Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Temporary Reprieve for a City Wonder

A little good news in the sad saga of artist Arthur Wood, and the Broken Angel.  The foreclosure sale on Wood's Downing Street building has been delayed by at least another month (The Local).  Because of a fire in 2006, Broken Angel fell foul of building code regulations, and this propelled Woods into a disastrous business partnership & default on a $4 million mortgage.  He is due to be evicted from his home very soon. This tale seems to encapsulate everything good and bad about this city: a man with a beautiful vision, a city where an artist could once afford to live, dream, create (& be left to do so in peace), and today's intrusive, money-hungry town.  Bob Guskind covered this story extensively at Gowanus Lounge before his death.

For those unfamiliar with the saga:

Chris Woods, son of Arthur, tells the story:
http://wiki.nlchp.org/download/attachments/12189726/Chris+Wood

and here is his photo set on Flickr.  You have to look at these, to see the place in all its glory.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onebadapple/sets/127493/

I was on Downing Street the other day by chance.  I'd never been by there before, and was excited to see the building, even in reduced form.  I'm going to go back and see if I can pay my respects.


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