Diary 332
Sunday, February 14th
We took the first ‘day out’ that we’ve had for many weeks, and ventured as far as Lawrence, MA. Our Valentine’s destination was the Canal Street Antiques mall, billed as 40,000 feet of varied ‘stuff’ some of which would surely appeal to even the most jaded browser. For me the delight started as I looked at the huge former mill buildings, now converted into condos, small offices and well, antiques malls. Plaques announced dates such as 1868 to 1888, and one had to reflect that these long, large and rather fine structures were once crammed with noise, and with underpaid workers operating a variety of machines devoid of any safeguards.
Mass MOCA is, of course, a similar series of buildings now converted to a wonderful and inspiring art space. Lawrence is not quite in that category, yet. Instead the tables, chairs, sideboards, stuffed deer heads, cups and saucers in all sizes, button hooks, cameras and old vinyl LPs presented an ad hoc museum of domestic detritus from about 1950 onwards. We were fascinated.
