Chandelier Tree
by Pasadena Adjacent
…
Here’s the thing, Mr V and I usually take Sundays to put some distance between us and Rancho Garvanza. It’s been that way for years – and years meaning Columbus Day October 1985 when Mr V and I first met, shortly after having all his Leica equipment stolen out of the back of his truck. Yes, he always remembers that date, but I think it has less to do with me and more to do with that fucking Leica.
Columbus day fell on a Saturday this year, which is a separate day from Sunday; where this tangent first started. But don’t cry for me Argentina. 28 years payed off with a celebratory apple fritter from the nearby Laotian Donut shop. If you double up 28 years, that comes out to 56 years, which means that I have spent more then half my life (and some change) with Mr V. Thats the same approach I take to reading a book – the half way point (then some change) to make me feel it’s all downhill from there. Got ‘there’ this morning with the Poiswood Bible. The day after Sunday, for which this tangent started. Oh, and I have a feeling things will be going south for the Poisinwood clan too.
“So what about Sunday?” you ask. Of course, you see the pretty pictures and want to know more. To start, I didn’t take them or film them. Someone else did – but I think they stole them too. So there you have it. And sometimes it feels as if you’ve had it, the half way point, things gone south and if you can only hold on an extra day – keep the lights on. You know, the cliches.
2811 West Lake Drive – lets go see the chandelier tree. We arrive, but the lights aren’t on. More daylight to be spent, so we circle the lake.
Silver Lake on a Sunday. A beautiful name for a reservoir paved in concrete. A landscape so covered in dreams you can’t hardly spit and touch earth. Countless joggers create a false breeze. I’m the fattest person here, Mr V the oldest. And a poor fool coyote trying to navigate his way on a ‘civic friendly’ crushed stone path. The anorexic girl with a pit bull tied to her waist, jogging in place so as to give the trickster a lead.
The lake; a three mile circle. We return to the car parked on a side street. Around the corner we can see the chandelier tree a short distance away. We can see the man in the house walking through the living room. We pull up to the curb and turn off the engine. The man in the house turns off the lights. I want to cry.
5pm deadline come Wednesday
trouble with Vimeo – try this
Pasadena Adjacent 
Our Editor Responds: Serious delirious imperious weary us deleterious ways.
Barbara Kingsolver; The Poisonwood Bible
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Ooooh, you find the loveliest things. Can you tell us the road? What a shame the man turned it off just a short time after it got dark. I tried walking round Silverlake on a Sunday morning, and felt completely out of my natural environment and demographic. Abby was too hot on the shadeless pavement and asked me to head inland and back to the car, so we missed the heronry.
Our Editor Responds: The address is in the post. Also not a bathroom in site.
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Just lovely. Right now the video is snagged so I can’t watch it all that well – but I get it. I have a teapot tree. It isn’t as flash or refined as this chandelier tree and it’s definitely a work in progress but I don’t think it’s downhill yet. Actually, there are 6 waiting to be put up – I always wait until I have a few cuz there’s a ladder involved, and then there’s placement and aesthetics, etc. Great post, thanks for sharing.
Our Editor Responds: I like the making and conceiving – the installation is another matter
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I’m glad to learn of the chandelier tree. Friends of mine have one chandelier hanging in their yard, and I’ve been envious, and have tried to find one for my own tree, but so far they have all been too expensive, too heavy, or just not right. I saw Mount Rushmore sort of like that, driving up the road toward it as night fell. The spot lights went off right after we got out of the car. That was half of my life ago. But of course, as you know, the half-way point in a life is a moving and uncertain target.
I don’t know, but I imagine your life is good – to borrow from the video – full and unique, not overbearing and gaudy.
Our Editor Responds: “as you know, the half-way point in a life is a moving and uncertain target” painfully so… and yes about the quote. Your good at picking up on the undertow.
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Midway on our life’s journey, I found myself
In dark woods, the right road lost. To tell
About those woods is hard—so tangled and rough….”
-Dante
I had seen the video before and am so sorry to learn that the lights went off at this mid-way point. They will turn on again, as the sun shall rise again.
