A Simple Yearning

Growing up in Louisiana, I was involved with a small nomadic
theatre group. Having no facilities ourselves, we would rehearse
and perform wherever we could acquire a space. That usually meant
schools, churches, and public parks
(Shakespeare by car headlights in a mosquito
infested lakeside park is a treat not to be missed).
I was a very poor actor in those days, so I had plenty of
off-stage time to haunt these old institutional buildings.
In the beginning they were pretty creepy,
but as time went on, they became quite comfortable.
I'll never forget the spooky feel, and musty smell,
but neither shall I forget the feeling of freedom,
alone in a large, beautiful building such as
Lake Charles Central School. The fire escapes
were a jungle gym for the pre-teen, the old cypress floors
creaked in all the right places, and the exhilaration of
exploration was unlike anything I
had ever experienced. That probably explains why I am drawn to
shoot in places like these, and why still yearn to
shoot at Central School,
or Lake Charles / Boston High School, or even the now
demolished LaGrange Middle School.