Every morning, when I open my email, it's set to a homepage that shows the headline news. This is not news I normally check into as it's almost never worth it. Every once in awhile, though, I see a headline that piques my curiosity and I click on it. This morning, an article about a beach community that has become derelict and is now returning to its natural state caught my eye. It's located on a barrier island off Connecticut.
I love that artists moved in to create art out of what was left behind, despite the trespassing involved. Perhaps that's the little anarchist in me. But, I also love art that is created out of found objects, ephemera, and such. What I love even more, is that it is becoming home, once again, to a variety of birds and other wildlife. When you read the article, you'll understand the progression that this place has been through and perhaps feel a sense of camaraderie with the artists who could not resist the impulse that brought them there, and find some joy in knowing a small piece of land is returning to the natural state for which it was always intended.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_nyobserver/shattered-idyll-brooklyn-artists-reclaim-for-a-moment-a-broken-connecticut-beach
With the advent of camcorders and cameras, no art has to be temporary. It can live on within the electronic media. Not the same as touching or veiwing the original but opens up some emotional feelings. It's like reading about a spiritual awakening as opposed to experiencing the full-blown happening yourself. Take dance, for instance. I used to think it was so temporary and the duende could only be felt when the dance was experienced live. But, if it can be captured on film, that moment can live on. I'm sure this artists communal has been captured on film, so in that sense, it's not really destroyed. A good early morning find, Teresa.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy how some artists can kindle our bond with nature. Our world needs much more of this restoration. Interesting article.
ReplyDeleteThere is something satisfying about seeing Nature recover from the insults of humanity upon our planet. I watched a TV series that explored how long it would take for all traces of us to be erased if we all suddenly disappeared. The series "Life After People" went to abandoned locations around the world showing how rapidly Mother Nature regained supremacy--and that is how it should be.
ReplyDeleteManzi, Good point. Wouldn't it be nice to see a documentary on this? It probably has been captured on film. I hope so.
ReplyDeletePaul, Thank you for reading and commenting. I like your phrase, "artists can kindle our bond with nature." Absolutely.
Ms. Sparrow. "seeing nature recover from the insults of humanity." Well said. I believe I might have caught a few minutes of that film or an ad for it. It looked very intriguing. I'm glad you reminded me of it. Perhaps it will come back around and I'll catch it then.
Yes, how it should be.
i can feel you're in that "click off/ tune in" state of mind right now. me, too.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I visit your blog, it brings me peace. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that these artists were a part of transferring this area back to nature. Welcome to the birds and other sweet little creatures - and the place will become a lovely place for the public to visit.
ReplyDeleteThat was one of the good news!
Grethe `)
Encouraging...I'd like to see this kind of art on all buildings in areas around my own neighborhood....some buildings are just left to rot in what used to be a vital downtown. Wishful thinking.....sometimes works. I'll hold the pictures of these in your blog as a vision of what can be.
ReplyDelete"And when people's cell phones die and the Internet goes away, a different sort of mental state happens." That from an artist probably young enough to not remember that mental state. It sounds like a sci-fi time warp thing. Great article. Thanks for pointing it out.
ReplyDeleteGrethe, Some good news. yes. And the sound of happy birds!
ReplyDeleteMG, Envisioning is what makes things happen, isn't it? What a wonderful world if artists were allowed to use these abandoned spaces to create beauty and thoughtful art.
Hey Murr, That sentence really caught my eye, too. Thanks for pointing it out. It's key. Yes,sci-fi time warp, we could use more of those. :)
I too like derelict buildings and other decaying material objects. They spell life to me as they go through the process of receding into the land again. You have fantastic posts. Since I am late in finding you online I have been attempting to read some of your old posts. All very good -- barbara
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I'm glad you're finding your way to some earlier posts. I probably wrote for several months before I had more than a couple readers, so it's nice to share these now. Thanks for taking the time, and for your kind words.
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