Saturday 9-16-2006

Sutherland Terr. – Lake Claire “Yard Sales”

I should know by now what to expect from a large infill developments in the way of sales. In a way these events are so mundane that they are a break from bizarre fare of Cabbagetown or the new age and political overkill of Inman Park and Candler Park sales. In the three small boring sales here I found nothing more than 3 years old. Among the new goods was a large plate that said pasta, a box of computer cables, a very clean looking microwave, some mugs made at Wired & Fired or some such place and some new looking telephones. In the middle of one antiseptic, tiny yard was a massive umbrella that could shade two whole families at once.
I bought nothing.

Virginia Ave.- Va. Highlands “Estate Sale”

This was not an estate sale nor a yard sale. It was more like someone had put together a small flea market in the front yard of a brick manor house. There was lots of stuff but I wondered how much of it had been down at some booth in the soon to be retired Lakewood Flea Market. Among the clutter on a dozen tables were stacks of old 50’s magazines, boxes of blank reel to reel tapes, assorted small appliances, a horde of rabbit shaped things, old hand tools, framed floral prints, an assortment of wicker canisters and a massive pile of Beanie Babies selling for the now absurd high price of $2. Two f the more remarkable items there were a figurine of a Japanese woman taking a bath and a plastic bag with old 1976 desk calendars.
I bought nothing
Bicentiniel calendars preserved in plastic bags.












Pile pf old periodicals.













Miniature of Japanese woman bathing.













Over priced Beanie Babies.

Monroe Dr. – Morningside “Yard Sales”

Inside a large apartment complex I found three sales gathered together and watched over by three men. There was not an extensive collection of stuff here, the ever-present disassembled ceiling fan, three wine racks, a wall plaque of a Mexican and a burro in relief, some kitchen utensils, a large but deflated exercise ball and a industrial custodians cleaning bucket on wheels. Among some reading matter I found “Skeletons on the Zahara”, “Make Winning a Habit”, “Exercise Ball for Weight Loss”, “Total Body Transformation” and ”I Had it all the Time”.
I bought nothing.
Fan, deflated exercise ball and industrial bucket.













South of the border images on Monroe Dr.

Sherwood Forest – Neighborhood Sales

Last week I was led here by a misleading ad giving the wrong date. But the sales were happening this week. Sherwood Forest is one of this city’s theme neighborhoods. Other theme areas include the Christmas oriented streets of mostly Jewish Toco Hills, the auto themed Briarwood or Motor Hills and the Bonanza flavored Ponderosa. Sherwood’s theme is Robin Hood Lore, the streets carry the monikers of such merry men as Friar Tuck, Lady Marion (Maid Marion is too working class) and locales like Doncaster and Nottingham. Strangely there are almost no Tudor homes in this anglophile enclave. Most of the homes started as well designed ranch homes. Sadly many are now being torn down as the real estate formula for this city is now 3 bed rooms + 1 bath = bulldozer.
The neighborhood flyer claimed there were 22 sales today. I did not bother to count them. Many of them were quite small. By mid morning some of the homeowners had already abandoned their sales leaving small piles of clutter in their yards. The more common artifacts were large plastic children’s playthings, left over home improvement hardware, women’s clothing and sports equipment. Among books I found the following titles: “Waiting for Godot”, “The Sound and The Fury”, “Snow Falling on Cedars”, “The Education of Little Tree”, “Songs in Ordinary Time”, “A Dictionary for Accountants”, “The Biggest Mistakes Salesmen Make”, “Cat on the Scent”, “The Tao of Pooh” “How to be Normal in Australia” and “The God of Small Things”. The photos below indicate some of the charming finds of Sherwood Forest.

Not For Sale: Large metallic sculpture of bruin watching over Sherwood landmark.













Protective gear priced cheaper than stitches.













Plush winged stallion atop a punching bag.













Plaques of peace, love etc…

Ceramic rendering of Jesus the sailor man.
















Bucket of doorknobs.














One man's selection of video viewing.














Two-dimensional aliens.














Deflated alien.

