Caspar David Friedrich 200 years ago showed us an old world disappearing in a cave in Harz, two ghosts standing above the cave. Today, filled with nostalgia, some romanticize a return to chaos. Machines dig my neighborhood, engulfing it into a world of fear. And bury that romanticism real deep.

Due to constant pounding outside my window, I visit the Met Museum’s Friedrich exhibition to find serene art. No escape, it reminds me so much of the daily excavation next door. “Friedrich Tunnel”, #oiloncanvas, 2025, 29x21” 73x53cm. More on ALT. #caspardavidfriedrich #messageintree #art #bsky.art

“On November 6, 1626, the island of Manahahtàanung “the place we’re gathering wood to make bows”, was sold to the Shuwankook. “The salty people” brought 400 years of devastation, disease, war, forced removal, oppression, murder, division, suicide, and generational trauma for the Lenape people.” From a proclamation by today’s Lenape leaders refuting the “Schagen Letter”, in which Pieter Schagen, a Dutch government official, announced to the West India Company Directors the purchase of Manhattan by Peter Minuit.

November 6, 1626, Manahahtàanung was sold to Peter Minuit by the Lenape people for 400 years of devastation, disease, war, forced removal, oppression, murder, division, suicide… #oiloncanvas, 2025, 29x21”, 73x53cm. More on ALT. #manhattan #peterminuit #messageintree #bsky.art @bsky.art #lenape

March 2025, the first shrub to flower in Central Park is witch-hazel. Close by, the Metropolitan Museum displays El Greco's unfinished vision of Apocalypse, one of his last paintings. Across from the Museum, the Ukrainian Institute of America showcases its people's survival. Does witch-hazel also bloom in blue?

Dark times. Witch-Hazels brightened my way to the Met Museum… But there, El Greco’s Vision of Saint John brought me back to reality. “Does Witch-Hazel also bloom in blue?”, #oiloncanvas, 2025, 29x21“, 73x53 cm. More on ALT. #standwithukraine #elgreco #messageintree #apocalypse
#bsky.art @bsky.art

In 2021, David Hammons built a skeleton, inspired by the 1975 Gordon Matta-Clark destruction of the ghostly waterfront Pier 52. Visions of Christo’s Central Park gates: after 20 years, the gates now appear on my phone as I walk where they once stood, real people walking through virtual gates. The gates flicker and, like ghost, disappear. At Day’s End beach, the roles are reversed: a real skeleton faces the longshoremen’s ghosts . Today’s beach is built as a ruin. Like the gates and the longshoremen, we will go colored in saffron.

The Beach at Day’s End, in front of the Whitney Museum. A skeleton structure designed by David Hammons evokes the waterfront ghosts. Longshoremen are gone, who’s next? More on ALT. #Oiloncanvas, 2025, 29x21“, 73x53cm. @bsky.art #bsky.art #whitneymuseum #messageintree #davidhammons #hudsonriverpark

« The Metropolitan Community Church of New York, a church of LGBTQI people and allies, was founded in 1972 by Howard Wells and by Troy Perry, who was the first to perform same sex marriages and co-founded the first ever LGBTQ Pride Parade. Rev. Perry was invited to the White House by three American presidents. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter’s administration invited Rev. Perry to discuss gay and lesbian rights. In the 1990’s, President Bill Clinton appointed Rev. Perry as an official delegate to the White House Conference on Hate Crimes and the White House Conference on AIDS. In 2009, President Barack Obama invited Rev. Perry to the White House for the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall Riots. LIVE OUT LOUD. »

A new series, message in trees. I planted two trees in front of the Metropolitan Community Church, 446 W 36th Street. Lots of redevelopment there. To read what’s written on the trees check ALT text. #oilpainting 2025, 24x38” #metropolitancommunitychurch #bsky.art #messageintree @bsky.art