#threads: ricardo & mathias

[brkwingss]

for: matty ( @intxication ) location: the church

it had been some time since ricardo had returned to the church. for once his absence wasn't over something bad. he had simply gone to visit family in texas and ended up staying there a bit longer than expected. as odd as it sounded, because he been so desperate to leave nyc at one point, ricardo had felt homesick almost instantly. as he made his way into the church he scanned the various pews, momentarily familiarizing himself with everything again.

a small smile spreads on his lips, and he makes his way towards one of the pews in the back to sit down for a moment. he started with bowing his head down to pray, something he had never stopped doing, and then he sat in silence for a while. people came, people went, and yet ricardo remained in the same spot. perhaps a part of him was hoping jude would come out so he could say hi, but it didn't happen. eventually he does end up deciding he should probably head home because teddy was probably getting antsy for his daily walk.

he turns his head to the side, not really to look at anything in particular, and that's when he spots a very familiar face entering the church. it was only then then he realized how long it had been since he had last seen matty. he looked so different and the same all at once somehow. as much as he wanted to see how he's been ricardo also understood that they were still in a church. matty could be here to need his space and that was something he respected. still, he couldn't help but keep his glance on matty for a little too long. maybe he could get the other to silently notice him.

[frgdsecrts]

for: mathias ( @ascnsionismx ) location: cafe du monde

It had become a bit of a tradition for Ricardo and Mathias to make their way to Cafe Du Monde after meetings. Honestly, sometimes the fact that they would be attending the cafe afterwards was the only reason he found the motivation to attend said meetings. Not that he would ever actually skip one, of course, sometimes he simply just did not want to bother with it all. Whenever they came here Ric tried very hard not to talk about anything too heavy, if it could be avoided, because he liked to think there was a place they could go to escape everything even if just for a minute or two

The moment they entered the cafe, the smell of freshly brewing coffee, and baked beignets wrapping itself around them, the world almost entirely disappeared around him. It was just him, Mathias, and this cafe right now. Ricardo walks up to the table they had chosen, "I have to admit...I asked for extra powdered sugar," he says, giving Mathias a crooked little guilty grin. For someone who was sarcastic half the time, not really smiling either, Ricardo had a rather big, sweet tooth. "You know, I'm surprised it's not as packed today." He sits down across from his friend, reaching for his cup of coffee, "I'm both sad and relieved by that." Dark eyes casually look around the cafe, studying the people that were sitting around, silently sipping his coffee for a moment. He reaches for a beignet, looking to Mathias as he spoke, "Have you been on any fun adventures lately?"

[brkwingss]

"Go for it," Ric encourages, smiling, "I mean, isn't that what life is? One giant adventure anyway? Why not switch up your coffee flavor once in a while, right? Although," he leans in a bit, as if telling a secret, "I must admit, I usually only order a plain black. I'm afraid on a regular day I am just a plain old boring black coffee kind of person." The guy chuckled a little, leaning back again, grinning. "Maybe we can help each other be a little adventurous. Once a month we should make it a point to meet up at this very cafe, perhaps on a random day of the week, like on a Wednesday afternoon, and try something new. What do you think?"

Ric watches Matty give Frog the pup cup, then looks for Frog's reaction, and his smile grows when he sees the pup happy. Mission accomplished. He thought to himself, content that both pups were happy. "I haven't really traveled much either," he admits, returning his attention to Matty, "but I would want to visit Turkey. And Japan, London, Paris, and so many other places." He takes a sip of his coffee, nodding, "mmm. This wasn't a mistake, by the way, the flavors mix really well." Placing the coffee down, Ricardo reaches for the croissant. "I'll have to find someone who doesn't mind eating all the exotic foods from the various places I want to visit, like scorpion on a stick." He says, momentarily returning to the topic of traveling, before asking," do you ever see yourself leaving New York?"

Every day it seemed like the world was starting to force Mathias to believe that there was something to live for. The usual mundane boringness just wasn't there anymore. He sadly wasn't sure how he felt about it either. It was hard to change how he thought, since he had been thinking that way for so long. He could feel the change happening though as more and more people were being introduced to his life. Her could see it happening, and he could do nothing to stop it.

Mathias sat down, and got Frog to sit too. The cafe was cute, and a place he could see himself going to a lot in the future. It wasn't too far from his home too. "Oh your drink sounds very interesting. I'll admit, I'm not very adventurous with stuff like that, but maybe I should start".

Mathias followed Ric's lead and gave Frog the pup cup. It was messy but the dog seemed to enjoy it, which made Mathias happy. "Anywhere?" he asked, "Huh...I don't really know...I haven't really traveled much in general, so I guess anywhere other than New York. What about you?".

[selfsabotaqe]

hi everyone! it's been a while & finally i'm making my comeback. work has finally left me some room to breathe so i'll be reappearing on your dash and hopefully getting back into the swing of replies. down below there's a full list of everything currently in my drafts. please let me know whether you'd like to continue or drop these threads. whichever scenario is completely fine and understandable (it's been a hot sec after all), just let me know. if you'd prefer to start something new, we can also do that. feel free to message me or reply to this post anytime. there's no rush at all to make up your mind, but just to start off i'll start with replies for threads people do actively express interest in. so if anything from this list is something you're still excited about, let me know and i'll prioritize. we can always waitlist the other stuff while we feel it out. anyway, let me know, come chat, let me love u down and can't wait to continue writing together. love u all! 💗🥹

with @persephonyed. carlos x lorenzo marley x camille

with @silvrmoon. nadiye x milo axel x kadri zehra x sierra

with @lilacwiine. drew x felice amara x maya

with @invcntions. alec x lucas mateo x saxon devrim x leo beau x koa emre x noah luca x jaiden (smth new?) jesse x finn peyton x vance soren x lincoln

with @horrorphase. dominic x percy milan x kendall

with @slumpcd. max x theo kendall x nolan jinny x gwen

with @gcldcnhour. eden x mathias rhys x bodie isabel x tate alina x priya zoe x knox ethan x violet marisol x miriam

with @temptedfates. emmett x aydin noor x solana

with @spectraled. maddie x rory tbd x dallas (thought abt replying if u would like replies <3)

with @vacationeyes. marco x conrad julian x callum emre x frankie xavier x tyson jude x forest

with @lovecharged. jonas x antonio aleksei x drake bridie x quilo tbd x amie jonas x antonio (part two) julian x zayn felix x robin nadiye x rasim tatum x uziah carlos x gabriel

with @fruitpoem. ambar x joel

with @inkiidreams. aera x selin davika x esra carlos x mallory merve x yaritza robin x aurelia lais x nova casper x knox lachlan x olivia

with @wutheringdevotion. lachlan x oliver rowan x ginny connor x evan meera x monique carlos x gabriel gwen x jonah margot x adrian

with @gardenwalls. meera x paloma alec x mack naiyana x nadine daniel x minako laura x andrea fabien x mei li nazli x rhys

with @felteverywhere. alina x rowan

with @sunstvne. santiago x constantin

with @gvngsigns. gabriela x lucas kai x mateo florence x liam tobias x zuri andrea x cruz ricardo x vincent

with @scbrvght. all of our formula one threads (don't think i owe u the replies but let me know if you'd like to continue them <3) lale x finley soren x everly

mAYBE im missing things. if there's anything i owe you that isn't on this list, feel free to point it out to me! and also vice versa, if you owe me something & you want to discuss continuing or dropping it, just come message me and we can chat about it!

