Thursday, November 28, 2013

Immortalized in Lyrics: Alice's Restaurant

Alice's Restaurant and Alice's Home
Alice's Restaurant - A Thanksgiving Day Anthem

GPS: N42° 16.903; W73° 18.663 (Alice's Restaurant - Stockbridge, MA)
GPS: N42° 13.725; W73° 21.735  (Alice's Home - Great Barrington, MA)
GPS: N42° 18.305; W73° 14.924 (Arlo's Trial - Lee, MA)

Alice's Restaurant (Now Theresa's Stockbridge Cafe, Formerly Alice's Restaurant)

The Story of Alice's Restaurant


Alice's Home  (Now The Guthrie Center)

Church Where Alice, Ray, and Fasha the Dog  Lived
Original Newspaper Account

Arlo Guthrie's trial was held in the Lee Courthouse


Alice's Restaurant

This song is called Alice's Restaurant, and it's about Alice, and the
restaurant, but Alice's Restaurant is not the name of the restaurant,
That's just the name of the song, and that's why I called the song Alice's
Restaurant.

You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant
You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant

Now it all started two Thanksgivings ago, was on - two years ago on
Thanksgiving, when my friend and I went up to visit Alice at the
Restaurant, but Alice doesn't live in the restaurant, she lives in the
Church nearby the restaurant, in the bell-tower, with her husband Ray and
Fasha the dog. And livin' in the bell tower like that, they got a lot of
Room downstairs where the pews used to be in. Havin' all that room,
Seein' as how they took out all the pews, they decided that they didn't
Have to take out their garbage for a long time.

We got up there, we found all the garbage in there, and we decided it'd be
A friendly gesture for us to take the garbage down to the city dump. So
We took the half a ton of garbage, put it in the back of a red VW
Microbus, took shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and headed
On toward the city dump.

Well we got there and there was a big sign and a chain across across the
Dump saying, "Closed on Thanksgiving." And we had never heard of a dump
Closed on Thanksgiving before, and with tears in our eyes we drove off
Into the sunset looking for another place to put the garbage.

We didn't find one. Until we came to a side road, and off the side of the
Side road there was another fifteen foot cliff and at the bottom of the
Cliff there was another pile of garbage. And we decided that one big pile
Is better than two little piles, and rather than bring that one up we
Decided to throw our's down.

That's what we did, and drove back to the church, had a thanksgiving
Dinner that couldn't be beat, went to sleep and didn't get up until the
Next morning, when we got a phone call from officer Obie. He said, "Kid,
We found your name on an envelope at the bottom of a half a ton of
Garbage, and just wanted to know if you had any information about it." And
I said, "Yes, sir, Officer Obie, I cannot tell a lie, I put that envelope
Under that garbage."

After speaking to Obie for about fourty-five minutes on the telephone we
Finally arrived at the truth of the matter and said that we had to go down
And pick up the garbage, and also had to go down and speak to him at the
Police officer's station. So we got in the red VW microbus with the
Shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and headed on toward the
Police officer's station.

Now friends, there was only one or two things that Obie coulda done at
The police station, and the first was he could have given us a medal for
Being so brave and honest on the telephone, which wasn't very likely, and
We didn't expect it, and the other thing was he could have bawled us out
And told us never to be seen driving garbage around the vicinity again,
Which is what we expected, but when we got to the police officer's station
There was a third possibility that we hadn't even counted upon, and we was
Both immediately arrested. Handcuffed. And I said "Obie, I don't think I
Can pick up the garbage with these handcuffs on." He said, "Shut up, kid.
Get in the back of the patrol car."

