Geez, I don’t have a photo. But here’s my recent sighting of Laurie Anderson.
On September 11, 2017, at about 6:40 pm, on the way home. Beautiful evening, perfect as the morning of 9/11 in New York. I walked through Bryant Park on 42nd Street in NYC.
My eyes focused on a small woman in the center plaza overlooking the grand lawn.
She was about as tall as my shoulder – with a Tibetan hat (crossed stripes, like a ski cap, hiding her hair) and loose clothes in muted colors.
To be honest, she looked like a ragged poetess who had at long last emerged from her apartment.
But seeing her face – it glowed with joy.
Was that Laurie Anderson?? I’m not sure – wouldn’t she have Secret Service or something all around her??
She turned toward the lawn and looked at the expanse of Bryant Park. Hundreds of happy people in lawn chairs and blankets, getting ready for a performance, hanging out.
She put her hand on her heart. The beauty hit her like a wave. She smiled.
She walked past me toward the New York Public Library, which borders Bryant Park. She was holding a notebook – it’s gotta be Laurie.
Per NYC rules, I didn’t stop her and ask for a selfie or babble about how much I love her.
Like rare birds, our most precious artists in NYC must be allowed to live their lives and absorb the world without dweebs like me interfering. I remembered refraining when I saw Laurie and Lou at Sheridan Square circa 2008. Uplifting.
Googling later on, I saw she had just won the 2017 Venice Film Festival Award for Best VR Experience, for the virtual-reality film La Camera Insabbiata, with Hsin-Chien Huang.
Check it out – as always, she’s ten steps ahead:
http://channel.louisiana.dk/video/laurie-anderson-virtual-reality-stories
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