[eeraygun]

Top 285 Sonic Releases of 2018

000. Rosalia - El Mal Querer 001. Various Artists - 'I Could Go Anywhere But Again I Go With You' 002. Autechre - NTS Sessions 003. Various Artists - Kulør 001 004. Oneohtrix Point Never - Age Of (Japanese Edition) 005. Sophie - Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides 006. Tirzah - Devotion 007. Blawan - Wet Will Always Dry 008. Cam Deas - Time Exercises 009. Leon Vynehall - Nothing Is Still 010. Ingus Baušķenieks ‎ - Spoki 011. Clouds - Heavy The Eclipse 012. Kyo & Jeuru - All The Same Dream 013. Topdown Dialectic - Topdown Dialectic 014. Snail Mail - Lush (remaster) 015. Pavel Milyakov - Eastern Strike 016. Robyn - Honey 017. Falcon Black Ops - Vol. 1 018. CTM - Red Dragon 019. Ariana Grande - Thank You Next 020. Robert Lippok - Applied Autonomy 021. Various Artists - LACKRec. vs. Magic Power 022. Henning Christiansen - The Executioner 023. Against All Logic - 2012-2017 024. Scandinavian Star - Solas 025. Happa - PT3.2 026. Prime Minister of Doom - Mudshadow Propaganda 027. Ciara - Dose 028. Joy Orbison - 81b 029. Drew McDowall - The Third Helix 030. Felix Blume - Death in Haiti: Funeral Brass Bands & Sounds From Port au Prince 031. Teyana Taylor - K.T.S.E. 032. Borai & Denham Audio - Club Glow Vol. 1 033. Demdike Stare - Passion 034. Christian Zanési - Grand Bruit - Stop! l'horizon 035. DJ Healer - Nothing 2 Loose 036. Suzanne Ciani - Quadraphonic LIVE 037. Amnesia Scanner - Another Life 038. Various Artists - BROR08 039. Joy O & Ben Vince - Transition 2 - Systems Align 040. Lamin Fofana - Brancusi Sculpting Beyonce 041. ACT! - Universalist 042. Randomer - HS002 043. Vladimir Dubyshkin - Cheerful Pessimist 044. Hugo Massien - Almost Becoming Lucid 045. Barker - Debiasing EP 046. CLUBKELLY - GLOBAL 93 047. Ron Morelli - Disappearer 048. Jenny Hval - The Long Sleep 049. Tierra Whack - Whack World 050. Chambray - Nectar of Joy 051. Deben Bhattacharya - Paris to Calcutta: Men and Music on the Desert Road 052. Stef Mendesidis - Klockworks 23 053. Various Artists - Running Back Mastermix 054. Andrea - Forse 055. François Bayle - Tremblements... LP 056. Childish Gambino - This Is America 057. Efdemin - Naïf 058. Skee Mask - Compro 059. Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy 060. 700 Bliss - Spa 700 061. Chontane - Red Island EP 062. Honnda - Maraschino Mic Drop 063. Martyn Bootyspoon - Silk Eternity 064. Objekt - Cocoon Crush 065. Addison Groove & Bim Sanga Present Bags Inc. - Dance Trax, Vol. 17 066. Puce Mary - The Drought 067. Gonçalo F Cardoso - Impressões de uma Ilha (Unguja) 068. EQD - Equalized #008 069. Félicia Atkinson - Coyotes 070. Low - Double Negative 071. The Mistys - Pregnant Mannequin 072. Adlas - Arrival by Air 073. Vainqueur - Reductions 1995–1997 074. Xzavier Stone - THIRST 075. Kelman Duran - 13th Month 076. Lyra Valenza - Scan, Deliver 077. Bjarki – Oli Gumm 078. Answer Code Request - Gens 079. Forward Strategy Group - East Port Rangers EP 080. Voronoi - Vis-Viva 081. Olsen - Dream Operator 082. Mih-Ty - MIH-TY 083. Textasy - Dallas Gun Club 084. D.Dan - Covert Operation 085. Ursula K. Le Guin & Todd Barton - Music and Poetry of the Kesh 086. Duran Duran Duran - Choose Death 087. Jean C. Roché - Oiseaux Du Birds Of Venezuela 088. Vanessa Rossetto - Fashion Tape 089. Domiziano Maselli - Ashes 090. Smerz - Have fun 091. The Body - I Have Fought Against It, But I Can't Any Longer 092. Grizzle – Quinine 093. Rkss - DJ Tools 094. SHXCXCHCXSH - OUFOUFOF 095. Perfume - Future Pop 096. Stefano Moretti - Land of Mikuni 097. Sim Hutchins - Clubeighteen2thirty 098. Yves Tumor - Safe in the Hands of Love 099. Martyn - Voids 100. Sophia Loizou - Irregular Territories 101. Fracture - Soundboy Get Nervous 102. ABSOLUTE. - Malfunction 103. Diptera - 001 (antenna) 104. Nathan Micay - Whities 017 105. Alex Kassian - Hidden Tropics 106. The-Dream - Menage a Trois Sextape 107. Regal - Still Raving 108. Fumu - Sinuate 109. Evol - Ideal Acid 110. Various Artists - Only Promo Ma Poule 111. Mariah Carey - Caution 112. Ian Isiah - Shugga Sextape (Vol. 1) 113. Marie Davidson - Working Class Woman 114. Aoud - SE MKII 115. Konrad Wehrmeister - 5050 116. The Advent - Klockworks 22 117. Lucy Railton - Paradise 94 118. Virtual Self - Ghost Voices (Raito Remixes) 119. BE3K - Exoneration 120. GALT Faculty - E B O W 121. Art Alfie - The Bo Allan EP 122. Pendant - Make Me Know You Sweet 123. DJ Boring & Frits Wentink - Wasted Years of Pumping Iron 124. Contactless - Static 125. Was A Be & Synth Ethics - Systems 011 126. Helena Deland - From the Series of Songs Altogether Unaccompanied Vol. I 127. Freddie Gibbs - Freddie 128. Tessela & Lanark Artefax - Blue 01 129. Erma Grid - From a Band of Thoughts That Ended My Year 130. Dold - Mother EP 131. Eartheater - Irisiri 132. Age Coin - She Who Sold Me Told Me 133. Agrippa - Mygraine Urgraine/Harbour Run 134. Shame - Songs Of Praise 135. Severin - Safe Following Distance 136. RAMZi - Phobiza vol. 3: Amor Fati 137. Yen Towers - First on Comedown 138. Ludwig A.F. Röhrscheid - Xhale 139. Tee Mango - #2 140. Swarm Intelligence - Against The Dying Light 141. Céline Gillain - Bad Woman 142. Repro - Feel Extraordinary 143. Gila - Shedskin Pt.33 144. Jan Nemecek - Recurrences 145. Various Artists - Midnight in Tokyo Vol. 2 146. Various Artists - HYS001 147. No Moon - Infinite Dreamz EP 148. Prayer - Vital 149. Cadans - Slit EP 150. D. Tiffany - Feel U 151. The Empire Line - Rave 152. DJ Seinfeld - Sakura 153. 3KZ - A Love Supreme 154. Overlook - Never Understand 155. Ligovskoï - Esam 156. FJAAK - Havel 157. Scalameriya - Hellzone Megapunk EP 158. Drake - Scorpion 159. Locked Club - Svoboda 160. Young Echo - Young Echo 161. Reeko & Jonas Kopp - Realidades Holográficas I Torre de Babel 162. Hiro Kone - Pure Expenditure 163. Bruce - Sonder Somatic 164. Arkajo - Avasarala 165. TML - I Need An Exit 166. Thom Yorke - Suspiria 167. Various Artists - EDITSELECT36 168. Patrick Siech - Our Exile 169. Lucrecia Dalt - Anticlines 170. Qnete - Shtum 018 171. Future & Juice WRLD - WRLD ON DRUGS 172. Demian Licht - Female Criminals Vol. 3 173. Veronica Vasicka - in silhouette 174. 999999999 - RAVE REWORKS 175. Azari - Gotasoul 176. Varg - Nordic Flora Series Pt. 5: Crush 177. Mount Eerie - Now Only 178. Rabit - Bricks in a Draught 179. Elad Magdasi - Liquid Dreams 180. Tomas Urquieta - Dueños de Nada 181. The Higher - The Core 182. Ross Birdwise - Drunk Formalism(s) 183. Alan Fitzpatrick - System Addict 184. H4L - Four Lights 185. John Maus - Addendum 186. L-Vis 1990 - 12 Thousand Nights: Club 187. BLD - For Rave Use Only 188. Various Artists - Don’t You Mess with Cupid, 'Cause Cupid Ain’t Stupid 189. Ksmisk - Mikrometeorittene 190. Mark Leckey - Exorcism Of The Bridge @ Eastham Rake 191. Ross from Friends - Squaz 192. Rae Sremmurd - SR3MM-Jxmtro-Swaecation 193. Ricardo Villalobos - Silent EP 194. Young Thug - Slime Language 195. Phobia NL & Blacksun - Crossfire EP 196. X-Coast - XTC 197. Asymptote - Belief System 198. Ambivalent & Alden Tyrell - Detente 199. Christine and the Queens - Chris 200. Big Miz - Build-Destroy 201. Locked Groove - From Beyond 202. A$AP Rocky - TESTING 203. Paranorman - FUD001 204. Subradeon - Walking Through Motown EP 205. LMajor - Dig the New Breed, Pt. 1 206. P.Leone - The My Lita Project 207. P€PA & Z$OLI - Pzs_Rave 208. Adryiano - Dreams With EP 209. Appleblim - Life in a Laser 210. Vril - Omniverse EP 211. Бassae - Untitled 212. Gabber Eleganza – Never Sleep #1 213. Senyawa - Sujud 214. Radial - Tympana 215. N1L - 山卂ㄒ乇尺 爪乇爪ㄖ尺ㄚ 216. Dibek & Lodig - Lap.AM 217. Jonny Greenwood - Phantom Thread 218. Urulu - Foreign Depths 219. David Goldberg - EMO Serialism 220. DJ Different - Permission 2 Dance 221. Prg_m - Berytus Groan 222. Funeral Future - Hard Candy EP 223. Voiski - Sick Parrots 224. serpentwithfeet - soil 225. Company - Prosody 226. Stanislav Tolkachev - Champions Breakfast 227. Asquith - The Conditioning Track 228. Awdha - UNO 229. Dedekind Cut - Tahoe 230. Harrison BDP & Garth James - Vapour Trails EP 231. Sugar - No Sex Only Feelings 232. Duppy Gun Productions - Miro Tape 233. Mike Davis - Communique From an Absent Future 234. Cabasa - Uncle Sigmund's EP 235. Various Artists - Eel Behaviour: Sniper 236. Silicon Scally - Live at Scand 237. E-Talking & Laksa - Blue 04 238. Jacquees - 4275 239. Marcel Dettmann - Test-File 240. Acre - Hollow Body 241. #.4.26. - MDR 24 242. Blood Orange - Negro Swan 243. Various Artists - Bavarian Stallion Series 003 244. Developer - Off Grid EP 245. 90 Process - No Warehouse Needed 246. Sector Y - CS_TMS 247. Charli XCX - Focus & No Angel 248. Paula Temple & Eomac - ETXC001 249. Cassius Select - Fake Death 250. hekla - Á 251. UNIIQU3 - Phase 3 252. Sedvs & Peel - The Plf Sessions I 253. Yugen - Ineffable 254. Europa - Alpanya 255. LSDXOXO - BODY MODS 256. Roper Rider - Motion Profile 257. Forest Drive West - Un 258. Petar Dundov - Dalmatina & Once We Were Here 259. Desiigner - L.O.D. 260. Renick Bell - Wary 261. Nicki Minaj - Chun-Li 262. Locked Club - ЛОМАЙ EP 263. Dopplereffekt - Athanatos 264. Glaskin - Grey Lines 265. Beta Librae - Subspecies 266. Oisel - Entroterra EP 267. Conforce - Zero Point-Field 268. Raito - One Step Beyond 269. Hioll - Hioll 002 270. Various Artists - AEX005 271. Rune Bagge - Pink Dreams 272. Tensal - Industrialsociety EP 273. Mathias Schaffhaeuser - Love Idol 274. Notzing - 014 275. Michal Wolski - Still Life 276. Aphtc - When Grounds Shift 277. DJ Sneak - 3D Print 278. Bylly - Mouth Full of Sand 279. CUB - Seeing From Above 280. Farrago - Risin' 281. Amotik ��– Amotik 009 282. D-Leria - Driving to Nowhere 283. The Cyclist - Alabaster Thrones 284. Roza Terenzi & DJ Zozi - Planet Euphorique