And that's what we did, sat in the back of the patrol car and drove to the
Quote Scene of the Crime unquote. I want tell you about the town of
Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where this happened here, they got three stop
Signs, two police officers, and one police car, but when we got to the
Scene of the Crime there was five police officers and three police cars,
Being the biggest crime of the last fifty years, and everybody wanted to
Get in the newspaper story about it. And they was using up all kinds of
Cop equipment that they had hanging around the police officer's station.
They was taking plaster tire tracks, foot prints, dog smelling prints, and
They took twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy photographs with circles
And arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each
One was to be used as evidence against us. Took pictures of the approach,
The getaway, the northwest corner the southwest corner and that's not to
Mention the aerial photography.

After the ordeal, we went back to the jail. Obie said he was going to put
Us in the cell. Said, "Kid, I'm going to put you in the cell, I want your
Wallet and your belt." And I said, "Obie, I can understand you wanting my
Wallet so I don't have any money to spend in the cell, but what do you
Want my belt for?" And he said, "Kid, we don't want any hangings." I
Said, "Obie, did you think I was going to hang myself for littering?"
Obie said he was making sure, and friends Obie was, cause he took out the
Toilet seat so I couldn't hit myself over the head and drown, and he took
Out the toilet paper so I couldn't bend the bars roll out the - roll the
Toilet paper out the window, slide down the roll and have an escape. Obie
Was making sure, and it was about four or five hours later that Alice
(remember Alice? It's a song about Alice), Alice came by and with a few
Nasty words to Obie on the side, bailed us out of jail, and we went back
To the church, had a another Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat,
And didn't get up until the next morning, when we all had to go to court.

We walked in, sat down, Obie came in with the twenty seven eight-by-ten
Color glossy pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back
Of each one, sat down. Man came in said, "All rise." We all stood up,
And Obie stood up with the twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy
Pictures, and the judge walked in sat down with a seeing eye dog, and he
Sat down, we sat down. Obie looked at the seeing eye dog, and then at the
Twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy pictures with circles and arrows
And a paragraph on the back of each one, and looked at the seeing eye dog.
And then at twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy pictures with circles
And arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one and began to cry,
'cause Obie came to the realization that it was a typical case of American
Blind justice, and there wasn't nothing he could do about it, and the
Judge wasn't going to look at the twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy
Pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each
One explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us. And
We was fined $50 and had to pick up the garbage in the snow, but that's not
What I came to tell you about.

Came to talk about the draft.

They got a building down New York City, it's called Whitehall Street,
Where you walk in, you get injected, inspected, detected, infected,
Neglected and selected. I went down to get my physical examination one
Day, and I walked in, I sat down, got good and drunk the night before, so
I looked and felt my best when I went in that morning. `Cause I wanted to
Look like the all-American kid from New York City, man I wanted, I wanted
To feel like the all-, I wanted to be the all American kid from New York,
And I walked in, sat down, I was hung down, brung down, hung up, and all
Kinds o' mean nasty ugly things. And I waked in and sat down and they gave
Me a piece of paper, said, "Kid, see the psychiatrist, room 604."

And I went up there, I said, "Shrink, I want to kill. I mean, I wanna, I
Wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood and gore and
Guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead burnt bodies. I mean kill, Kill,
KILL, KILL." And I started jumpin up and down yelling, "KILL, KILL," and
He started jumpin up and down with me and we was both jumping up and down
Yelling, "KILL, KILL." And the sergeant came over, pinned a medal on me,
Sent me down the hall, said, "You're our boy."

Didn't feel too good about it.

Proceeded on down the hall getting more injections, inspections,
Detections, neglections and all kinds of stuff that they was doin' to me
At the thing there, and I was there for two hours, three hours, four
Hours, I was there for a long time going through all kinds of mean nasty
Ugly things and I was just having a tough time there, and they was
Inspecting, injecting every single part of me, and they was leaving no
Part untouched. Proceeded through, and when I finally came to the see the
Last man, I walked in, walked in sat down after a whole big thing there,
And I walked up and said, "What do you want?" He said, "Kid, we only got
One question. Have you ever been arrested?"

