Dennis McHughW 121st St between Manhattan Ave and Morningside DrHeart Four · Location 411 · Drawn July 2004Download photograph 1Download photograph 2Download photograph 3Download photograph 4Download photograph 5Download photograph 6Download photograph 7Download photograph 8Download photograph 9Download photograph 10Download photograph 11Download photograph 12Download photograph 13Download photograph 14Download photograph 15Download photograph 16Download photograph 17Show all 17 photographsVideo podcast0:00West of Manhattan Avenue on West 121st Street is a brown painted surface belonging to the deli grocery.0:09This brown painted surface ends at a pair of dark black retractable garage doors.0:16To the right of that, on the brown surface, is one exterior lamp over the sidewalk,0:21almost directly over a metal grate in the sidewalk surface.0:24The drawing was done on the brown concrete directly beneath that light.0:30Originally, there was a black diamond plate surface, and as of the spring 2006,0:36the surface and the gates on either side of it had been removed.0:41This is Dennis McHugh. He was drawn in July of 2004.0:47His drawing is counting one person.0:51Hey, John, I'm about to tell you a story.0:54And that story has everything to do with the sort of preconceived nightmare and stereotypes1:05that you can imagine would unfold when a group of white kids show up in a neighborhood that1:14is definably not their own, turn to a wall and just start drawing.1:22Yeah.1:22That's about the worst thing you could possibly do.1:26You think so?1:27Yeah.1:28Don't you think?1:28The following story is basically the worst, not the worst case scenario, but it's basically1:33the worst.1:34It's the beginning of a worst case scenario.1:38It's what would lead to the worst possible case scenario you can imagine.1:42Tape art starts the problem, then tape art solves the problem.1:45All right.1:45What's the story?1:48Begin at the beginning.1:49[unclear] something.1:49So, okay.1:52We should go around the corner.1:54We should stand here and tell this story.1:57This is like right around the corner.1:59[unclear], 121st, [unclear].2:01121st Street, west of Manhattan Avenue.2:06On the north side of the street, there is a deli and grocery and some dark wood-colored2:15walls.2:18When we were leapfrogging each other, drawing, Adrian and I came to this spot and settled2:23into drawing a fireman.2:24Across the street there was a collection of young, very healthy, very fit, black guys2:33sitting down in a small group watching us draw.2:38And it was summertime so there was an atmosphere of everybody was relaxed and enjoying the,2:43you know, had their chairs and little tables outside having a nice drink.2:48On a 4th of July weekend, right?2:50[unclear] of July weekend.2:50Okay.2:51They're watching us draw.2:52They're talking to each other.2:54And finally, an older gentleman, about 10 feet to the right of them, starts yelling at us.3:00They're not crossing the street, but they are yelling.3:03What are they yelling?3:04What the fuck are you doing?3:07What the fuck are you doing escalates into what the fuck are you doing cracker,3:10which escalates into, you better fucking stop that cracker or we're going to come on over there.3:19So they're sitting just across the street right there?3:21Across the street. They are, what is this, 30 feet away.3:27Not only is there a threat, but there is every evidence that that threat can be backed up3:31and escalate into a worst case scenario.3:34So were you just ignoring them through this?3:36How long of a period of time is this?3:38I basically, Adrian and I are talking to each other now and I say, you know what, I am going to finish this drawing.3:45I acknowledge them.3:47I say, I give them the hand gesture for one more minute.3:53Please allow me to continue this drawing.3:55I finish the drawing.3:55Now, at that moment, I finish the drawing and walk directly across the street.4:02Hi, my name is Michael Townsend and I am working on this project.4:08it with you. They gather around and they are looking at my little tiny little miniature paper4:18explanation of this project and they are steely and stern and they're no interest in compromising4:27in this situation. No, there's one guy who says, you know, you guys cut it out, leave him alone,4:33and then he comes up with the idea right no4:41Adrian is shooting photographs in the hip of this whole thing and they're4:46saying why are you drawing the fireman I said because we're used and I said I4:49explained we're using tape art as a way of memorializing people who passed away4:54and there's a pause and I say do you know anybody who's passed away and they5:01say yeah our good friend Rudy who was a DJ a really big guy he was shot around here at this5:11point is to return the steeliness and sternness and with the stern so now we're in a very funny5:17loving but stern situation where I say what does he look like and I started asking very specific5:23I want to know what Rudy looks like oh man you couldn't I'm like what does he look like explain5:31Now you've explained to me, a total stranger, what your friend looks like.5:34I'm going over to that wall and I'm drawing him for you.5:38I'll be asking you for details about Rudy as I am drawing.5:41Please answer me as I ask them.5:46So I am semi-paralyzed at this point.5:49And I turn away and I walk back across the street and I start drawing.5:53And I yell back to them, how tall is he?5:57Like, he's 6'4".5:58I'm like, what kind of glasses did he wear?6:02Really big, like Gucci glasses.6:03I was like, is he a big man?6:05Is he a small man?6:07He was fucking huge.6:09How huge?6:10300?6:11No, no, man, not that.6:12And at this point, it's turned into basically the work6:15that we do at the hospital.6:17We have a group of four to five people collaboratively6:21executing a rendition of their friend.6:27And this drawing is being done on the same wall about 15 feet away from our drawing of the fireman.6:35When it is said and done, I come back across the street and everything has changed.6:42Man, I had no idea that you could draw that fast.6:45We just didn't know what you were doing.6:47We're sorry about all that.6:48I'm like, it's totally fine.6:49We have no right to be here.6:51But let me show you our map and explain why we're here.6:54and we're here because I used a pen and I drew this line.6:57That's the only reason we're here.7:01It was with delight that Dennis spent two weeks7:04with his mother Bernadette in Italy four years ago.7:08He took her to Florence and climbed to the top7:10of the Santa Maria della Fiore,7:12where he took in views of the city skyline,7:15then went to Rome and visited the Sistine Chapel7:18where they gazed upon the image of God and Adam7:20touching fingertips.← Location 410Heart Four · Location 411Location 412 →