Saturday 9-09-06

Clifton Rd. – Candler Park “Yard Sale”

The first sale of the day was a pleasant two-block walk from my home. When I arrived one of the women hosting the event was honored to have me there as she had attended my exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center in June. In the yard of a handsome Mediterranean style home that was far more Druid Hills than Candler Park was a moderate selection of assorted clutter. A table in the center held an ice bucket shaped like the liberty bell, a teapot made into a lamp, a pair of candle sticks, some candles, a plastic lizard, an insect colony kit, a doorknocker and a pair of headphones with plastic ears attached. The Seller told me the headphones were used as a Halloween costume when she went dressed as a local candidate for City Council.
Splayed out on a tarp in the yard were four large letters Z –O-O-O. These were taken from a service station being torn down. Also found on the ground was a Xmas tree stand, a trunk labeled “Lullwater Garden Club” and an architect’s model for a simply one-story home.
Among some books here were “Considering Parenthood”, “Radon-The Invisible Threat”, “Rousseau and Romanticism”, “Brave New World” and ”Bargain Hunters Guide”.
There were also a framed photograph of a castle on the Rhine and a set of jars containing old spices. Two chairs set in the yard. A red leather chair, a shawl with the Image of Our lady of Guadalupe was draped over it’s back. The other was an upholstered armchair with a spray of dried flowers in its seat.
I bought nothing.

Model of a home.














Letters from a service station.













Insect habitat kit.













What is it?













Political costume.

Park Dr. – Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”

After walking home I talked Cindy into going out with me to other sales. I enticed her with the news that there was a multifamily neighborhood sale in Sherwood Forest. I was excited over the aspect of viewing the clutter on upscale streets with names taken from Robin Hood lore – Lady Marian Rd, Friar Tuck Dr. and John Lackland Way. My only regret is that Cindy actually spends time at the sales buying stuff, most of which we end up tossing into the street a few weeks later.
On our way there we were led this sale attracted by a large banner hanging from a tree in the front yard. The sale was in front of and in two rooms of a brick Tudor bungalow. Outside gathered around the walkway leading to the porch was a coffee table, a globe and a wine rack. On the grass was a stack of board games derived from the Simpson’s, one was based on Clue another chess and the third Monopoly.
Hanging from the front wall of the home was a selection of purses and on the ground a pair of roller blades. On the porch were two boxes of books. Among the titles were “Succulent Wild Women”, “Wine Made Simple”, “The Intense Lover”, “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior”, “The Complete Book of the Dog”, “Nobody’s Cat”, and “Travel Career Development”. On a nearby table I found a fat short candle, a canvas ammo pouch, an Andy Warhol Jigsaw puzzle and a cocktail shaker. In a corner of the porch was a sign proclaiming “This Corner Free”. Among the clutter offered for gratis were a three ring binder, some half used rolls of gift-wrap, some artificial ivy and some coffee mugs. In side ant outside their house there was an array of original paintings created by the seller. Many had themes dealing with alcohol and the vessels that contain it. Other works depicted hammers and toilets, the world in an eyeball as well as a multimedia work that incorporated a cup holder and a toilet paper dispenser.
Cindy bought a hat and insisted I purchase a black leather jacket that was selling for ten dollars.

Art found at Park Drive.


















Treasures of the free corner.












The world in an eyeball.

Flagler St. – Sherwood Forest “Estate Sale”

After driving past countless oversized ranch homes in this Robin Hood themed development we resigned ourselves to the reality that the ad in Craigslist was a lie. The closest thing we found in Sherwood Forest proper resembling a yard sale was a pile of rags from a car wash fundraiser drying on a hedgerow in a traffic circle. But on our way out of the area we came across this sale. The sale was inside and in the driveway and garage of a 1930’s brick Tudor home. In the driveway I ran into a friend of mine who was one of the organizers of the sale. In the center of the driveway was an inversion exercise device with a potential buyer in it upside down. Next to it were two wheel chairs. Beyond the wheel chairs was a 1967 Chrysler Newport with a rusty finish next to the Newport was an old pedestal sink. Tables lined the driveway will all sorts of clutter. On them I found a bowling trophy, a large plastic bone, a small plaster Greek head in a deep frame, a plate with bold red strips, an ice cream scoop, a coffee mug with a handle shaped like a Dalmatian, a plaque for the Chevrolet Truck sales Hall of Fame, and a plush zebra mask. Draped over a chair was a four foot deflated looking clown figure constructed from fabric. In the garage things seemed to be older and dirtier. Here I found an old banjo, a large decrepit looking guitar amplifier, a car racing trophy, a skeletal chart, a book on Feng Shui, an old waffle iron, a large antique framed photograph of someone’s distant ancestor, and some women’s hats.
In side the house was a lot of old undistinguished china and glassware. But here the artwork was outstanding. One large oil work depicted a woman sitting next to a piano with a deep red background, even better was a stunning portrait of a squinting breaded and confused looking pirate.
I bought nothing. Cindy purchased a large twisted tree stump that she thought would be useful in our living room.

