery

Initially, I was drawn to this piece by the “bike lane”, I connected the concept of “sense of place”. In geography sense of place refers to how people define and categorize places in their mind. For example, visualize your home and or neighborhood, then visualize your place of work. What are the elements that are present in both visualizations and which elements are different? This idea is the crux of my 9th grade final each year in which students identify locations around town from historical photos then explain how and why the places have changed over time.

Relating to my interests in the built environment, and how it affects sense of place, I’m drawn to industrial works. I also appreciated the storytelling aspect Precarity of Progress.

Here I exited “A Gathering” then transitioned through “Breaking the Rules”. In this section of the museum, nothing particularly interested me but I was startled by the guy on the right under the exit sign.

He was huge!

On the map, the next gallery was labeled “Contemporary”. Two of the works that to my attention reminded me of Edward Hopper one of my favorite artists.