[caveartfair]

At 84, Sheila Hicks Is Still Making Defiant, Honest Art

Portrait of Sheila Hicks with her installation from “Foray into Chromatic Zones,” London, 2015. Courtesy of PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo.

Over a cup of tea at Sarabeth’s on the Upper East Side, Sheila Hicks wanted to talk about her scarf. We met on the occasion of new exhibitions dedicated to the 84-year-old textile artist, but Hicks wasn’t keen on discussing the particulars of her artistic process nor the details of her biography—she’d done so, at great length, for the Archives of American Art. Though she’s esteemed for her innovative, thread-based oeuvre, she dodged questions about it.

Hicks’s practice isn’t just about creating objects and installations, but about living a life centered around making. She’s unyielding in her ethics—enduring art and meaningful experiences derive from a conscientious, curious, and ongoing engagement with the material world.

“I’m working very hard to make things that are dignified but joyful.”

When I asked about the light pink and gold fabric draped around her neck, Hicks spoke openly. The scarf’s maker is “a woman who’s called Chiaki Maki,” she told me, “who’s Japanese but lives and works a lot in India.” Maki was an instructor at the Manufacturing and Design Academy of South Africa (Madesa), the school Hicks directed in Cape Town in 2000, by invitation from UNESCO. There, a group of international artists taught locals the necessary skills to make objects they could sell to gain financial independence.

