Landscape 3
©1997 Craig Ashby
10″ x 5″
Collage

Landscape 3 sees skyscrapers laying down on their sides and something like a whiskey advertisement. I honestly can’t remember. This was such a long time ago and made under such duress.

The move to New York City was unbelievably hard. I wasn’t prepared and the difficulties seemed insurmountable. I overcame it by sheer force.

This was that era before the stranglehold of the internet and cell phones. Obviously they both existed but not how they exist today. This made everything harder.

Getting a bank account was like applying to get into Julliard. Citibank required an in person interview and references from a current customer. Truly ridiculous.

Getting a job was even harder. It was either through the newspapers or you knew someone. No craigslist.

I was just doing freelance at the time so I remember a month of eating crackers and drinking tea. When I did get money for food I would spend it on fruit I bought from a parking garage on 40th Street.

Grim times I am lucky to have survived. These pieces are amazing because I am lucky to have anything to show from this era. I am so thankful for my current life.