nature's patterns

Is one man's junk really another man's treasure? 

Having collected over 1000 plastic containers recovered from the sea, Emer Brady has reclaimed this rubbish and found a way it can offer a rich new purpose.  Using objects of waste to shadow the shape of the waves on which the trash once surfed, we are provoked to remember the effects of modern day consumerism and pollution. 

'My practice is concerned with the patterns that exist within nature. I am interested in their underlying sense of order juxtaposed by an element of chaos. Nature’s patterns are so familiar to us that we have become blind to them: they have become invisible.'

Check out more of Emer's work at:

 http://emerbrady.wordpress.com/

a good hard day's worth of work

Meandering through the back roads and farm patches of Amish country villages in Pennsylvania, it's hard not to notice that the inhabitants value the meaning behind honest work.  It may be difficult for some to understand the avoidance of many modern technologies, but as one soaks up the crisp clean air and sunshine in the rustic scenes from village to village it all starts to make a little more sense.  There must be something very satisfying in using one's own strength to produce what is needed in life.  One could imagine that surely a peaceful, hearty sleep must accompany the independence and sense of pride and accomplishment after a good hard day's worth of work. 

use images to inspire change

Pictures seal the deal on a winning story.  They add the richness and detail missing from a sea of words scattered across a page.  Watch and listen as Brian Skerry uses his images of our oceans to help inspire needed change.

perspective

Looking closely, one should surely see in the background the famous Half Dome of Yosemite National Park in Yosemite, California.  Yet at first glance, attention is drawn to the curious squirrel posing for his photo shoot.  Quirky they are, the peculiarities of this perspective.

jesus atop the mountain

"La fe mueve montañas"
Faith will move mountains.

"No hay mal que por bien no venga"
Every cloud has a silver lining.
(literally, there's no bad for which
no good will come)

Staring up into the arms and eyes of Jesus in Barcelona, Spain, I notice the powerful suggestions this statue is making.  Faith, no matter in what or in who, is a remedy we all must employ at some point or another in our lives.  Beyond the bronze, my eyes focus in on the fluffy clouds floating peacefully in the backdrop of the blue sky.  These clouds may bring rain to this otherwise sunny day, but they are beautiful nevertheless.  I wonder what other onlookers imagine as they gaze at this statue of Jesus atop the mountain... 

john west

John West. 

If you ever get to see this story-telling artist

perform live before he makes it big,

 consider yourself lucky.

what they once were

Merchant fleets from long ago passed through the "Floating" Torii upon reaching the shores of Miyajima, Japan.  The shrine would indicate to oncomers that they were approaching a sacred place and to proceed with care and caution.

Now it is one of the most photographed sights in all of Japan, proving to be a tourist marvel of giant proportion. 

After making their way inland, a few parcels of merchants' wares from far off lands would find themselves in remote parts such as along this feudal trade highway from Tsumago to Magome.  All items were strategically packed to be strapped on backs and carried by foot from one village to another.

After the advent of modern railways, however, the merchant highway lost its utility and purpose.  Like the Torii, the Tsumago-Magome road and villages now serve as  prominent tourist attractions.

Technology and times change, and we must continuously adapt, indeed.  Yet, the marvels and wonders of our predecessors must be remembered for what they once were as well as what they will come to be.