We are big fans of the blog Mondoblogo, where we find long, beautiful, mostly visual posts that almost always expand our vision. There’s a strong leaning toward art and mid-century design, but also just the pure joy of seeing as evidenced by the category “Walks”.
Scroll through and you’ll find photographic riffs of walks through parts of Brooklyn (yesterday’s walk is a beaut!) or Manhattan that remind us that all we have to do is look around us – REMEMBER to look – as we move from one place to another, to find treasures hidden all over the place. Seeing is practice, and just taking a random walk is one of the best ways to start. Our absolute favorite Mondoblogo walk was from “somewhere in Soho”, called ‘Peepin Hole’:
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Related posts: the benefits of wandering (+ multi-use notecards)
sightings: resourceful man, with a wealth of cans, reading
why not paint the sidewalk (or any outdoor floor?)
the appalachian trail (2200 miles in 5 mins) + we’re gone!
brick lust (where are cool bricks hiding?)
I love “Peepin Hole.”
Your post reminded me of an essay by the the influential designer George Nelson in his book titled “How to See.” He writes that “to see is to think” and supports this with a variety of examples of why it matters. If you are able, check out the essay titled “Four Hundred Faces.”
“The art of drifting was an antimapping experience and the idea was to wander, to meander around a city, at every moment being alive to whatever drew you. You were in thrall to the spirit of place, rather than having place under your thumb, on a map, on a plan.” — from Jay Griffiths book, Elemental Journey, where he talks about Australian artist John Wolseyley. I just happened to be reviewing one of my commonplace books and was re-reading this quote. Fits perfectly with your wonderful post today.
Thank you SO much for this. The quote is absolutely perfect. And I love the notion of “my commonplace books’.