Hicks likes to surround herself with makers like Maki who are “interested in handmade things or…in culture.” Throughout our conversation, Hicks returned to this idea of “culture.” For her, the word connotes a sensibility, regardless of education level, that values awareness and honesty. “Everywhere I go, everybody I know is like me,” she said, adding that such a sensibility is not unusual, but natural, basic. “And the people who don’t get it are somehow disconnected,” she added.

Installation view of Sheila Hicks, Escalade Beyond Chromatic Lands, 2016–17, at The Bass, 2019. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

Miami’s The Bass is currently exhibiting a small retrospective of Hicks’s work, entitled “Campo Abierto (Open Field),” which hints at the artist’s reverence for the handmade. Exhibited objects range from small-scale “minimes,” which she creates on a portable structure akin to a hand loom; to the massive installation Escalade Beyond Chromatic Lands (2016–2017), which Hicks debuted at the 2017 Venice Biennale. Though I didn’t see the original presentation, The Bass’s iteration was one of the most beautiful, impressive artworks I’ve recently seen.

Installation view of “Sheila Hicks: Campo Abierto (Open Field),” at The Bass, 2019. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

Sheila Hicks, Varmayana (The Place of Shining Light, 2018. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

Installation view of Sheila Hicks, Blue Gros Point, ca. 1990, and Questioning Column, 2016, at The Bass, 2019. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

Installation view of “Sheila Hicks: Campo Abierto (Open Field),” at The Bass, 2019. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

Installation view of “Sheila Hicks: Campo Abierto (Open Field),” at The Bass, 2019. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

Installation view of “Sheila Hicks: Campo Abierto (Open Field),” at The Bass, 2019. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

At The Bass, the viewer approaches Escalade Beyond Chromatic Lands between two hanging red tapestries; they add a sense of drama, like the scarlet curtains that rise before a theatrical show. Beyond the tapestries, the viewer finds a cascade of colors: marigold at the center, with forest green and orange to the side, dotted with cranberry. Below, cyan and ultramarine spill onto the floor, enhancing the sense of dimensional, unrestrained hues. The piece resembles a giant, overflowing painting—made from supple globes of fabric instead of daubs of oil.

Hicks began her career as a painter—and you can see that in her practice. She translates elements of abstraction, color theory, and painterly gesture into thread, where they perhaps originated. Weavers were making non-representational compositions long before Wassily Kandinsky or Hilma af Klint.

Sheila Hicks with painting at Yale Art School, 1958. Photo by Ernest Boyer.

Hicks’s own experimentations with textiles began while she was studying as an undergraduate at Yale under Josef Albers in the mid-1950s. The famed instructor and Bauhaus member taught her about lettering, basic design, structural organization, and color. And when he saw her working with thread, Albers invited Hicks to his home to meet his wife, the prominent artist and textile master Anni Albers. In Hicks’s version of the story, she enjoyed an epiphany only after she’d left the Albers home and was standing by a bus stop: She realized she could unite Anni’s emphasis on structure with Josef’s principles on color, as she developed her own visual language.

Three other major personalities also inspired Hicks at Yale: art historian George Kubler (an expert on pre-Columbian art); art and architecture historian and critic Vincent Scully; and architect Louis Kahn. “When you go to an art school where the art and architecture and art history departments are all together in the same building, you’re lucky,” Hicks told me. Architecture courses, she noted, help with “raising your consciousness.”

Sheila Hicks, Menhir, 1998–2004. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

Sheila Hicks organizes an exhibition of tapestries and textile sculptures at the Stedelijk Museum, 1974. Courtesy of the National Archives of the Netherlands.

After finishing her BFA at Yale and before starting the MFA program there, Hicks went to South America on a Fulbright scholarship. After investigating ancient Andean weaving techniques in Chile, she traveled around the continent. She moved to Mexico after finishing her MFA and eventually situated herself among architects: the prominent practitioners Mathias Goeritz and Luis Barragán. “I like the way architects work,” she told me. “They share, brainstorm together.” She now runs her Paris studio in a similar way, she added.

Goeritz helped Hicks land her first teaching position, at the Universidad Autonoma in Mexico City. There, she instructed architecture students on design and color. Meanwhile, she was also caring for her new baby—a daughter named Itaka—and maintaining a home with her husband, a beekeeper named Henrik Tati Schlubach.

Sheila Hicks learning to knot with Rufino Reyes, Mitla, Oaxaca, México, 1961. Photo by Faith Stern.

Living on a Mexican ranch proved to be a life too small for Hicks’s global ambitions. In 1964, she moved permanently to Paris and took Itaka with her. Within two years, she was remarried to a painter, with whom she had a son—Cristobal Zañartu—and a stepdaughter.

The manufacturing company Knoll became one of Hicks’s first major clients. In 1966, their collaboration produced Inca, a nubby fabric inspired by Andean textiles. A German carpet manufacturer and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) quickly followed. The resulting piece, Grand Hieroglyph (1968), is a wall-sized, cream-colored grid that intermingles blocks of horizontally and vertically threaded fiber and wool with blocks of short weave. Hicks’s titles are always informational. Reading this one, the viewer begins to consider the blocks of fiber as a kind of pictorial language and see the piece not as a decoration, but as a complex story about making.

Swatches of Inca designed by Sheila Hicks for Knoll in 1964. Image courtesy of the Knoll Archive.

Another prominent architectural commission came from the Ford Foundation. Hicks created two wall-sized tapestries of intricately-threaded gold discs. She was thinking of beehives and the Foundation’s similarly buzzing, collective spirit. Hicks also made pieces for the Eero Saarinen-designed CBS headquarters, the TWA terminal, and Mexico City’s Camino Real Hotel, designed by architect Ricardo Legoretta.

While such site-specific commissions helped promote Hicks’s artistic profile on a grand scale, some proved to be vulnerable to the whims of designers and developers. As the TWA terminal evolved (it’s now a hotel), Hicks’s work was torn out. A similar fate befell a piece she made in Dallas, Hicks said, for a building designed by Gordon Bunshaft while he worked for Skidmore Owens and Merrill. The piece consisted of four-sided, salvaged, hand-woven wool bands. After it was ripped out of its original setting, the bands were sent back to Hicks’s Paris studio.

“The idea of its monumentality is to envelop you. You’re not thinking about the grains of the sugar—you’re in a huge lemon meringue pie.”

For a forthcoming exhibition at the city’s Nasher Sculpture Center, the artist will once again mount the piece, but in a new configuration. “They’re coming back to roost in Dallas,” Hicks told me. “They were disinherited from the real habitat they were made for, and they’ve been upgraded into the museum.” She describes art as a natural part of a living, architectural ecosystem.

While these large-scale projects are particularly visible, Hicks doesn’t necessarily view them as the core of her practice. At times, she noted, no one’s even bothered to contact her when they remove her work from a building—they don’t consult her or ask if she’d like the piece back. In this way, her smaller works tend to be more lasting. She doesn’t need a commission, or a site, to inspire her.

“I work every day,” she said. Hicks referred to her current show at the New York design gallery Demisch Danant, up through June 8, as a collection of “just things I’m making.” Upon seeing the works, I can say that this is an understatement. These “minimes,” offer a record of incessant making and exploration, weaving together threads, found objects, and materials such as petrified wood, raw silk, razor clam shells, and bits of copper.

Sheila Hicks, My Two Friends, 2010. Photo by Daniel Kukla. Courtesy of Demisch Danant.

