Escher Sketch

I had an Etch A Sketch. My kids had an Etch A Sketch. For 55 years, people have been fascinated by this simple yet subtle drawing toy. You don't see them around that much now, though, since the advent of computer graphics. Who wants this when you have Photoshop?

However, there is an homage on Manchester Avenue in The Grove district, playing on the work of the Dutch artist M. C. Escher, specifically his self-portrait in a mirrored sphere. It is painted on a traffic signal switching box. Instead of reflecting the artist, this shows the sign in my post of February 28.

PS for locals: Mrs. C and I attended a program last night at the International Photography Hall of Fame (yes, it's here) by Chris Naffziger, author of the St. Louis Patina blog, a meditation on the joys and sorrows of St. Louis' ephemeral architectural heritage. He documents the glory of the things we have built, along with the consequences of entropy and indifference. Highly recommended.

Afterwards, we had dinner at Sameem, The Lou's only Afghan restaurant.  The charming brothers who run it never fail to provide a wonderful meal. You are likely to see roughly equal numbers of Nikes, hijabs and iPhones among the diners. Also highly recommended.