On a late summer day with temperatures predicted to hit triple digits, Fern sets off on a mission to visit Queens. Resting Stitch Face NYC has existed for almost one year but has yet to post about NYC’s largest borough, so Fern boards the N train to Socrates Sculpture Park.

The first thing Fern learns about her assignment is that the subway stop nearest to the park is under construction, so she will need to get off at the next stop, about a mile away. One thing about the stitch faces: they don’t drive.

Ordinarily, one mile would not trouble Fern, but on this day she thinks she might actually die before she reaches the park. She feels like she can neither take a breath nor move her legs. As far as she can tell, there is no shade in Queens. The only thing keeping her going is that lying down on the steaming pavement is not a good option, and she can’t wait to get to the park, with its promise of greenery and river. Plus the info she found online mentioned a beach.

Fern first finds the “beach”: a patch of sizzling sand between the street and the East River.  Even on a day like this one, it does not appeal. Fern considers stopping for a photo, but decides against it. She just wants to get to that park.

There it is!

Built atop an abandoned landfill and illegal dumpsite by local artists, this park is a testament to community organization and commitment to urban improvement and reclamation.

Once in the park, Fern immediately locates some greenery, views of the river and of Manhattan, and large sculptures. What she really wants is a cold beverage or a shower, but lacking those she’s still greatly cheered up by the playful seating options provided by RRRolling Stones, one of the current exhibits, the components of which are 3-D printed of concrete.

They can be tilted and moved, and Fern finds some in the shade.

By the way, Fern wonders why the park is named for Socrates, since she’s willing to bet he never visited here. She learns from the website that it was so named as a nod to the Greek immigrant population in Astoria.

The website also points out: “There are no sculptural representations of Socrates the philosopher at the Park, and we do not provide information about Socrates on-site at the Park or on our website.”

Fern enjoys interacting with Virginia Overton’s exhibit, Built. 

She also likes that she can interact with the work in ways that other visitors probably can’t.

Fern relates to Overton’s work, with its emphasis on found materials.

She particularly likes this part of the write-up: “Situated in the changing, once-industrial waterfront neighborhood of Long Island City, the works shed their former functions without nostalgia. Instead, Overton’s works exhibit the vitality of creative reuse, the ingenuity of traditional forms of vernacular making, and an entwined admiration and wonder towards the physical and material world around us.”

She feels that this description could apply to her. The parts about shedding former functions, and creative reuse, but particularly the part about wonder towards the physical world. Specifically, she wonders how the physical world can possibly be this hot.

Fern likes the park well enough, but to be perfectly honest, she mostly wants to complete her mission and return to her air-conditioned apartment. And never leave it again.

She feels she has not been fair to this park, or to Queens as a whole. She promises herself she will return.

What’s this on her head? A rust stain?  Fern feels anointed. Anyway, the stain wipes off.

Fern is made from corduroy donated by Wendy M. Her top is also from material from Wendy. Her embroidered wrap skirt and matching undershorts are made from a pillow sham given to me by Elizabeth V. Her bracelet is made from an earring I found on the sidewalk, and her backpack is made from an eyeshade I was given on a recent flight.

It’s too darn hot
It’s too darn hot
It’s too darn hot
It’s too darn hot
It’s too darn hot

—Cole Porter