Skyways and Poetry in the same breath

An anthology of poetry by states' poets laureates has been published recently under the title "An Endless Skyway."  If you are struggling with the phrase "states' poets laureates" don't feel bad, because it took several minutes for me to figure out that this referred, literally, to poets who represented their respective states as Poets Laureate.

Anyway, the idea of poetry and skyways is instant dissonance for those who see the skyways as pure utility, the invisible shortest line between two frozen dots in the winter, and the air conditioned indulgence of fresh-averse cube zombies in the summer.

So just to prolong this moment, I have composed an instant poem in honor of the Videotect winning theme of "Zombies on the Skyway".

"Skyways: Yes, but..."
Dedicated to Mayor Rybak.
(I have added some grit and patina, vocabulary-wise, to whet the appetite)

I think that I shall never say
the Sky's more lively as a way
Than Street, sidewalk or alley
The walking dead through glassy shell
traverse their AC'd path from Hell
to desk and back. Don't dally
In the chromed Intestine coiled
Midst city belly.  Surging, roiled
clots of souls on furlough splay
Across the grid.  What cheer or joy
is, is not about  the second story.
The first story's yet untold  today.

Find your SO on the skyways?

Ctrl+Alt+Repeat from Architecture Minnesota on Vimeo.

A "product concept" that has to happen...social media app that lets you know someone who has read Freud but won't stalk you is coming down the TCF feeder into your zone, and you guys can duck into Dunn Bros with an introduction courtesy of  the cyber yenta. How you do on a first date chaperoned by the zillion speed walkers skywaying by is not affected by technology, dude.

When Britt Aamodt interviewed the skyway habitues for her KFAI documentary, one of the first questions she asked was about dating on the skyways.  It seemed possible, without the meat market ambiance of local bars, the group concurred. I am a senior citizen and happily married, but I couldn't do justice to the skyways without acknowledging the libidinous frisson that characterizes urban passage.  I acknowledge it, and amble on.

As I am typing this, "Bones" is on in the other room.  There was an episode a couple of years back that hinged on a smartphone app for locating other members of a dating service who were within a dozen yards or so of you.  The zeitgeist demands that this product get made, and helps a generation of iPad heatseekers and seekerettes find their SOs in the skyways.

See this video and 23 other Videotect skyway contest entries here.

As far from Minnesota as you can get and still be on the skyways

Dan Yudchitz and Aaron Squadroni from Architecture Minnesota on Vimeo.

Dan Yudchitz and Aaron Squadroni have listened to electronic experimental music and studied extreme graphic design deconstructivism. They benefitted from it as few people do then went and produced an edgy AND upbeat piece that is hardcore formal exploration AND affect-laden interpretive video.

I recognize many spaces here, and I have moved through them myself.  They reflect me, and ultimately our skyways, in ways it would be hard to talk about at the Chatterbox Cafe. Very creative and also an exploration of the innate formalism that almost makes the skyways unbearable, in a bearable way.  Enjoy.

A video interpretation of the way of the skyways...

Jeff Beddow from Architecture Minnesota on Vimeo.
This is my entry in the skyway video contest sponsored by AIA Minnesota magazine. It is a distillation of a year's worth of photographing the skyways, soundtracked by some electroacoustic ocean sonar riffs.  The skyways are a trip.  It takes a lot of left and right brain to get your head around them.

You can go here to vote for it, or something else you like.  But if you think the skyways are a cut above the norm, or a floor above the street, check out these videos and vote.