Shannon H., housewife, kept woman.
From the series "Everyone My Brother Knows in Girdwood, Alaska."
Photograph by Laura Domela.
At lensculture.com today, I came across a totally endearing project, "Everyone My Brother Knows in Girdwood, Alaska," by photographer Laura Domela. Domela explains that her gregarious brother has always easily made friends, even with people who are seemingly quite different from him.
Her account of her brother's experience in this small Alaska town reminded me of my own here in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where I've been subletting a place for the past two months. Red Hook has no subway stop and really does feel cut off from the rest of Brooklyn, let alone Manhattan. Even though there's a hugely popular Fairway market and an Ikea here. Even though MTV did a
Real World season here.
There are numerous housing projects in Red Hook, many decrepit low-rise three-family apartment houses, and cracked and buckling sidewalks. There are very few delis, restaurants, and bars. A brand-new pharmacy where the clerk, and all of the merchandise, is protected by bulletproof glass. A childcare/preschool that has a big sign with the word "it's" misspelled.
It's not everyone's cuppa, but Red Hook has a rugged integrity that I have fallen in love with. It's right on the Hudson, and there's a little park right near my place where you can go sit on a bench and look out at the Statue of Liberty. There are all kinds of people here, and they'll say hello to you on the street. I've never, ever lived anywhere more friendly. If I had the skill, I'd do a portrait series like Domela's. Since I don't, though, I'm more than happy to admire her fine
work.