I
can't
explain what this place means to me. It's been a part of my life and my
dreams for so much of my life. Even before I knew what it was or where it was, I
dreamed about it. I thought it was a big, old house at the time.
Years later, I discovered that the old house in my dreams was in fact, this
hotel.
I was first
in there in 1981. I went in search of room #100, and found it. That
entire week was magickal. I still haven't figured out what it all
meant. I've felt a connection to Nancy, Sid, and Dee Dee. As time
went on, and I went to art school and got into different things, I sort of
forgot about all this, and the Carousel turned. I didn't think about them
for a long time. They, of course, were always there, just very quiet. Then
things started happening again.
Synchronicity
The Carousel
turned. Dee Dee was King again. Nancy came back 'round. Sid
was there, but quiet. I still had no idea what it meant. I began to
think of the Chelsea again. I had to go back there. And I did.
So many
rooms with so many memories.
UPDATE
Since
I wrote this back in 2005, I've returned to the hotel again.
I won a Tennessee state art grant to go back and photograph that amazing
place. II took so many
more photos and have begun another project using these amazing
pictures. I just did my first practice painting. I've spent
several months just arranging the hundreds of photographs I
took. I am so pleased with the photographs by themselves.
They don't even need any other steps taken. But I'm still having to
paint. I need to capture a feeling.