And I proceeded to tell him the story of the Alice's Restaurant Massacre,
With full orchestration and five part harmony and stuff like that and all
The phenome... - and he stopped me right there and said, "Kid, did you ever
Go to court?"

And I proceeded to tell him the story of the twenty seven eight-by-ten
Color glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and the paragraph on
The back of each one, and he stopped me right there and said, "Kid, I want
You to go and sit down on that bench that says Group W .... NOW kid!!"

And I, I walked over to the, to the bench there, and there is, Group W's
Where they put you if you may not be moral enough to join the army after
Committing your special crime, and there was all kinds of mean nasty ugly
Looking people on the bench there. Mother rapers. Father stabbers. Father
Rapers! Father rapers sitting right there on the bench next to me! And
They was mean and nasty and ugly and horrible crime-type guys sitting on the
Bench next to me. And the meanest, ugliest, nastiest one, the meanest
Father raper of them all, was coming over to me and he was mean 'n' ugly
'n' nasty 'n' horrible and all kind of things and he sat down next to me
And said, "Kid, whad'ya get?" I said, "I didn't get nothing, I had to pay
$50 and pick up the garbage." He said, "What were you arrested for, kid?"
And I said, "Littering." And they all moved away from me on the bench
There, and the hairy eyeball and all kinds of mean nasty things, till I
Said, "And creating a nuisance." And they all came back, shook my hand,
And we had a great time on the bench, talkin about crime, mother stabbing,
Father raping, all kinds of groovy things that we was talking about on the
Bench. And everything was fine, we was smoking cigarettes and all kinds of
Things, until the sergeant came over, had some paper in his hand, held it
Up and said.

"Kids, this-piece of paper's got 47-words-37sentences-58-words-we-wanna-
Know-details-of-the-crime-time-of-the-crime-and-any-other-kind-of-thing-
You-gotta-say-pertaining-to-and-about-the-crime-I-want-to-know-arresting-
Officer's-name-and-any-other-kind-of-thing-you-gotta-say", and talked for
Forty-five minutes and nobody understood a word that he said, but we had
Fun filling out the forms and playing with the pencils on the bench there,
And I filled out the massacre with the four part harmony, and wrote it
Down there, just like it was, and everything was fine and I put down the
Pencil, and I turned over the piece of paper, and there, there on the
Other side, in the middle of the other side, away from everything else on
The other side, in parentheses, capital letters, quotated, read the
Following words:

("KID, HAVE YOU REHABILITATED YOURSELF?")

I went over to the sergeant, said, "sergeant, you got a lot a damn gall to
Ask me if I've rehabilitated myself, I mean, I mean, I mean that just, I'm
Sittin' here on the bench, I mean I'm sittin here on the Group W bench
'cause you want to know if I'm moral enough join the army, burn women,
Kids, houses and villages after bein' a litterbug." He looked at me and
Said, "Kid, we don't like your kind, and we're gonna send you fingerprints
Off to Washington."

And friends, somewhere in Washington enshrined in some little folder, is a
Study in black and white of my fingerprints. And the only reason I'm
Singing you this song now is cause you may know somebody in a similar
Situation, or you may be in a similar situation, and if your in a
Situation like that there's only one thing you can do and that's walk into
The shrink wherever you are ,just walk in say "Shrink, You can get
Anything you want, at Alice's restaurant.". And walk out. You know, if
One person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and
They won't take him. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony,
They may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them.
And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in
Singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an
Organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said
Fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and
Walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement.

And that's what it is , the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement, and
All you got to do to join is sing it the next time it come's around on the
Guitar.

With feeling. So we'll wait for it to come around on the guitar, here and
Sing it when it does. Here it comes.

You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant

That was horrible. If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.
I've been singing this song now for twenty five minutes. I could sing it
For another twenty five minutes. I'm not proud... or tired.

So we'll wait till it comes around again, and this time with four part
Harmony and feeling.

We're just waitin' for it to come around is what we're doing.