Large plastic bone amid clutter.













Squinting pirate captured on canvas.


















Fabric Clown on chair.












Racing trophy with skeletal chart.













Woman with piano rendered in oil.

Cumberland Rd. – Morningside “Yard Sale”

This was in the back driveway and garage of what appeared to be a large modern infill home. In the driveway was a camp stove, some old kitchen cabinets, lots of large plastic children’s things, a plastic snake, a plush dragonfly, a pair of two tone Doc Martens, a concrete pelican marked sold, two pairs of ski books and the “What would Lizzie Do Game” based on the TV life of Lizzie McGuire. On some shelves were some small Halloween décor items and some creepy looking Xmas things. In the garage were a plush rabbit, a portrait of a clown, a chart of American game fish and a faux pineapple.
Cindy and I bought nothing.

A game that poses a perplexing question.












Clown portrait.


















Cudly plush dragonfly.












Halloween items and Blessed Virgin Mary.

N. Morningside Dr.- Morningside “Yard sale”

By this time we knew that the sales were in decline and here we decided we had had enough for today. Most of the stuff in the driveway this manor home looked like it came from some showroom at the Merchandise Mart. On one side of the driveway was a wall of garland selling for $20. Two sad anemic looking artificial Xmas trees were standing nearby being ignored by everyone except me who was taken by their pathos. On a table in the center of the sale were two gargantuan candles that were over four feet tall and nearly a foot thick. On another table were some books among which I found “The Day I Turned Uncool”. “Selling the Invisible”, “On the Road Again with Man’s Best Friend” and “Hearing the Voice of the Market”. Mixed with the books on the table were two audiocassette sets entitled “Total Transformation” and “Me, Myself and I” on the covers was printed, “This is a copy of the original tape series and is not to be sold at any price. It was copied and given as a gift from God”. The cassette sets were selling for 25 cents each. Other clutter scattered about included a framed photo of a bunch of babies sitting in flowerpots, a ceramic pear, a ceramic figure of a napping Mexican, a collection of ceramic bunnies and some dreadful looking Halloween décor.
We bought nothing.

Cassette set that should not be for sale.















Massive pair of candles.
















Dreadful Halloween decor.

Saturday 9/2/06

Today as I move into my third year of keeping this chronicle, I was blessed with a multitude of sales in several neighborhoods. I also encountered the delightful and decrepit pile of curbside junk pictured here.

St. Charles Ave. – Va.- Highlands “Yard Sale”

My first stop was at a meager sale outside a small brick apartment building. The gentleman in charge presented a selection of house wares including a cat bed, a toaster and kitchen wares. On the ground were two large blue plastic tubs. One was filled with hot wheels cars in their original packaging the other contained some marketing textbooks and a half empty bottle of vodka.
I bought nothing.
Cat bed on St. Charles.











Bin containing open bottle of Vodka.

Drewry St.- Va. Highlands “Yard Sales”

Two adjacent bungalows were hosting sales on this street. The first and more extensive sales presented a colorful array of all sorts of large children’s toys. Among them were a stationary tricycle, two play horses, several costumes, bins of plush toys and several oversized injected molded plastic playthings. In addition to the toys was a selection of books that included “Erotic Interludes”, “Love is Letting Go of Fear”, “What to Expect the First Year”, “The Greatest Baby name Book Ever”, “Good Sex”, “Parent Power” and “Golf for Dummies”. There was also some furniture and a set of golf clubs.
The sale next door had very few things put out in the yard. Among the stuff was a coffee maker, a bird feeder and a disassembled ceiling fan.
I bought nothing.
Play horses on Drewry St.