Sheila Hicks, Torsade II, 2011. Photo by Daniel Kukla. Courtesy of Demisch Danant.

The vibrant, seemingly spontaneous compositions reveal a more intimate, diaristic side of Hicks’s practice. Torsade II (2011), made from twisted paper torn from a magazine, has a wanderlust-inducing description: “Made on train to Beauvais.” Tagore Taeko (2010), described simply as “Made in Paris,” integrates goat hair with raw silk. Fenêtres Moss Saffron (1970), also made in Paris, at “Passage Dauphine,” resembles two rectangular woven pot holders in vivid green hues. Cukulcan (2018), in contrast, created while “Remembering Chile,” features a complex backdrop of red and purple threads, woven more tightly in some sections than others. Two lime green forms arise from the foreground, like protruding hills in an abstracted landscape.

Sheila Hicks, Cukulcan, 2018. Photo by Daniel Kukla. Courtesy of Demisch Danant.

Sheila Hicks, Fenêtres Moss Saffron, 1970. Photo by Daniel Kukla. Courtesy of Demisch Danant.

Hicks’s concern for her works’ longevity also has to do with a recent interest in biodegradable materials. She believes that, increasingly, makers are considering what they’re leaving behind. She later explained that she’d like to know that if her work disappears one day, that “at least the impression and the memory is strong.” She added, “I’m working very hard to make things that are dignified but joyful.”

Given this, I was surprised to hear Hicks say, during a talk at The Bass, that she doesn’t always sign her work. When I asked her why, she argued with the question. “I said I don’t sign my work. It’s not that I don’t want to sign my work. It’s very different,” she explained. She believes that signing can efface an artwork.

Installation view of “Sheila Hicks: Campo Abierto (Open Field),” at The Bass, 2019. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

Architects don’t sign buildings either, she continued, though quickly added that in France, they do. “Remember the plaques on the walls as you go down the street… sort of like a pedigree or monogram on a building?... We don’t do that around here,” she mused. In the U.S., Hicks noted, buildings aren’t made to last as long as they are in Europe. She lamented the fire at Notre Dame, and wondered how they’ll ever replace the structure—the wood used, during the cathedral’s original construction, derived from the sort of trees that we no longer have access to. Such concerns about legacy and destruction are, perhaps, natural for an artist in her mid-eighties.

Hicks thrives in the competitive contemporary art world, even as she promotes cultural elements that can feel conservative.

The thread of contrarianism that runs through Hicks’s conversation runs through her artwork—or, at least, her conception of her artwork—as well. She’s interested in architecture and design, but she’s neither an architect nor a designer: She’s an artist. She’s deeply invested in the act of making itself, but she’s coy about how she actually constructs her pieces. When I asked about the making of Escalade Beyond Chromatic Lands, the large-scale work now on view at The Bass, I got the Socratic method—teaching by asking questions.

Installation view of Sheila Hicks, Blue Gros Point, ca. 1990, and Questioning Column, 2016, at The Bass, 2019. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

Installation view of “Sheila Hicks: Campo Abierto (Open Field),” at The Bass, 2019. Photo by Zachary Balber. Courtesy of The Bass, Miami Beach.

I asked Hicks about what I’d read were referred to as “yarn balls,” the individual, spherical blocks of color that form much of the piece.

“I’m going to be a little provocative,” she responded. “You’ll excuse me if I sound funny but it’s like looking at a drawing and asking me what kind of pencil I use. Looking at a drawing, you want to know if I use a 4H or a 2 whatever, what kind of pencil or pen I’m using or what kind of paper?”

I asked again, “If you don’t call them yarn balls, how do you refer to each individual sphere?”

Hicks seemed offended, perhaps, that her work had even been written about in this way. “I’ll give it back to you, okay?” she said. “When you write poetry, how many periods do you use?”

I eventually gave in “So, you don’t like to talk about how your things are made.”

Installation view of Sheila Hicks, Escalade Beyond Chromatic Lands, 2016–17, at Biennale di Venezia, Venice, Italy, 2017. Photo by Andrea Avezzù. Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia.

In response, she told me that Escalade Beyond Chromatic Lands “is not a construction of yarn balls. It’s a creation of an environment…Did you walk in and hear acoustically, how it changed when you approached it?” she asked. “Sight, tactility, acoustical, sensuality, abundance. There are light and shadows, all the time changing…The idea of its monumentality is to envelop you so…you’re not thinking about the grains of the sugar. You’re into a very big meringue, like a huge lemon meringue pie.” It was profound, if indirect.

I was surprised at Hicks’s own hedging, and her edge, given my own experience of her truly joyful work. Her art relishes in sumptuous, unequivocal beauty; her keen sense of color, and her works’ rich texture, are timeless. Looking around The Bass, not a single piece seemed outdated, or even of a different era. By transcending fleeting art fads, and removing herself from a New York art world fixated on speed and the next big thing, Hicks thrives in the competitive contemporary art world, even as she promotes cultural elements that can feel conservative.

Portrait of Sheila Hicks in front of Escalade Beyond Chromatic Lands (2016-2017), “Campo Abierto (Open Field)” at The Bass Museum of Art, 2019. Photo by mudita.

“Do you cook?” she asked me.

“No,” I said.

“Do you garden?”

“No.”

“Do you sew?”

“No.” I blushed, unsure how to justify myself and suddenly reconsidering my life choices.

“Well, you see,” Hicks said, “all that’s gone.” And with those three simple questions, she appeared satisfied.According to Hicks, living an honest, mindful life requires a devotion to making; and by deprioritizing such “slow” skills, we lose opportunities for richness and beauty.

from Artsy News

[parsim0ny]

Match Thread: Cerro Porteño vs Atlético-MG [Copa Libertadores]

HT: Cerro Porteño 4-1 Atlético-MG

Cerro Porteño scorers: Marcos Rojas (31'), Federico Carrizo (34'), Victor Cáceres (36'), Joaquin Larrivey (44')

Atlético-MG scorers: Ricardo Oliveira (19')

Venue: Estadio General Pablo Rojas

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Cerro Porteño

Rodrigo Muñoz, Fernando Amorebieta, Marcos Cáceres, Marcos Rojas, Juan Carlos Escobar, Juan Aguilar, Victor Cáceres, Federico Carrizo, Mathias Villasanti, Joaquin Larrivey, Nelson Valdez.

Subs: Jorge Benítez, Julio dos Santos, Juan Carrizo, Diego Churín, Alberto Espínola, Juan Saiz Ortegón, Hernán Novick, Óscar Ruiz, Marcelino Namandu.

____________________________

Atlético-MG

Victor, Igor Rabello, Leonardo Silva, Fábio Santos, Guga, Juan Cazares, Adílson, Elias, Ricardo Oliveira, Maicon Marques, Luan.

Subs: Patric, Vinicius, Jair, Yimmi Chará, José Welison, David Terans, Iago Maidana, Cleiton, Nathan, Alerrando, Hulk.

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*Don't see a thread for a match you're watching? Click here to learn how to request a match thread from this bot.

MATCH EVENTS | via ESPNFC

19' Goal! Cerro Porteño 0, Atlético Mineiro 1. Ricardo Oliveira (Atlético Mineiro) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luan.

