West 4th Court, also known as The Cage, is a basketball court located on 6th Avenue between West 3rd and West 4th Street. In general, three key actors, the court itself, players, and spectators participate into the scene. The Cage holds its value both in physical and spiritual ways. Physically, the court has a iron fence that naturally divides inside(rs) and outside(rs). Mentally, the culture of basketball, the community of players, personal skills, and even ways of walking and talking can decide whether someone belongs to this court.
(Boarder 1)
Though open to the public, The Cage is so competitive and unfriendly to play in, and thus has its own community, West 4th League. Annually in summer, a league founded by Kenny Graham would play semi-professional games here. On the very recent day I visited there, only three teenagers were playing and two were standing by and watching. 
The Cage was the first court I played on and first community I involved in when I came to New York City. Hence, this particular court does not only stand as the center of world basketball culture, but also means uniquely to me. Since the size of the court is smaller than the regular NBA courts, lines of The Cage are usually ignored while playing, which reinforces the competitive feeling. It was renovated a few years ago, but still looks old and rusty.
I would say the site remains the same day by day. Nevertheless, scenes in winter differ completely from those in summer.
(Boarder 2)
Three sound recordings:
- Afternoon, winter, inside the court.
2. Late afternoon, summer, inside the court.
3. Early evening, summer, outside the court across the street.
Interview:
Concept maps:
- Blind-fold: The bigger, the louder. The closer, the literally closer.
- Earplugs: What I see does not really matter, I am so familiar with the court that I can imagine every detail. All I see is LOVE.
