In An Alley by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Taken in an alley.
Chicago lives in alleys—there’s very little to see on the main streets, less to see on the pretty streets, and quite a few things to see on the tourist streets. In recent years, Da Mayor passed a number of ordinances involving flower pots, palm trees, and purple “native” cabbages. Now that Da Mayor has retired and is replaced by Herr Über Kapitän, much of the city has changed, for the…um…well…it’s changed. (There was once a time when Chicagoans cringed at what came out of Da Mayor’s mouth, because it was so…Chicago Colorful. Now, Chicagoans cringe at what comes out of Herr Über Kapitän’s mouth because it sounds so…Putin-esque. Indeed, I’ve heard Chicagoans refer to our current mayor as Putin Junior. Under the watch of Da Mayor, the city’s interesting things took shelter in alleys, simply because that’s where people put things that weren’t purple cabbages (or palm trees) in flower pots. Under the domination of Herr Über Kapitän, things find themselves in alleys because that’s where they’re likely hiding out.
There was nothing hiding out in the alley photographed here, though I suspect that a number of neighborhood cats were figuring out how to bypass the exceptionally small fence blocking the gap between buildings. Given the swanky, face-lifted fronts of the buildings here, the rat population (and there is a rat population!) is happily-congregated in the narrow-dark, cat-free space between swanky, overpriced buildings. The narrow space—partly-seen here—doesn’t extend from alley to street, and so it isn’t a thoroughfare of any sort. The space, as partly-seen here, is narrower than the average mean circumference of the typical adult human, and so the fence can’t possibly be intended to keep people out. But because Herr Über Kapitän has squeezed Chicago in his dictatorial grip, maybe the fence is there to keep undernourished miscreants from finding a place to hide…just a thought.
No matter the cause, I found the exceptionally narrow, slightly tall fence to be rather amusing…
…and strangely telling.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (20)
Wow, I had no idea of the political strictitudes you were suffering up there in the midwest (a term I've NEVER understood, being that it's not even halfway between the east and west coasts!). At any rate, I'm glad there are still alleys to found for those that need them; I have fond memories of alleys from my youthful days in southern California, where fruit trees overhung fences and proferred bounty to any passers-by who could reach them. I suspect Chicago alleys don't have too many fruits that anyone might actually want. But that is a quite interesting mini-gate, complete with inscrutable grafitti and helpful directional pointer; trust you to find the gateway to the next universe!
Would love to know the hidden or perhaps blatent meaning of 'Three' that is painted on the material. Great capture and interesting commentary on the merits, such as they are, of the various 'mayorial personages'
Hey, if you want to trade mayors, you are welcome to Rob Ford. Many of us would be happy to build a trebuchet big enough to fling him to the south end of Lake Michigan. Or beyond that if needs be, so long as he never finds his way back to Toronto. I know, your mayor likes to pretend that he killed Bin Laden with his bare hands. Which is worse? One wonders about these little bits and pieces of urban landscape. Because, odds are someone, somewhere, in some 50's vintage low rise office in some distant past day likely planned it down to the last millimetre (Canada, we have the metric system). It's property after all. Best records kept are deeds and taxes. Someone actually had to assess who owned this odd little corridor. And likely someone had to certify that the fence was legal and within code. Now, get me a flash light. Let's see what really lurks in the crawl spaces of this great city!
A most fascinating photograph, Chip. This one definitely has an air of mystery to it.... What is the meaning of three? Perhaps simply the number of boards in the fence? Will probably never know, but it's fun to contemplate.. Very cool shot my friend!
Great image! Honest and humble corner of an alley, skyrocketed to notoriety for this beautiful photo. Have you noticed how we are slowly returning to feudalism?
The human spirit and ingenuity will always find a way. Add a hinge on one end of the little fence and the space behind it becomes a great place to store contraband. When dictators, petty and otherwise, seek to dictate they usually wind up making more problems for themselves. I like this image of a hidden and neglected place.
Fascinating and well composed photo, Chip.:)
A cryptic image of great richness.
What a great read Chip. Our mayor is a character too. He is a little chubby wubby!
What a wonderfully graphical image and a fascinating story! Well, everywhere a city's real life hides is its lanes, never on main streets, except on holidays.
Cute, and just the place cats love to explore with or without rats!
Well seen my friend. This is great capture. I wish you only the best in this beautiful New Year :-)
HA! that was a fun find and beautifully captured. It is so neatly done, this the shortest fence on earth :-)
Superb capture my friend. God Bless.
That fence is MOST interesting! Too narrow for a person, yet it's got sharp pointy bits at the top. Chicago's version of the white picket fence, perhaps? And I notice that it was insufficient to requirements ... the bottom section has been reinforced against unauthorized entry. Fascinating! I'm sure there's a story here. Your comments about your mayor prompted me to go see what he's been up to. Did you know he wants to make Chicago more bike friendly, and steal away all Seattle's bike riders and their cushy high-tech jobs? He sees a connection between startup companies and bikers. My word!
Awesome capture!
Looks like a good place to take a leak. haha
EXCELLENT WORK!
outstanding work
I like this shot of the mini-fence and I would bet a determined cat could find his way over!!!