31' Goal! Cerro Porteño 1, Atlético Mineiro 1. Marcos Acosta (Cerro Porteño) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the centre of the goal.

34' Goal! Cerro Porteño 2, Atlético Mineiro 1. Federico Carrizo (Cerro Porteño) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mathias Villasanti.

36' Goal! Cerro Porteño 3, Atlético Mineiro 1. Víctor Cáceres (Cerro Porteño) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal.

44' Goal! Cerro Porteño 4, Atlético Mineiro 1. Joaquín Larrivey (Cerro Porteño) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcos Acosta.

submitted by /u/LiveCommentator [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/futebol/comments/bbsqws/match_thread_cerro_porteño_vs_atléticomg_copa/

[brkwingss]

for: matty ( @intxication ) location: the church

Life had a way with taking the reins and exhausting him too much to muster up the energy. But Ric felt like he was slipping again. He had no reason to feel like this, yet he felt his mind was taking ten steps back these days and he could feel the self-hate begin to slowly bubble up again, and the sleepless night had already begun. Seeing Jude at the block party was nice because not only had it been one of his good days, just seeing the man brought a comfort to his soul. Which is what brought him back to church. That and he didn't know where else to turn at the moment. So, needless to say, Ricardo was more than thankful for Jude to let him stay here for a couple of days.

This was a place he could come be the most vulnerable without judgement or need to explain himself. As he entered the church, he immediately bows his head in a little prayer before moving to sit in one of the church pews towards the middle section. He sits for a moment, not praying, not thinking, just sitting and enjoying the peaceful silence that filled the church. He didn't know where Jude was right now, but he suspected around doing some sort of work. Ricardo mentally told himself that he needed to fix a couple of lights that were flickering something awful.

Who knew how long he had been sitting, by this point his face was shoved in the palm of his hands, fingers entangled in his hair, but his peaceful silence was interrupted when he heard what sounded like someone taking a seat in another section of the church. He wasn't going to look over, because it wasn't his business who had showed up, but curiosity always got the better of him. Lifting his face, Ricardo turns in the direction he heard movement from. Matty. For a moment, his brown eyes, warm, tired as they were, just looked at the other and a small sigh came from him. Then, he turns away, he turns his attention to his hands instead. Was he supposed to keep his guard up even in the house of God? He knew the answer to that question.

He should get up and walk out right now. He should. But, rather, after a moment, Ricardo gets up and makes his way to slide into the same section Matty was sitting and sits next to the other. Not too close, enough to give them both some personal space. "Hi, Matty." He met him as Matty, so that's what he'd call him. "I have to admit," his gaze is focused ahead, not really looking at anything in particular, "I'm a bit bummed I haven't gotten any wrench signals. I picked out a nice cape just for you."

[brkwingss]

There was something in their conversation that was gnawing at Ricardo, but he couldn't put his finger on it. It almost felt like they were saying goodbye to one another, even if they weren't, and he wasn't too sure what to make of this feeling he was currently trying to process. He was happy that Mathias trusted him enough to tell him the things he wanted kept safe in case something was to happen to him, but it was a bittersweet type of happiness. Still, he was comforted in knowing that he was helping a friend.

"I'd give my life for him," he replies, truthfully. For a moment, Ricardo lets silence fall between them. It wasn't uncomfortable silence, if anything the moment of it kind of relaxed him a little more. Like Mathias, Ricardo also glanced over to the church. He knew there would come a day in which the church would no longer be a safe haven, for their friendship, for them, he just didn't know how close that day was. Then, he remembered something. "If there ever comes a time in which we can no longer meet safely at the church, I want you to remember this name and number." He proceeds to give Mathias the name of a random motel and a room number. "Sometimes I go there when I don't want to be found. Father Jude doesn't even know about it."

Father Jude. He looks to Mathias, "If you ever want to talk about anything, Matty, I can promise you it would always stay between us. I'm always happy to listen. I know what it's like to care that much for someone and have to do so in scenery. Personally, it made me want to scream a lot of the time. While I was happy I could care so much about someone, I was also mostly frustrated I didn't have anyone to talk to about it. I can also understand your hesitation in talking to me about certain things. Either way, I just want you to know that I'm always willing to help you in any way I can. Even if it is just listening."

This was the closest thing Mathias had to making a will. He didn't own much, as he wasn't very materialistic, but he wanted to make sure his pets would be taken care of. Everything else could go to waste, he didn't care. Or maybe he'd give his money to people he felt could use it better than he did. Whatever he did, he was just happy that Ric was there to take care of some of them.

It was exhausting to say the least. While Mathias did a good job of always being happy around Jude, and telling him not to worry, Mathias often worried a lot. What he was doing was dangerous, and Jude could easily be used as collateral damage against him. That was something Mathias wanted to fight hard to prevent. He nodded his head at Ricardo, "Thank you. That's truly all I want if something were to happen to me. Just keep him safe".

He glanced over at the church building, wondering how long it would realistically be until it was no longer a sanctuary. With the amount of potential gang members that walked through it's doors, it had to be only a matter of time. "Jude is safe with me, I promise. I don't ever want to hurt him".

[brkwingss]

"I'll have to give you that, Matty. You're right. Sometimes it really is just a gesture that could do more saving than anything else."

Ric takes the phone back and gives the other's a ring, so he had his number now too. Hearing Matty's comment about sweets made him smile. "I really like sweets too. I'm a sucker for a good brownie. Also, Rocky Road is my favorite ice cream. Chocolate ice cream, marshmallows, nuts, and sometimes, brownie bites all mixed into one thing? I don't need anything else." He chuckled, then randomly asked, "what's your favorite type of ice cream?" And he can't help but smile at the compliment, for once, Ricardo didn't find a reason to deflect it, "I appreciate that, Matty. You're pretty sweet too."

Now in the cafe, he brings a hand up, Ricardo politely waves off the other's offer to pay. "Nah, don't worry about it. I am absolutely sure." It was simply the kind of person Ricardo was, very generous and kindhearted. "Ohh. Those are both great choices. I might just do the same," he comments, offering a friendly smile to the other. As Matty goes off to find them a table, Ricardo goes ahead and places their order and even goes ahead to pay it forward for the next person. Once he's got their stuff Ric makes his way to where Matty was sitting, coming over with a bright smile on his face. "Good news! They do have pup cups. Also, I ended up with a brown sugar shaken espresso with oat milk. I don't even know how the heck that happened. I usually just order a plain black, but well." He chuckled, carefully placing the food and drinks on the table.

There are two small cups full of whip cream on the tray and Ricardo takes one to place down in front of Teddy to have. As Teddy enjoys his treat, he returns his attention to his coffee and croissant. "So, random question, if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you go? I mean like different timeline and everything. You could be with the dinosaurs if you so wished."

"I wouldn't say that. Sometimes just the gesture of saving someone is more than enough, regardless if you get caught on a flagpole".

Meeting people was something Mathias worked really hard on. He didn't have the physically imposing nature that some had, so he had to get really creative in order to do his job. That mean being friendly, seeming harmless, and finding his way into the lives of people. When he was like this, he didn't seem antisocial at all. "I think so" He took the other's phone then input his number into it before handing it back.

"I really like sweets actually. I've been told I have a sweet tooth". He really couldn't say no to desserts, and usually kept a good stock of them at home. "I do think you're really sweet too".

