Death makes a place where there was none.
Tony Turner’s ghost bike is a constant reminder of death. The white paint on the bike that resembles a memorial, the absent look in Tony’s eyes as he stares off into the distance on the large photograph that’s attached to the bike, and the quiet and almost eerie ambiance in the neighborhood, all makes it almost impossible to not think about death.
Even though Tony Turner’s ghost bike marks a spot that has witnessed death, it is also a place full of life. A small yellow flower has emerged from the surroundings of leafless, dead-looking trees. This flower, among other things, such as mushrooms, lives in the same space as these bare trees. This environment highlights the dichotomy between the living and the dead. Is it disrespectful for life to move on at this kind of setting that is meant to honor a persons’ life? Or will this area always represent death? Or can it represent both at once?
As we walked around the neighborhood, we saw a teenage boy walk to the mailbox of the house closest to the bike. I watched him, but suddenly felt too nervous to call out to him, feeling as if I was a deer caught in headlights. Parker tried to talk to this boy, but he did not turn back, either ignoring us or not having heard us. This was the first time that we had seen someone who lived in this area, and it changed the environment. Was this still a place for death? Is there a place for death where people live?
While we had observed the ghost bike, we had been so focused on death, making it easy to forget that people still resided in this community. The yellow flower and this boy reminded us that life goes on, even in area that is filled with reminders of death.
While we had observed the ghost bike, we had been so focused on death, making it was easy to forget that people still resided in this community. The yellow flower and this boy reminded us that life goes on, even in area that is filled with reminders of death.