All right now.

You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
Excepting Alice
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant

Da da da da da da da dum
At Alice's Restaurant

Monday, November 25, 2013

Carnegie Libraries - Springfield & West Springfield, MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
Andrew Carnegie and the 
Carnegie Libraries of Springfield & West Springfield, MA

GPS: N42° 06.198; W072° 35.072
for  Andrew Carnegie bust at the City Library



Short Description:

Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland on November 25, 1835. Between 1883 and 1929, he funded the construction of 2,509 libraries worldwide,  including 1,689 in the United States.

Long Description

Andrew Carnegie emigrated to the United States in 1848 and made a fortune in the steel industry. He used his fortune to fund many philanthropic causes. In 1909, he donated $260,000 to fund the construction of the Springfield, MA  library system. Four Carnegie libraries were built: The City Library on State Street,  Forest Park Library, Indian Orchard Library and Memorial Square Library (now part of St. George Greek Orthodox Church).  In addition, he donated $25,000 to fund the West Springfield Library.

Springfield City Library
Forest Park Library
Indian Orchard Library

Former Memorial Square Library

West Springfield Library

Friday, November 22, 2013

John F. Kennedy Memorial - Holyoke, MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
John F. Kennedy Memorial
Holyoke, MA
Topic: John F. Kennedy

GPS: N42° 12.597; W072° 37.118

Quick Description: 

A large John F. Kennedy memorial is located by Holy Cross Church in Holyoke, MA.

Long Description:

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza is south of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Holyoke. After the death of the President, the parishioners raised funds, constructed, and dedicated a plaza in his honor.

The plaza consists of a granite base on which a bust of Kennedy rests on a slender base. The bust of a young looking President Kennedy is approximately 28" by 24" by 14". On either side of the statue are large horizontal granite blocks bearing quotes for his inaugural speech and book, Profiles in Courage. At the rear are six granite blocks listing recipients of the JFK award and the Grand Marshals of the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The plaza was a creation of the Rock of Ages Corporation and is administered by City of Holyoke, Soldiers Memorial Commission.

The front of the base is inscribed:

JOHN
FITZGERALD
KENNEDY

35th PRESIDENT
OF THE
UNITED STATES

MAY 29, 1917
NOV. 22, 1963

The back of the base is inscribed:

{SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES}

JOHN
FITZGERALD
KENNEDY

MAY 29, 1917
NOV. 22, 1963

{Image of The Eternal Flame}

The front of the left horizontal block is inscribed:

"AND SO, MY FELLOW AMERICANS, ASK NOT WHAT
YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU -- ASK WHAT
YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY" INAUGURAL ADDRESS 1961

{SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES}
1961 1963

The front of the right horizontal block is inscribed:

{SEAL OF MASSACHUSETTS}
1952 1960

"ALL THIS WILL NOT BE FINISHED IN THE FIRST
HUNDRED DAYS, NOR WILL IT BE FINISHED IN
THE FIRST THOUSAND DAYS, BUT LET US BEGIN."
INAUGURAL ADDRESS 1961 

The back of the left horizontal block is inscribed:

"A MAN DOES WHAT HE MUST -- IN SPITE OF PERSONAL
CONSEQUENCES, IN SPITE OF OBSTACLES AND DAMAGES AND
PRESSURES, AND THAT IS THE BASIS OF ALL HUMAN MORALITY"
"PROFILES IN COURAGE" 1955

The back of the right horizontal block is inscribed:

"... LET US GO FORTH TO LEAD THE LAND WE LOVE ASKING
HIS BLESSING AND HIS HELP, BUT KNOWING THAT HERE
ON EARTH GOD'S WORK MUST TRULY BE OUR OWN."
INAUGURAL ADDRESS 1961 

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

American Guide Series: Lincoln Speech Memorial - Gettysburg, PA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
Lincoln Speech Memorial
Gettysburg, PA
Topic: American Guide Series




GPS: N39° 49.053; W077° 13.911

Quick Description: 

The memorial to the Gettysburg Address is located in Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA.

