Zombie Zone

Bewitching Ms. Zee

 

A Real Problem

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY – 10/27/20

Around two weeks ago someone called the Plattsburgh Police Department regarding a weapon spotted inside a bag. When responding the officers found a BB gun that looked like a real weapon. Fortunately there was no confrontation where officers had to defend themselves. It's understandable that a cop can't second guess whether a weapon is real or fake when someone is threatening to shoot.

Political Facebook Post Stirs Up Trouble

© Luke T. Bush 2020

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY – 10/27/20

Plattsburgh City Democrats committee spokesperson Rachelle Armstrong alerted me via an email press release about a fake Facebook post endorsed by mayoral candidate Scott Beebie. In the post Scott thanked “Plattsburgh City Democrats 2.0” for looking beyond the party line and voting for him instead. The controversial post has been deleted.

In the email press release Rachelle stated: "This is a page from the Trump playbook being used in our own backyard.” She added “...the [Democrats 2.0] group provides no transparency as to who manages it nor is it an official committee recognized by the NYS Board of Elections or Clinton County Democratic Committees.” She explained the city Democratic party was behind mayoral candidate Chris Rosenquest who won the Democratic primary.

In a telephone interview Rachelle explained that in her criticism of Scott Beebie didn't blame him for the creation of the page. The problem, she said, is he saw the post and shared it on his own page without checking to see if the post was real. By not being skeptical misleading misinformation has been shared.

Michael P. Anderson Mural Completed

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

Despite too many rainy days artist Brendon Palmer-Angell was able to complete the Michael P. Anderson mural on time.

Located in downtown Plattsburgh City, NY the mural honors the memory of the astronaut who died in the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003. Anderson and six other astronauts died when their shuttle disintegrated on re-entry.

Anderson was born in Plattsburgh City in 1959 and returned to serve at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base before joining NASA.

The mural was created under the auspices of Outside Art: Plattsburgh Art Project. This group has also helped to create other murals in the downtown area.

The mural is located in the park that straddles Durkee and Margaret Streets. Roughly measuring at 20 by 40 feet it's hard to miss.

Artist Brendon Palmer-Angell adds stars to the space background.

(Left to right) Artist Brendon Palmer-Angell talks about the mural

 during a reception while Julie Devine and Amy Guglielmo, 

co-directors of Outdoor Art, listen.

Challenged Again For Using A Camera

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

I'm walking down a sidewalk when I notice some tiny flowers at the base of a hedge. While taking a few shots someone interrupts me, stopping his car in the driveway next to me.

Stranger (sternly): “What are you doing?”

LTB: “I'm photographing flowers.”

Stranger: “For who?”

LTB: “For myself.”

Public sidewalk, hedge and flowers not on his property. So what's with the interrogation?

Artist's Tool: Cardboard

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

While working on the mural to commemorate astronaut Michael Anderson artist Brendon Palmer-Angell relies on a very important tool: a long piece of cardboard.

Creating an image with spray paint is tricky. Brendon explains that he has more control with a cardboard stencil, blocking an area as needed. Using this improvised tool made from clean trashcan scraps he can also feather the spray to provide more precise detail.

Moon & Mural

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

On February 1, 2003 the space shuttle Columbia was returning to earth when it disintegrated, killing all seven astronauts. One of the crew was Michael Anderson who was born in 1959 at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base. To commemorate his memory spray paint artist Brendon Palmer-Angell is creating a mural in downtown Plattsburgh City based on a photo of the astronaut.

What Do You Call A Camera With Four Propellers?

 

© 2020 Luke T. Bush

PLATTSBURGH CITY, NY – 10/5/20

This morning drone-video hobbyist Sadie Stiles stopped by to document the work by Bredon Palmer-Angell on the Michael Anderson mural. Despite a sudden tense moment – a too-close encounter with a speeding flock of pigeons – she maneuvered her drone to show Brendon at various angles and distances.