He had no issue paying, and he was surprised at how easily Ric offered to cover his bill. How nice. How weird. "A-Are you sure? I can pay, it's no issue". Mathias looked up at the menu again, seeing that they did have his favorite drink and snack. "Uh, a chai latte and almond croissant. Thanks". He smiled at the other, before going to search for an empty table. He found one, and pulled out the chairs for them.

[brkwingss]

Ricardo wanted to believe that if they played their cards right there would never have to be a time in which the two were forced against each other. He wanted to believe that, but he also knew that it was only a matter of time before that inevitable fear probably became a reality. In such a situation he would suggest a truce and they both shoot the other in a non-vital spot before departing, something to make it look like he at least tried.

It was comforting to hear Mathias say he'd watch over Teddy if the dog had been his originally, now he knew he could die in peace. He smiles, "Thank you, Matty." His attention then goes to the kitten on his chest, nodding when the other told him the name, "Hewige. I should've brought a notepad to jot this all down." Ricardo chuckles, before shifting to lay on his back. Hewige curled up on his chest, Ric listens to his friend speak. When Jude is mentioned, it didn't really seem odd to him. It made sense as there were some things that Jude believed in that Ricardo didn't full heartedly believe in, but he accepted simply because the man did too. If naming strays after saints that I don't believe in allows me to bathed in his happiness, then so be it. It was these words, and the ones that followed, that caused his eyebrows to furrow a bit while he listened to Mathias.

His life would be ruined. At this, making sure he cupped the kitten on his chest in his hands, Ric careful sits up. Little tiny wires began to connect in his head, as if connecting dots. "Mathias," he says, "I promise I won't tell him what you've said to me, anyone for that matter. If anything, I'll do whatever it takes to ensure that happiness remains protected. In a world outside of these walls, where our worlds are different, for various reasons, let's bring it together over this one thing. No matter what happens, we protect Jude at all costs. I'll keep him as far from any gang stuff as I possibly can, that much you can rest assured of."

They were enemies, that's what they were supposed to be. The Brotherhood had it out for Mathias, and he also wished to do them harm. It was a shame that Ric was aligned with them. Mathias wanted to believe that there wouldn't be any hesitation on his part if he had to take Ricardo down, but he knew that wasn't true. Having a friend was rare for him, and he really didn't want to lose the only one he had.

There was some trust there too, because really how bad could he be? Ricardo seemed sweet, like something that didn't quite belong in the dark and craziness of crime. It was why he had no issue with asking Ricardo to watch after the strays. It wouldn't be fair if their care diminished because something happened to Mathias. They were innocent, he was not. He scooped up one of the cats, this one was named Basil, and let it play in his lap. "I will watch Teddy if something happens to you". He couldn't bring himself to say that nothing would happen to Ricardo, it was too foolish for him to say. Anything could happen to them at any given moment. "I will care for him like my own pets".

The naming of the cats had been purposeful. He would run to Jude whenever there was a new one without a name, and ask the priest for help. It did often lead to him getting a lesson about the saint the cat was named after. While Mathias held no real interest in learning, Jude seemed to enjoy it so he never stopped it. He spotted the cat making it's way into Ric's lap and he smiled, "That's Hewige". He stared up at the sky as well, finding comfort in just sitting on the ground and playing with cats. There was no obligation, no rivalry, just peace. "No, I don't believe in them at all" He answered.

Mathias was tempted to leave it at that, but he felt the need to elaborate. "But Jude believes in them, and that's more than enough for me". He pet the cat in his lap, staring down at it and smiling, "His opinion...his happiness, they mean a lot to me. Do you understand that, Ric? If naming strays after saints that I don't believe in allows me to bathed in his happiness, then so be it. Because I believe in him, and no saint or god could ever rival him for me". He glanced over to his friend now, "You cannot tell him I said that, do you understand? His life would be ruined...But I trust you, which is why I told you...but you cannot tell him".

[brkwingss]

"Matty, nobody wants to be saved by the guy who gets caught on a flag pole." He laughs, playfully adding, "I'll wear a cape for you though."

"Everybody has a story to tell, Matty. All are different and each one is interesting when you really sit and listen to people. That's really I like to meet new people, I like to live adventures through their eyes and their tales." Probably one of his biggest downfalls, while also being a strength, was his ability to strike up a conversation with just about anyone that came his way and find a ground that allowed some connection between them. If only Ricardo knew how to sense danger like when it was standing right beside him, walking their dog. "Exchanging numbers would probably be easier than a signal, hm? Just text me a wrench emoji whenever you need me." He chuckles, retrieving his phone from his pocket and handing it over for Matty to put his number in.

"Oh. Eh. People can be cruel, but it doesn't mean I have to be. I've been told I can be a bit too sweet, so I hope you enjoy sweets." For some reason, it was easy for Ricardo to relax and be a bit playful around Matty. It wasn't a common thing with most strangers he met, but a select few did manage to slip through, some brought his walls down easier than others. Matty was one of those people.

Ric grinned widely, looking over from the menu to Matty. "Fuck it. Let's go explore this cafe, Matty. I'll buy this time, since it was my idea to hijack your walk and get Frog hooked on pup cups." They enter the shop, the delicious scents of freshly brewed coffee, baked goods, and food greeted them instantly. "What's your coffee order? Are you hungry? I can go ahead and order for us if you want to go pick the perfect spot to sit at."

"There's always dangers when it comes to looking cool though. That's what makes it so cool".

Mathias nodded his head, "Meeting new people does sound thrilling when you put it that way". Hearing that he lived in Queens sent up a small red flag. That was a place Mathias just couldn't go to right now. His crime was still fresh in that territory and Mathias would be dumb to go over there. "If I'm ever in that part of the city, I'll definitely throw up the signal for you. Or if you'd like, we can exchange numbers?"

He tilted his head to the side, "Huh?" Mathias had to take a moment to catch his brain up. "Oh no...no it's okay. I'm just not uh...used to people being that nice. I didn't mean to worry you about me". The comment of being a devil hiding in plain sight made Mathias grin. It was something that he knew well. He also hid his devilish soul from the world.

The cafe came into view and Mathias looked at the menu. "I think so. Or it's just a weird name for a human drink. Wanna try anyways?"

[brkwingss]

"I've seen plenty of movies in which capes turn out bad for the hero, tangled in airplane engines, birds smacking into it, getting caught on flag poles sometimes if it's too windy. So maybe not cape, but yes to everything else," Ric laughed.

"Yes, familiarity seems to be something most people like to stick with. I guess it's a sense of comfort type of thing for most, and nobody likes to be lost in unfamiliar places. Personally, I think it can be very fun. You meet some of the coolest people that way, and sometimes find some of the best spots hidden away." He pauses, grinning a bit, "I mean, hey, if you're ever in Queens just throw another wrench signal up and I'll come find you. I'll show you some places around there that are hidden gems. I'll come visit SoHo again in a month or two, give you some time to get used to it, and I'll throw up like a...I don't know....a signal of a frog and that's your cue to come find me and you show me the gems you know in your neck of the woods."