Long Description:

American Guide Series: Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State, 1940; page 232

"I. The SOLDIER'S NATIONAL CEMETERY, Baltimore Road to Taneyton Road, at the southern boundary of Gettysburg, embraces 17 acres and contains graves of 3,604 soldiers, 979 of them unidentified. The cemetery was established through the efforts of Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin, of Pennsylvania, and David Wills, of Gettysburg. Curtin, visiting the battlefield shortly after the troops departed, was shocked to find that shallow, scattered graves revealed portions of uniformed corpses above ground. He took measures to collect the bodies and inter them decently. In the cemetery stands the 60-foot marble SOLDIERS' NATIONAL MONUMENT, designed by J.G. Batterson and executed in Italy under the supervision of Randolph Rogers. It occupies the site where Lincoln gave his address. Near by is the LINCOLN SPEECH MEMORIAL, a semicircular monument with a bust of the Great Emancipator." --- Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State, 1940; page 232"

The Lincoln Speech Memorial is about 300 yards north of the actual site where this famous speech was delivered. The actual site is marked with the Soldiers' National Monument (q.v.) above. The Speech Memorial is dedicated to the address that Lincoln gave at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery on November 19, 1863 in Gettysburg, PA. The memorial was dedicated in January 1912. It is unusual it that it is actually dedicated to a speech. The a bust of President Lincoln was sculpted by Henry K. Bush-Brown.

This version of the speech is reproduced on the monument:

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead—who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
"


It's the only version which has Lincoln's signature.

The other tablet reads:

"The several states having soldiers in the Army of the Potomac who were killed at the Battle of Gettysburg or have since died at the various hospitals which were established in the vicinity have procured grounds on a prominent part of the battlefield for a cemetery and are having the dead removed to them and properly buried.

These grounds will be consecrated and set apart to this sacred purpose on Thursday the 19th instant. It is the desire that you as Chief Executive of the nation formally set apart these grounds to their sacred use by a few appropriate remarks. It will be a source of great gratification to the many widows and orphans that have been made almost friendless by the great battle here to have you here personally and it will kindle anew in the breasts of the comrades of these brave dead who are now in the tented field that they who sleep in death on the battlefield are not forgotten by those highest in authority and they will feel that should their fate be the same their remains will not be uncared for.
"


From letter of invitation to President Lincoln inviting him to give a speech at the dedication of the cemetery.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Art In The Orchard #22: Cup and Cloth - Easthampton, MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
Cup and Cloth
Art In The Orchard - 2013
Park Hill Orchard
Easthampton, MA
Topic:  Fountain

GPS of Park Hill Orchard: N42° 17.127; W72° 41.685

Short Description: 

Cup and Cloth is a fountain sculpture by Artelia Court of Easthampton, MA composed of cast iron, copper pipe and galvanized steel.

Artist Description: 

"Water in a receptacle at the base of the fountain is pumped up a copper pipe into the cast iron cup where it pools and spills quietly over one lip dripping onto a cast iron cloth below. it flows to the bottom hem of the cloth then into the receptacle only to be pumped again up to the cup. The iron cloth is formed as if it were ganging over the edge of a table."

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Art In The Orchard #21: Ectomorph - Easthampton, MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
Ectomorph
Art In The Orchard - 2013
Park Hill Orchard
Easthampton, MA
Topic:  Abstract Sculpture
GPS of Park Hill Orchard: N42° 17.127; W72° 41.685

Short Description: 

Ectomorph by Matt Evald Johnson of Easthampton, MA is an abstract sculpture composed of forged and recycled steel.

Artist Description: 

"Ectomorph is an abstract assemblage composed to cause dynamic in the vertical thrust by manual manipulations that narrate the upward sweep.

