Fremocentrist.com now can provide answers to readers deepest, most heartfelt (or, at least, completely random) questions on all-things-Fremont, from resident Fremont experts – the ‘People Waiting For The Interurban’.
Dear ‘People Waiting’:
I want to tell my lover how I feel? Can you help me give him my message?
Signed, Mute Messenger
Dear ‘Mute,’:
Sure! After 30+ years standing on this island, we’ve had time to ruminate over a great number of the eternal puzzles of the Center of the Universe, and we’ve noticed that the favored way to communicate messages of love, as well as birthday wishes, bon voyage, congrats, and the occasional babble about births seems to be putting us in rather ridiculous outfits and draping us in garlands.
Please, after all these years, we have no dignity left, so be outrageous! If you must put us in funny hats, go all the way and add the stupid shirts, fake pants and necklaces – if we must be humiliated, make it worth it!
All we do ask is that you don’t destroy any decorations we may already be wearing – particularly those that look fresh. And return a few days after decorating to take down the decorations. Be cool!
Now, ‘Mute’, you didn’t specify ‘love’. If you happen to feel something, well, let us say, less than love (‘we-need-to-talk’? ‘it’s-not-you,-it’s-the-dude-in-the-skin-tight-leather’? ‘die-already!’?) can we recommend the 8-ton, bronze statue of Vladimir Lenin? He’s got much more of that ‘I-never-want-to-see-you-again’ vibe. The recent red paint thrown on his hand certainly says ‘break-up’ to us. Let Lenin send that message…
Dear ‘People Waiting:’
What is with the statue on the Burke-Gilman Trail? I swear I’ve never seen it before. It seems to have sprung up on a prime location. What gives?
Signed, Easy Rider
Dear ‘Rider’:
You must be referring to our fellow life-size sculpture, Sri Chinmoy. We also suspect you of being a fair-weather Burke-Gilman ‘rider.’ This sculpture of the late spiritual teacher, and active advocate for peace & harmony, had its installation ceremony in November 2010. Those who stroll the bike trail can see the statue, and often find great peace, at this beautiful viewpoint (on a small segment of private land.) Those who zip along the trail at super-sonic cycle speeds also tend to miss the bronze to spite their face.
This sculpture stands out among Fremont’s other art by having identical siblings spread throughout the world. At last count, twelve similar sculptures have been installed at strategic, water-adjacent locations around the world – linking Fremont in harmony with a dozen other communities.
We, of course, must set our support behind the individualized, one-of-a-kind art installations – like us. Of course, the dream behind the statue on the trail – to link the world in a promise of world peace – does rather trump any petty squabble over individuality…or anything petty at all!.
Dear ‘People Waiting’:
Where did Costas Opa go? What’s with the bank?
Signed, Starving For Spanakopita
Dear ‘Starving’:
We’d feel your pain, but the blue spill light from the Chase Bank sign flatters our aluminum skin. Also, the only thing nice about standing on the same street corner in Fremont for longer than anyone here can recall is having memories of pre-Costa days.
We remember the rough-and-tumble bars that faced us from the McKenzie building before Costa Antonopoulous arrived. When he came to Fremont, he did build a restaurant that fed generations – but did anyone ever offer us some galaktoboureko and lemonade?
In the fall of 2012, Costa closed Costas Opa – although if you are seriously starving, his family still operates Costa’s Restaurant in the University District.
As for the banks, well, we also remember when we couldn’t find one within sight of our island transit stop. Why do you think we started waiting for the Interurban? Now we need to take it to get to the pharmacy, and when it arrives, we’re off!
If you have a question for the ‘People Waiting for the Interuban,’ an inanimate sculpture by the late artist Richard S. Beyer, please send it to instigator@box2219.temp.domains
Related Articles
- Why No Fremont Pharmacy, So Far?
- by Kirby Lindsay, February 8, 2013
- Fremont Public Art Inventory, Part VII: On The Hunt
- by Kirby Lindsay, February 20, 2012
- Meet The McKenzie Building
- by Kirby Lindsay, July 7, 2010
- Another Look At The ‘People Waiting’, And Rich Beyer
- by Kirby Lindsay, September 7, 2011
- Costas Opa Is Closed (news item)
- by Kirby Lindsay, November 19, 2012
©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.