futbol si

Watching the match between France and Mexico in the Taco John's skyway store. One of the more exciting lunches I have had for a while. During the twenty minutes I watched, there was no scoring, but the depth of empathy and excitement among the spectators never flagged. I was hypnotized by the constant running, the mix of elegant footwork, brutal contact, and furious close play punctuated by long arcing flights of the ball that suspended movement, even breathing, in hundreds of thousands of spectators around the world.
I think I became a fan.

Sacred and profane knit by arcades

The Accenture building is always a delight. The daisies were in the planter. The second shot shows the barrel vaulted arcades around the skyway level. I am reading about the evolution of sacred architecture from the ancient fire altars to the medieval cathedral. The introduction of arcades allowed walking in contemplation around the nave, a micro-pigrimage. In many sacred buildings these arcades were taken over by vendors, money-changers, etc. There is a fascinating spiral of sacred and profane running through the history of arcades. Original planning documents for the skyways indicated that a lot more of the arcade business was envisioned for the city than has actually occurred.

Oh no not another American flag photo

Two more views of the flag in front of Thrivent. Sorry, but get used to it. I will keep shooting this until I get the shot I know is waiting for me there.

Man conquers hole

This reminded me of the old photos of big game hunters, foot proudly and firmly planted on the carcass of the game...played here by an obliging manhole. 

Gratuitous Loon

One of my favorite places in the skyways. There are many gratuitous moments on the way, where someone has bothered to spend a bit on sheer imagination. When you stand up straighter to see the great bird soar, you walk straighter for a while....your head closer to the clouds perhaps, but you can afford it.

Parallel Universes! For free! Thanks to Google!

The reflections on the inside of the skyway window create a parallel but empty universe.  No "Lost" antics here, just serene blues.  The cloud oozes from the building.

Below is a screen shot from Google Earth, which supports an entire 3D model of downtown Minneapolis.  This is what the parallel universe really looks like.

No clouds or sky.  Remember that when you are contemplating crossing over.

Skyway lightbulbs

Nice touch on the IDS skyway. I am never around late enough to see them lit up.

Changing a skyway lightbulb

Two men and a jack, plus some safety cones. That's how many.

The Flag as pastry icing

The light caught this fantastic pattern of rippled fabric in the TCF atrium flag. It looked lush and decadent, which are not adjectives I normally use with Old Glory.

Cloud Building Reflection I

What is softer than a cloud? Harder than steel, stone and glass? The light yokes them together.

Cloud Building Reflection II

 The Dain Rauscher Plaza, a dark blue key, turns in the cloud's lock.

Study in Grey

Frame within the frame. Found in Centre Village headed toward Accenture. It is a window that opens out on an impassive cement wall, revealing only two white hubs to the eye hungry for landscape or incident. The modernist and ironist smiles at the collision between the instrument of vision (window) and absence of vision in any form (uninflected cement wall). Unfortunately, we are on a train called the Twenty First Century Limited, and it is most limited in irony, but also limited in an appreciation of the view. Look out the window of this train, and gauge the depth of our limits. I estimate about four feet in this instance.

Meat Space wins a round

Early adopters eager to pre-order their iPhone 4 through AT&T couldn't order online or over the phone due to some technical snafus. So they made a fanboy line outside the AT&T shop in the Baker Building. Discussions I overheard concerned the length of time people had waited in line for other status grabs...like the Nintendo NES. Or the first Playstation II. Look closely, these are not middle school nerds here. But if this is what people are excited about, this is what injects a little action into the skyway on a rainy day.

A bridge over dappled waters

What do Monet's bridge, the Butler Mural in Minneapolis, and an offer for discounted prints have in common? Check out the remainder bin at Main Street Gallery and Gifts in the Baker Center. On the Skyway level, of course.

Name that legendary figure!

My colleague in skylore TrapperKeeper reminds me of these Paul Manship sculpted vases at the Accenture Building. I am looking closely at the relief figure, and trying to decide if it is Alexander the Great. The mount looks more like an ass than a Bucephalous, and there does seem to be a deer or related game slung across his back, not a lion skin which is usually associated with him. Why do I think it is Alexander the Great? Simply because the face looks like a face on a coin I own that is supposed to represent him.

If you know, tell me. Urn my gratitude. (sorry, but it had to be said)
One external urn depicts the Centaur, probably Chiron, who was teacher to a number of Greek heroes.