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Park made out of negative space
There is a small public park off the square in Lewisburg, TN that was constructed out of negative space. There used to be a building there. I don’t know the history of what was there, and why it was destroyed. Usually businesses go out of business and then someone buys the building and starts another business. Perhaps there was a fire?
Whatever the reason, it is a very interesting use of space to make a public park in between buildings, in a place where most people would see it as wasted space or a place to rebuild. It is nice that this is open to the public for free, any time.
Here is a view of it before you enter.
Here is one from the side.
Getting closer.
From the side, with an emphasis on the immense wall or gate that frames the park.
This is who made the entrance.
There are inspirational signs around the park. I wonder how they decided upon which quotes would be included?
A view of one of the benches, showing the small yard.
There is brickwork on the ground towards the back, but I was fascinated by the crumbled bit.
A wall is stair-stepped brick.
The wall has a lot of interesting nooks and crannies.
There is a long wooden structure, perhaps a shed, in the back. It is perhaps four feet deep, and maybe seven feet high.
It has a door to the far right.
I wonder who has the key to this lock, and what is inside?
A view of one of the support posts.
The commemorative sign.
I do wonder, since it is a public park, if they thought about the fact that not everybody celebrates Christmas? Do they have decorations for other religious holidays?
Lewisburg alleyway
This alleyway is off the square in Lewisburg, TN. It was a dreary day in November, so I’ve improved the pictures a little to show some color. Overall it was pretty grey.
I’m not sure what it is about negative spaces that are so appealing to me these days. This particular day I explored three of them.
We surmise that this is a defunct ATM. There was a “People’s Bank” to the right, built in 1904.
The light has the number 10 on it.
I like that this office has its entrance on the alley, not the street.
Playing adventure video games makes me notice details. But then it also makes me want to take everything not nailed down too.
Cool old stairs seen through the glass side door of the newspaper office.
Notice the guy wires to the right. They are attached to the electrical pole.
A more realistic idea of the lighting that day. Ginkgo leaves everywhere, but I didn’t find the tree.
A reflection from the marble of the ATM
The outside room
I found this unusual “room” at a nearby hospital. I’ve gone there for years because I have a doctor who has his office there. Once a year I go in, always in November. I’ve come to look forward to going at that time because of the “ghosts of leaves” that decorate the sidewalks. It is the wonderful and amazing combination of falling leaves and autumn rain that makes this temporary magic.
I usually do very little exploring in that building because I have to get back to work quickly. This time I had quite a bit of time to spare so I went to look around. I’m glad I’ve started asking for more time off when I schedule doctor’s visits so I’m not rushed. That certainly helps my overall health.
I looked down from the window in the hallway on the sixth floor where the office is. I saw trees – and not in a place I would expect. They were surrounded by the rest of the building. It was a tiny enclosed courtyard. I had to go find it.
I went downstairs to the entrance lobby and looked around. The courtyard I was looking for was behind a little café that sold coffee and melted sandwiches. There were plenty of windows around it. It was perfectly visible from the entrance that I’d come in for years. Somehow I’d never set my eyes to look that way, or at that distance. Just goes to show there are plenty of treasures that are around if you have your eyes open. I’d only been looking for one thing (my doctor’s office) and missed this. The café looked interesting too. It might be a nice place to come on a non-doctor’s-visit kind of day and enjoy lunch.
I’ve long thought I should go here on my day off and write, or maybe even sketch the people who are waiting for their lab results in the lobby. There are a lot of padded benches here and a lot of light. I’m not sure why I haven’t done this yet. There is free parking and this isn’t far from my home. Perhaps I’m concerned someone will challenge me because I’m not here for an official reason. They might think it is odd that I’m just hanging out. This is another thing I’m working on – trying to not worry so much about breaking rules that aren’t rules. Sometimes I make more limits than I should.
I went towards the door that let out onto the patio. I pulled on the door – it opened. Good. Then my concern was that the door might not allow re-entry. I checked it and it seemed like it would be fine. I then looked to see how far away the café was – it was close enough I could bang on the windows to get their attention.
And then I went out. And I saw this.
A tiny little park enclosed in a building. With benches.
It is open to the sky.
There are birdhouses and birdfeeders here. I saw two bags of birdfeed against a wall. Someone tends this little place.
Is it outside, or inside, or both? Is it a room?
When I came back out I asked at the café if that door was always open. The lady said she thought it was, and commented that almost nobody went out there. She thought they should put a table out there and I discouraged that idea. More clutter. It would make it more artificial out there. It would upset the balance of man-made and natural. I think it is good the way it is. The little lights are a bit disturbing, but they might be really nice at night.
Then I got their hours and took pictures of the menu, as a further enticement to make a date with myself to go out here.
Here are more “ghosts of leaves” from an earlier visit.
Here are some from Thursday, 10-20-16, in Old Hickory.
betsybeadhead 
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