Stationary tricycle.

Amsterdam Ave. – Morningside “Yard Sale”

When I arrived here nothing was set up in the front yard. A man in a SUV was yelling at his wife who was standing tin the driveway. “What are you going to do wait for him to put the stuff out?” he bellowed. He then threatened to abandon her at the sale and drive away. A few other anxious shoppers rooted through some trash piled up on the curb. “Is this stuff for sale?” one asked me as I snapped a photo of a painting of Cleopatra I exhumed from the debris. I replied I only wanted to take pictures. The man in the SUV continued to loudly chastise his spouse. In the yard a Mexican man was putting up garage sale signs. When I departed a man emerged from the back yard carrying a large metal cabinet. On of the men digging through the trash was making him an offer on a ladybug shaped mirror he had unearthed from the trash pile.
I bought nothing.

N. Morningside Dr. – Morningside “Yard Sale”

I had expected this sale to be larger from the ad placed on Craigslist. Here I found a meager selection of Harley Davidson clothing spread out across the sellers yard. On the grass were three pairs of leather chaps. In a bin was over a dozen pairs of biker gloves. In another bin was a selection of colorful yarn.
I bought nothing.

7th St.- Midtown “Moving Sale”

From Morningside I headed to the narrow streets of Midtown. This sale was located in the parking lot behind a three-story apartment building. Here a single woman presided over several tables of goods as well as some stuff splayed out on the pavement. Upon the tables was a pillow in the shape of a monkey’s face, some baskets, a pair of glass candlesticks, a wireless keyboard, some dried flowers and a ugly red haired doll seated atop a ceramic cherry pie. On the pavement was a picture frame done over in camo decopauge, two pair of roller blades, a coffee table with a base in the shape of an abstract female form, and a print of a man in woman in an embrace. While I was there one of the shoppers knocked over and shattered a large vase.
I bought nothing.
Organic looking table.











Ugly doll upon a pie.












Camo picture frame in driveway.

Argonne Ave. – Midtown “Yard Sale”

This sale had a large Craiglist ad and the sale was smaller than it looked on the wrap around porch of a stately brick home. On the yard and porch I found linens, a bread maker, a small TV, a few old VHS tapes, some women’s clothing, a selection of small picture frames, a small Llardro figurine of a bride and groom and a few hand tools. A box labeled free contained small maps of Phoenix and a few odd computer cables. Among a selection of books I found “The Tantric Mysticism of Tibet”, “Methods and Models in Demography”, “Planned Parenthood Women’s Health Encyclopedia”, “Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes”, “The Meaning of Macho”, “Seeing Voices”, “Portraits in Sepia”, Reading Lolita in Tehran” and “Behind Every Choice is a Story”.
I bought nothing.

5th St. - Midtown “Moving Sale”

This sale was wonderful in it’s confusion. On the way to this frame bungalow, I passed a large pile of clutter in a nearby yard thinking this might be the sale. Instead the pile proved to be the unsightly debris from an eviction or someone who quickly moved out. The actual sale three doors down at first appeared to be just on the front porch. But when I approached the home I found that shoppers were inside as well. In the house it was difficult to tell where the sale began and where the everyday lives of the sellers ended. Some rooms were junk piles or examples of just poorly arranged living conditions. In addition with all the shoppers and the amount of clutter it was claustrophobic as well. In the living room were shelves filled with Xmas décor and personal photographs. Next to it was a small room so crammed with clutter where one could not even get through the door. The bedrooms were also clutter filled, the beds themselves stacked with an assortment of linens and other fabric matter. The kitchen was clean albeit overly crowded. A computer table was set up there with three computers on it. A post-it note on one said “Yard Sales – Estates” possibly as a reminder to post on Craigslist.
In the more open area of the porch I could more easily get an appraisal on what was actually for sale. Here I found a sweater with a tennis scene done in yarn relief, a small framed print of a turtle, dried flowers, a coffee grinder, candles and a pair of slippers shaped like monkeys. Among some books were “Guide to Owning a Shih Tzu”, “ Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, “Jonathon Livingston Seagull”, “The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float” and “The Language of Letting Go”.
I bought nothing.

Monkey shaped footwear.












Garment with tennis scene.













Xmas decor in house of clutter.