They continue on their little walk; Ric keeps on listening to Matty speak. He grins at the comment of his pup being active, nodding in agreement because Teddy was also very active. "Oh, I understand that. Teddy is at times more active than I am. Sometimes I feel bad for my roommate when Teddy gets the zoomies." Ric notices the way Matty rubs the back of his neck which suddenly has him in a small panic, it wasn't that hard to make Ricardo's anxiety rise as it was, and he felt a bit bad because he thinks he made the other uncomfortable. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make things weird. You okay?" He offers a little grin, "I wouldn't let you drown, my guy. But I can understand your concern. You never know who to trust. These days someone could be showing you one pretty face but hiding a rather devilish soul beneath it."

He comes to a stop when they arrive at the cafe, looking at the chalk style menu board that displayed drinks and some light food options. "Do you see pup cup on here?"

"Wrench signal?" Mathias laughed, "Okay I'll be sure to do that. Do you come in with a cape and tights too? Or is that every other day?"

Mathias stopped walking when the other did. He did find it interesting how there was so much he still hadn't seen in the city yet either. Perhaps that was why people were drawn to New York. There was always something new to find. "It's kinda easy to just stick to what you know, I guess. I don't really venture into places that much either. I think it's just cause I get a little uncomfortable in places I'm not familiar with". That and there were territory lines he shouldn't cross.

He smiled down at Frog, thinking about how nice it would be to go on a little vacation. Mathias liked nature, he wished he lived closer to it somedays. "I'm sure Frog would like that too, he's a very active pup". The kindness of strangers was always something he had to get used to. There was always a voice in the back of his head that told him not to trust what they said. Mathias rubbed the back of his neck at the offer, "Well maybe one day...but I probably shouldn't. I can't swim, so I think putting myself on a boat is a bad idea".

[brkwingss]

Ricardo walks over to grab one of the bags of food, "I'd be happy to help, Matty." He goes up to one of the empty bowls, carefully filling it with the dry cat food. Not wanting to over pour the food, Ric glances over in Mathias's direction, he waits to see if the other will stop him or not. Then he moves on to another empty bowl and fills it with the same amount as the first one. Just as Mathias had said, the cats slowly came out at the sound of the kibble hitting their little dishes.

Little by little they filled the empty dishes. He carefully places the bag with what's left back over in front of the shed, "I don't want to invade your shed by just walking in there, so I'm going to put it here for now."

Then, Ricardo makes his way back to Matty’s side. Ric watched as each elder cat, teen cat, and kitten filled their empty bellies and quenched their thirst. If only it could be this easy with actual people in need. He smiles, “Matty,” his attention turns to look at his friend, “you’re a good person, you know that? I know it’s easier to hear than to actually feel that, but it’s the truth. No monster would do what you do for these little guys, let alone help tend to the garden here. I’m sorry for the way the world treats you.” He looks to a kitten that had made its way over to them and kneels down to let it sniff his hand. “What’s this one’s name?”

"Yeah, there's kittens". Mathias would accept any help with the garden and the cats, because it was slowly becoming a bit too much for him to handle on his own. "I'm sure Teddy will get over it. My pets do".

He lead Ric out to the side of the church where the small garden and cat shelter was. He had spent a whole weekend making a little hut for all of them so they could stay warm during the colder nights. There was a small locked shed where Mathias kept his gardening tools and cat supplies as well.

He went to unlock the shed and pulled out two bags of food. "There's bowls around that need to be refilled, can you help? Then we can play with the cats, they usually come out when there's food".

[brkwingss]

It was in his nature to offer help in any way he could, even when it came to someone he had just met at the most thirty minutes ago by this point. "Thanks, man. Well, I mean, if you ever need help with any car issues just throw the wrench signal in the sky. I'll make sure to make some dramatic entrance like Batman, but I'm not wearing a cape."

He nods along with every other thing Matty is saying, attentively listening to his every word. "Isn't it crazy how you can be somewhere for such a long time, yet still not know it at all? I've been living in New York since I was a kid, and yet up until today, I had never truly ventured outside of Queens. And even now, I still think I have so much of Queens to explore." Teddy pauses to have a drink out of one of the pet water bowels placed outside of a local restaurant, causing Ricardo to momentarily pause their walk.

He grins when Matty mentions loving nature, always happy to meet a fellow nature lover. "I know life can become a bit hectic, but definitely make some time to go visit upstate New York. It's beautiful. Sometimes I take Teddy with me on hikes." Speaking of Teddy, he begins leading the way again. A cafe in the distance, it appeared maybe they'd have their pup cups soon. If they sold those there. His grin widened at the sailboat question, eyes twinkling with happiness, going sailing was one of his favorite things to do and talk about. " I feel like it's one of the best feelings, especially at night. It almost feels like I am not on earth when it's just me amongst the stars and ocean. As if I somehow teleported to a dimension of an in-between, and it really makes you appreciate the beauty of the world around us out there." He looks over to Matty as they walk, "Would you ever be interested in going on one?"

"That's a handy skill to have. I know next to nothing about cars, so I'm a bit jealous that you know stuff". In the world they lived in it was impossible to take someone's word for face value. Whether they held back secrets to keep themselves and others safe, or they did it in order to keep people in the dark. Mathias was no stranger to fabricating a life he didn't have.

"I moved here when I was twenty, so it's been a little over ten years now" he answered. Mathias dragged himself into the city with nothing to his name and on the run from the law. It was odd to think he had managed to establish himself as quickly as he did. He smiled big and nodded his head, "Oh I am, I really like nature. I walk around Central Park as much as I can. But I've always wanted to visit upstate New York, where all the trees and mountains are. What's it like on a sail boat?".

[brkwingss]

He smiles because that's something he was sure Jude would've said. Ricardo didn't understand how the man had so much patience, but it was one of the many things that made him so wonderful. Ric nods, "I appreciate that, Matty."

Mathias could've probably answered in any way he wanted, or kept silent, and Ricardo wouldn't really have questioned it. It was the guy looking down that struck his curiosity, furrowing his brows a bit. Part of him wanted to question it. However, he didn't, instead he let it go. If there was something to tell then it was for Mathias to decided when that moment would come, if it ever would. Either way, Ricardo knew it was none of his business to pry in Mathias's life. He also didn't want the other to grow suspicious of him in any way because he was genuinely trying to be friends with him.

"There's kittens? Oh, my heart. I'm never going to want to leave," he laughs. His laughter dies down a bit when Mathias offers his hand, warmly smiling, Ric reaches to take it. "Let's go forget the world for a moment and pet cats." He chuckles, "I can tell you that Teddy is going to have some words for you next time he sees you when I come home smelling like cats, just fair warning."

"I don't think he'll see it as a bother" Mathias said. Jude was always welcoming, even if it seemed inconvenient. He was warm to everyone he came past. Mathias didn't know how he didn't get exhausted from that. "I'll be sure to tell him you stopped by".

Hearing Ric's words made him take pause. Yes, Jude was a good man and Mathias wasn't going to let him go anytime soon. He just couldn't say that. He was supposed to be some volunteer, not important to someone as notable as Jude. It was hard to act like they were just acquaintances. "Uh...Yeah, I'll do that" He said as he looked down. He didn't trust his eyes to not give away what was really going on between them.

"Oh yes I do, we can go tend to them. There's some young ones that like to play. You can come help me with them". Mathias stood up and offered his hand to Ricardo, "It'll be fun".