Our Editor Responds: the perfect quote – had I read that last Sunday, it too would have made me cry.
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Special tree. Like the idea of 30 to honor the tree.
Good luck with the deadline. Shanna’s right; they will turn on again.
Our Editor Responds: It was an on-line application. Sheer horror, but I muddled through with 4 hours to spare.
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Yeah, I finally got to watch the whole video, great job all around.
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You can go back, yanno. Just, perhaps, not on such a high stakes day.
And pick up a dozen donuts to share with the pit bull :)
Our Editor Responds: Thats a good description “high stakes day” those things always go south – and why I embrace the theory of lowered expectations
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Tree jewelry.
http://www.sheilaklein.com/Example/project_pages/Palm%20Ear/projects_palmear.html
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When I first moved to California, I kept going to these “lakes,” only to realize they are all too often what we back east would call a reservoir. Anyway, to the main event, the chandelier tree! I had the same idea as altadenahiker –tree earrings! That is so much fun, I love it. I love the guy’s hairdo too.
Our Editor Responds: So true. I met a couple from Poland. Years back, the wife took a nursing job in California after looking at a map of California. Seeing the job site was close to the Salton Sea she jumped at the opportunity. Said she got the shock of her life once she arrived.
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Wait. Did I miss the part where you said where to get the fritters? I’m confused.
Our Editor Responds: thats no excuse
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beautiful, beautiful post. I love those joggers with their false breeze, and that may be one of the coyotes that watches us do tai chi. Happy anniversary. Sometimes the second half has its charms–
Our Editor Responds: Thank you
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Your last two paragraphs are really nice poetic prose. They remind me a little of Charles Baxter’s spectacularly quiet, descriptive short story, “A Late Sunday Afternoon by the Huron” in his collection, Through the Safety Net.
I’m traditional enough that I’m surprised I don’t just dismiss the whole thing, along with the look-at-me persona of the creator. But something about the project AND the guy stop me for some reason, make me pay attention. He, more than the project, seems pretty solid. I think of Banksy–though he’s more accomplished, isn’t he?–and other very, very public artists. I’m not sure what it all comes to, but I don’t think it’s dismissible.
Our Editor Responds: You do realize your critiquing my anniversary? At least it’s positive. From Toilet to tap? Curious about Baxter now.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/14/banksy-s-biggest-trick-yet-selling-his-art-on-the-street-for-60.html
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So beautiful idea of a Chandelier Tree! It is magical!
Love the video, too.
Times ago I saw a tree with many little oval mirrors swinging with the wind… The effect was amazing.
Our Editor Responds: I bet the effect was spectacular. I wish I had more miniature disco balls. I bought several in order to keep the birds off my fruit tree
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apple fritter! yum! you guys celebrate better than we do.
loved your Silver Lake description …
the tree is a charmer
Our Editor Responds: Nothin says lovin like Laotian Fritters
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You can certainly feel the concrete pavement of Silver “Lake” reservoir. Like being next to a giant pool. But, how’s St. Francis as a name for a reservoir, or dam?
Our Editor Responds: I’ve been to that area; where St Francis was. The DWP has the most beautiful building nearby. You should take a day trip there.
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I love your writing, PA. This is moving.
Our Editor Responds: Thank you. Yesterday, a stop at a 76 Station on Lankershim turned out to rival my Silver Lake experience – but I’ll spare you the details
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I have. St. Francis was there, but obviously didn’t stay long.
Really?? Did you do any artwork for it?
Our Editor Responds: N0 – but read the first comment in my latest post.
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That is so creative and so awesome!
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Great writing here, PA. The Silver Lake Dog Park was young Tommy’s stomping ground when he lived with his foster mom. I know all the Silver Lake cliches, even the poor coyote. But I’ve never seen the Chandelier Tree. It truly is magical. Takes the edge off the mid-life malaise. You find all the jewels around town.
I was in NY last week and twice missed out on Banksy pieces. Finally got to see the absurd and hilarious Grim Reaper in the Bowery. Wish I’d stayed a few days longer to catch his wild cat:
http://www.complex.com/art-design/2013/10/banksy-new-york-30-yankee-stadium-bronx-zoo
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