Hurricane Rita /Galveston Island 2005
AFTERMATH
Of course everyone wasn't so lucky. Friend and fellow artist Sallie Anderson lost her studio in a fire that destroyed this city block the night of the storm. Our best wishes go out to Sally and we hope she can recover from this personal tragedy.
Foreign film crew covering the collapse of the outer brick wall of YAGA'S restaurant and nightclub in Galveston's Historic Strand District.
all photos by Tony
special thanks to my great friend Laura Mehr whose phone message inspired this project
‘Ere since I took this thing
I am in flight. flight wandering. why, while wondering?
I am pursued by the ‘canes from Galveston to Gulfport
it was like that in Miami it was like that in Cancun it was like that in Peru(the mayor says to get the hell out now)
but I am in the mirror with the candelight and cologne
along comes a wind in
spaghetti straps trying to contain and calm the titties that are just too large
says call me Rita
my bark is bigger than my bite for the lucky ones
but my bark will shatter the windows with a thunder
that shakes a stray dog to his bones.
It is a physical encounter I need.
a confrontation with nature I need that will finally make me the man I want to be I think
it is confrontation with the visible/invisible all night long
in the hot dark bed
and a constant caress with the rhythm of death.
(why did I stay?)
in hopes that God will save me
and I can save the writings.
Hurricane Writings/Rita
Tony Wynn
Galveston Island - September 2005
13 hours to landfall
in the mirror making last minute adjustments
like a prom date
like getting ready for a prom date with a stranger from a little black book.
they call her Rita with the big tits
prom ritual hours in the mirror
best friend on the phone fearmongering
said he heard she was easy
that she teases
and teases for hours blowing kisses
and then gets her way
like a big black bang, like a ritual to witness and you realize it's too late to get away
(why, oh why did I stay)
and the wind is like a plastic blanket
and your feet are frozen to the street. landfall.
says call her Rita.
says she's a creative artist. asks for a cigarette first and
then starts trouble in the whole town
hours in the mirror with the candlelight and cologne
prom ritual
like getting ready for a blind date or
a wedding night with a girl you know is not right for you
says her name is Rita (my friends call me Hericane)
asks do you have a cigarette
the mayor says to get the hell out of town
crowd turns to fearmongery
I feel stupid
I feel poor
I feel like a fugitive in my ghost town
newsman says foolish
but I feel brave. It is an encounter I need...
She is here at last, invisible/visible (blowing kisses)
I feel wanted
I feel treasured, encountered -
I feel needed. safe, for some reason.
like a letter in an envelope of love.
/tw
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Serious Studios Gallery - September 2005
ARTIST STUDIO
Schaperstrasse 12/13
U - SPICHERNSTRASSE
Joachimstahler/Rankeplatz
Berlin
10789
phone:
030 - 432 056 73
0176 - 657 759 24
