To me, the city, Portland, Oregon, is beautiful, wonderful, horrific, tragic,etc. It is so many things to me all at once. It is not one simple answer to any and all questions. It is many things, many questions, answered and unanswered, questions changed and thrown away, answers changed and thrown away.
When I saw these perspectives, I was fascinated, fixated, obsessed briefly, with the strange and beautiful view of this town. Perspectives you don't see when shopping, or hiding in a restaurant, or fixated by your companion. Here, was a form of life not often paid attention to. I whipped out the camera and took a bunch of photographs, "Fiddler from the Roof" and "Peek-a-Boo" being four of them.
I have nurtured my ability to find beauty in the places where I'm at when I think of it. And I found beauty from the top of a parking lot in Downtown Portland. It didn't work so well when I, a few days later, found another parking lot and went to the top. I just didn't get the same views and attachments, fascination or obsession.
Here, in these photos, I also find tragedy. Allegations of civilization like this come at a price. Who suffered to steal the resources to create these buildings? What beauty and suffereing has been created within these walls, behind these windows? What stories can each piece tell? Where did it all come from, as it is all displaced natural resources? Who was slaughtered so this could be created? Who did the slaughtering? What Love was created enacted? What hatred and angers? And damn, we can live without all of this.
Life is interesting, but all in all, as beatuiful and tragic as these photos are too me, I could give it all up. Come to think of it, my sweetie, Rhonda, and I have been talking about just such a thing and making plans to move in such a direction.
Portland, I both Love you, and am sickened by you. Pretty much, I feel the same about alleged civilization in general.
Enjoy!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
View of Portland from the Top of a Parking Lot
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Forward to the St. John's Bridge Series
This is Edie and Al(?). They walk across the St. John's Bridge on a regular basis. Edie was very friendly and asked that I take thier picture. Their favorite thing about crossing the St. John's Bridge is when the big trucks go by. "Al has to hold on to his hat when that happens," Edie informed me.
Walking across the bridge was at times nerve wracking for me. It is really high up! The side walk is about three and a half feet wide and the trucks go by at 35mph at least. Not all, but certain sections of the bridge will wobble slightly when the trucks go by.
I was really cautious when taking the downwards photos, often leaning over the rail.
All in all, it was an experience, and hopefully these photos will be an experince for you as well.
Introduction to The St. John's Bridge Series
The St. John's Bridge was built in 1931 and rehabilitated in 2005.
Rehabilitated? I didn't even know it was criminal!
I have given each chapter, if you will, it's own name. I will also designate a chapter number so you can see how the series begins and ends.
SJBS is the acronym for "St. John's Bridge Series." This will be proceeded by the chapter number in the title of each chapter.
Enjoy! I hope it isn't too much. It took me 4 days to finish this.