Ectomorph is a study in the possibilities of the coupling of symmetry and discord; balance and stillness fueled by (visual/material) activity. Some sculptures are effective because they move - and some are effective because they are still. Ectomorph wants to do both."

Valued at: $14,000

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Art In The Orchard #20: Tuesday Edition Gazette - Easthampton, MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
Tuesday Edition Gazette
Art In The Orchard - 2013
Park Hill Orchard
Easthampton, MA
Topic:  Abstract Installation


GPS of Park Hill Orchard: N42° 17.127; W72° 41.685

Short Description: 

Tuesday Edition Gazette by Elizabeth Denny of Florence, MA is composed of recycled farm equipment and junk steel.

Artist Description: 

"A typewriter sitting on a bench with her legs crossed, colding a cup of coffee, is scaually reading the newspaper.  Tuesday Edition Gazette is made from zero new stuff. Even the bolts came from the northampton dump."

                                                               Value at: $950

Monday, November 4, 2013

Art In The Orchard #19: Tree Cones - Easthampton, MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
Tree Cones
Art In The Orchard - 2013
Park Hill Orchard
Easthampton, MA
Topic: Abstract Sculpture

GPS of Park Hill Orchard: N42° 17.127; W72° 41.685

Short Description: 

Tree Cones by Peter Dellert of  Holyoke, MA  is an abstract installation painted Tyvek on steel armature and metal cables.

Artist Description: 

"Two cone shapes joined at large openings and suspended from trees.  These forms, like much of my sculptural work, derive their shape from natural pods, seeds, of shell forms, often greatly enlarged. These cones form are more regular and symmetrical than most of my pieces. They are meant to be halves of a single pod, having already split apart, and released seeds."

Valued at: $4,500

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Art In The Orchard #18: Tim - Easthampton, MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
Tim
Art In The Orchard - 2013
Park Hill Orchard
Easthampton, MA
Topic:  Wood Carving


GPS of Park Hill Orchard: N42° 17.127; W72° 41.685

Short Description: 

Tim by Michael Tillyer of Conway, MA is a figurative sculpture made of wood and metal.

Artist Description:

"Tim is a 'drink of water' carved wood man who is proportionally lean but towering. He strums a small, carved ukulele. His torso is slightly lower than expected."

Valued at: $4,310

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Art In The Orchard #17: Verde Bench - Easthampton, MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
Verde Bench
Art In The Orchard - 2013
Park Hill Orchard
Easthampton, MA
Topic:  Stained Glass Bench



GPS of Park Hill Orchard: N42° 17.127; W72° 41.685

Short Description: 

Verde Bench by Eileen Jager of Easthampton, MA is a glass mosaic, wood and wrought iron bench.

Artist Description of Her Inspiration: 

"In 1979 I visited Chartres Cathedral near Paris and my life was forever changes. Fascinated by the mystic symbolism and inspired by the stained glass i felt like I was sitting inside a jewel box. I was struck by the power that light has to transform space, both the inner and outer realms."

Valued at: $3,300

Friday, November 1, 2013

Art In The Orchard #16: Dryad - Easthampton, MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed
Dryad
Art In The Orchard - 2013
Park Hill Orchard
Easthampton, MA
Topic:  Epic Being
GPS of Park Hill Orchard: N42° 17.127; W72° 41.685

Short Description: 

Dryad by Lauren Mills of Easthampton, MA is a bronze figure of tree nymph sitting on an oak tree stump. 

Artist Description: 

"The figure for 'Dryad' was sculpted from life. I used the interwoven tree roots of the tree as a way to virually echo the dryad's cross legs making her one with the tree. Forming a pyramid, she leans atop the moss covered oak stump whose life has been cut short. As I sculpted the tree beneath her I couldn't help but notice the structural likeness that fingers, toes, and limbs share with the limbs, root buds and twigs of trees; and how the round shapes of knees elbows, breasts, and hair-bun are akin to the burls and knots of the tree."

Valued at: $8,900