Chums, a couple of years ago, before we recently renovated it (not quite as cool now, but more sanitary for sure). Source: http://people.brandeis.edu/~msitzman/chums/
Tal and I were having an especially low-key night until we decided to explore the back room. Dun dun dun... So yeah at first I was a bit creeped out (to say the least) with the odd background music eerily playing and the old broken down doors, gas masks, etchings from the '80s, peculiar poems, and just general air of asbetos that is the Chums so-called "office". But then, after a bit of exploring, Tal and I uncovered some spray paint.
With a black Sharpie, we had added the current crew of '08-'09 onto the ever-expanding unofficial archives and chipping paint that was the wall, but feeling particularly adventurous, we could not stop at permanent markers. A couple seconds of contemplating the possibilities that lay ahead of us with our cans of green and neon green spray paint was all it took. We started by spraying "Tal + Roxy '11" on the ceiling in big letters. That seemed to be the most obvious first step. After that endeavor did not quite suffice in satisfying our rebellious moods, we doodled a bit more ("Chums is for lovers", a heart, a smiley face), and then, after some deliberation, decided to attempt to decorate the blank slate that was an untouched cinderblock wall.
This wall was surrounded by all sorts of writings and wishes from long ago, and served as pretty much the empty focal point of the entire area. For the betterment of Chums' future, Tal and I took matters into our own hands. Now at this point, I'm feeling the story will seem somewhat anti-climatic as we only made our mark via a short poem, but nevertheless it still emanates within me as entirely epic, so I suppose what I'm saying is: I don't care what you think.
Despite our lack of color options and expertise with the medium, I think both Tal and I would agree our work is somewhat of a masterpiece in its own right (this may be a slight exaggeration). Well anyways, the poem read as follows (with a possible word or two off):
"If you ever thought Chums couldn't be worse/Not grimier, filthier, or more covered in dirt/If you thought this is as bad as it gets/Remember it was once a fridge for dead pets"True story as well (well maybe not a fridge, but it was a morgue supposedly) back when BDeis was Middlesex. Hopefully pics may be taken in the near future, and possibly posted. So yeah it was a cool experience, seeing all the writings back there and adding our names to the history of Chums. The farthest back we saw was the Crew of '83. (Chums has been around since at least the '60s, but little is known about its founding). We also looked into an old photo album, from mostly the '80s it seemed, with an undated document or two that appeared perhaps older. It's all just so fascinating.
Anywho, that's pretty much all for now. Oh and I made a Flickr today. It wouldn't let me upload all my pics (only like 100MB/mo.) but thankfully Feb's short and March is tomorrow. SCORE! So IDK where I was going with that, but I feel it may affect my blogging (if you could call it that)...possibly. Who knows? Who cares? Either way, I should probably do my work instead.
Okay, so I will just leave you with this photo. It's not mine, but I have it on my computer. I tried to find it online to give credit where it's due, but was unsuccessful in finding it again. If I find it, will note that. Also, maybe sometime I'll upload some of my older photos (doubtful but possible), but for now, this will suffice.
For me, it represents such innocent coexistence. It's simple, yet meaningful. Pay particular attention to the two on the left. So wonderful.
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