For many years, I joyfully decorated the outside of our New York City coop. Although the world seems to have darkened and darkened because of the beginnings of COVID, I continue to decorate because I believe beauty heals most everything. Our building is located near a busy intersection with major bus routes. It suffers through…
Decorating Public Space
Making ‘Curb Your Dog’ Signs’ – Signs of the Beautiful
Making and displaying attractive curb your dog signs will be more apt to change the behaviors of dog owners and protect and beautify your neighborhood. In my blog, Curb Your Dog – Signs of the Beautiful, I promised to help you create your own signs. Some steps are a bit finicky. If you need help…
Curb Your Dog Signs – Signs of the Beautiful
When it comes to public space, decorating and vandalism are the opposite sides of the same coin. Both are trying to establish ownership. It is for this reason that our building cares for the public space between the building and the street curb. With this in mind, we plant flowerbeds, maintain tree guards and post…
School Vandalism – The Bureaucratic Community
I began my teaching career in private schools in wealthy neighborhoods. In 1984, I changed to the public sector, however, and started to teach in the inner city. Both violence and vandalism were prevalent in my first public school. I heard that a co-worker had murdered a cafeteria attendant while she was closing out the…
When We Do Not “See” – An Invisible Line in the Sand
Some of the biggest flaws in decorating are the imperfections in our own visual perception system, particularly when we do not “see.” In the late ‘80s, my husband-to-be bought our NYC apartment. I was often afraid to walk around the neighborhood at night, The mornings after confirmed my fears. On my way to work, I…
What Should Be Beautiful
I wonder how often people choose what should be beautiful and what should be ignored. What is the impetus to make things beautiful? I hated taking the drafting class I needed for interior design. It was the most unforgiving medium I had worked with. If I started a blueprint a sixteenth of an inch off…