Tea Set Detail

Here is a detail of the bird motif on a 1930's porcelain breakfast tea set. There is only one bird per side, allowing it to be the focus of the motif, and stylized branches add to the deco feel of the piece. Simple red (now more orange over time) and green accents help to make the design stand out, but do not detract from it.

Liberty and Tranquility

As life continues its hectic pace, sometimes you just have to slow down and take a moment to reflect. This picture shot from Battery Park looking out towards the Statue of Liberty is a reminder of that. 

Better still is that it's 16:9 format makes it ideal for a widescreen computer background to continue to remind you to slow down.

Pile of Silver

I'm thinking that this pile of silver plate holloware might make a cool background or texture for something.

Vintage Bead Work

A detail of the stitching and bead work on a vintage 1940's purse. Only one piece fell off in the past 70 years, and that was because it was only glued it on instead of stitched on like all the beads. It's stunning to see, and in amazing shape for it's age.

Small Town Graffiti

These two gems of street philosophy were found in an alley just East of the main square in McKinney, Texas. 

You Are Here

A wall tag located on the fence outside of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York reminds the reader of their place in the world.

The image is also perfect for a widescreen desktop background.

Feeling Discombobulated?

After a long day at work I need to come home to my own recombobulation area.

Thank you General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee for having such a great sense of humor at your security checkpoint.

The Dread Pirate Roberts

It appears that the Dread Pirate Roberts has truly gone into franchising. This time it's a snow cone stand...

Pabst Blue Ribbon

Love it or hate it, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer is an icon of the American culture. From the opening scene of Laverne and Shirley in the bottling factory (filmed in the building on the left in the first picture) to Dennis Hopper's reference between Heineken and Pabst Blue Ribbon in the 1986 movie Blue Velvet (I'll let you, the reader, look that one up) it's everywhere you go, especially if you're willing to look for it.

The buildings have fortunately been saved and are one by one being converted into new, usable, office and living space. It's nice to see that in a disposable world, some pieces of our history and culture are being saved, even if it is just on the surface.

The main Pabst sign.

Stained glass on an interior door.

The Captain.

The opening of the wings at the Milwaukee Museum of Art. The sound is horrid thanks to everyone around trying to talk over the wind, but even there in person the wings are silent. It's rather awe-inspiring to watch something so massive open without a sound.