As if hanging in mid space, you're cruising imperceptibly at an altitude of 30,000 feet. You're tucked into your window seat. The sun basks your face as you peer down at Mother Earth. What you often see beneath, as you fly, especially over the midland of our country are not mountains, valleys and rivers but an intriguing patchwork of squares and circles and the glint of metallic holding ponds. Their hues vary from dirty gray to green, blue and rust orange. You're looking at the industrial American heartland. It's oddly and disturbingly beautiful. And, what in the heck is that? I've wondered in so many trips traversing our country.
Photo: Edward Burtynsky, Nickel Tailings, No. 30, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, 1996.
Kudos to Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky who has captured this ugly yet dauntingly stunning reality on our continent's landscape. Fifteen of his photographs debut today in the innovative Gordon CAP Gallery of Nashville's Frist Center for the Arts. In a show entited: The Industrial Sublime, the artist's lens focuses on landscapes that have been irreparably altered by human industry. Burtynsky creates works that do not just address the environmental destruction that has been wreaked all over the globe, but paradoxically reveal the beauty of the resulting topography.
And sweetly albeit oddly, too--evidence of art imitating life--The Frist Center has sprouted roses in front of it's glorious granite Art Deco home bordering busy Broadway. I knew these were about to bud, the Frist Center told me (and other area arts media) so in an email. I requested this picture to show you. But, so busy was I debating about which street would I turn to head over to Union Street to eat sushi at Koto one recent Saturday night, that I missed them. But my companion, I could tell by his exclamations at their sight, had not. Too late, I was turning on to Fourth. Or Fifth. One of those. I bypassed Broad on the way home, so I missed them again. I'm looking forward to taking in their visual aroma soon. They'll be blooming in all their giant metal glory until the end of 2013. Aren't we lucky? Don't you get distracted and forget to smell the roses. K?
Will Ryman (American, b. 1969). Rose on 65th Street, 2011. Fiberglass resin and stainless steel. Courtesy of the artist and Paul Kasmin Gallery, PK 15115. Photograph by Hans Schmitt-Matzen.
Happy Memorial Day weekend, all.
Again, I think that for the most part the interview was very good and even coeraguous, for one reason because some of the regular Instapundit readers just don't want to hear from Democrats. I am especially impressed that Ford was asked about a host of divisive issues like the war in Iraq and gun control, and that nonetheless he was treated with respect when he answered.Even so, it is ever more frustrating to hear someone with guaranteed medical care, and a serious medical condition on top of that, "oppose" socialized medicine. It's all too easy to say that other people don't deserve what you can take for granted. It would be dark justice if Tennessee employed people Wal-Mart style, that is, if it abolished tenure and made state employees get their own family medical coverage.But, that point aside, the next time that Glenn and Helen find the courage to interview someone they really disagree with, I might suggest someone connected to the war in Iraq. In particular, a New York Times reporter from the Baghdad bureau. The New York Times has treated Instapundit pretty well over the years, but that didn't stop Glenn from uncritically posting a quote that questioned its patriotism. (As in, "Dear New York Times: When the largest single fatality-causing event for your (well, our) soldiers...") Even if it were fair to question their patriotism, the least that Glenn could do is confront that particular Times reporter, namely Kirk Semple, directly. Or one of his colleagues from the same bureau. After all, these reporters take real risks. Two Times reporters in Iraq, Jeffrey Gettleman and John Burns, have been briefly kidnapped. Every reporter over there has to worry about being the next Bob Woodruff or even the next Daniel Pearl. Since their job takes courage, if you're going to question their work, that should be done with courage as well. Especially if they have been nice to you.
Posted by: Naval | July 06, 2012 at 07:17 AM