« Obama: Gimmee That Ol' Time Religion, Plus Details of Obama's Call With Jewish Proxies | Main | Whole Foods Reevaluated »
August 21, 2009
Friday Fotos
Here's another glimpse at the spectacular cityscape of our little shtetl here in Los Angeles. Everywhere I focus the lens of my camera I discover shimmering colors, unique forms, and delicious textures layered one upon the next.
Right on Pico Boulevard, just a few blocks from Casa Avrech, you can find this stunning storefront in blue, which reminds me of French artist Yves Klein's use of his unique blue pigment.
I like to explore the alleys between buildings here in Pico-Robertson where I frequently come across amazing objects. This is a discarded couch propped against a tree. The texture of the bark beautifully compliments the nubby fabric.
Ever since the mullahs seized power, hundreds of thousands of Persian Jews have fled to the shores of America. Many live in Los Angeles where they are making a significant cultural impact on the Jewish community. Persian restaurants, synagogues and mom and pop stores are all over The City of Angels. In a Persian gift shop on Pico Boulevard I was mesmerized by this superb example of the High Byzantine-Elvis style art.
This past week, Karen and I attended a wedding in Long Beach. It was a wonderful affair for the chosson and kallah are Los Angelinos who have known each other since childhood. Most orthodox kids—Offspring #2 and #3, both married New Yorkers—head back east to find their Bashert. Anyhoo, here's a view of the Long Beach Hyatt Regency. The intersecting green lines appear like a skeleton, both delicate and strong.
Warning: The next image might cause damage to your eyes. Gaze at your own peril. Or maybe just wear sunglasses.
A few days ago Karen and I were on Melrose Avenue. We turned a corner, parked, and my eyes practically popped out of my head. I immediately thought of Moby Dick, chapter 42: The Whiteness of the Whale. Well, this is the Pinkness of Melrose.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a miracle in Shabbat.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at August 21, 2009 08:20 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
The shade of blue in the top pic is the EXACT same shade of the sky I woke up to every morning in Jerusalem. I'd been planning to write a poem about that shade of blue and the Israeli sky, and now I have a visual reference to help me.
Sigh. I'm heading into a Toronto Shabbos in a few hours, as opposed to a Jerusalem Shabbos. Simply not the same...
Posted by: Pearl at August 21, 2009 08:37 AM
Robert you have the eye of an artist. By my definition seeing things that 1000s of people see every day and don't notice.
Posted by: Bill Brandt at August 21, 2009 09:19 AM
so much to see in your shtetl!
lots of color, thank you for sharing your unique views :)
Posted by: ~ Sarah ~ at August 21, 2009 12:34 PM
ok, now be honest - you really took that couch/tree shot with an SD400? sweet!
Posted by: josh gberg at August 22, 2009 01:04 PM
Robert, I have trouble with supporting Whole Foods, given their boycott of Israeli olive oil and support of Gazan oil. Maybe you can verify whether they changed their minds on this issue?
Posted by: tamarah at August 22, 2009 05:21 PM
Please send this link to jpix!
Posted by: Batya at August 23, 2009 01:50 AM
Dear Robert: Shavuah tov. Your photographs of L.A. are beautiful and you really have an eye for what to photograph.
I wanted to make the same point tamarah did; according to Debbie Schlussel, Whole Foods is very anti-Israel.
Posted by: Miranda Rose Smith at August 23, 2009 03:23 AM
Pearl:
I'm going to call the photo, from now on, "Pearl's Jerusalem Blue."
Bill:
Thanks so much for the kind words. I just think of my pics as documenting debris.
Sarah:
Glad you like my snapshots.
Josh:
Yup, just me and my little Canon Powershot. Fantastic camera.
Tamarah:
You are right. See the latest blog, Sunday Aug. 23.
Batya:
Will do.
Miranda:
You and Tamarah are right. See above.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 23, 2009 09:25 AM