Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Reflecting on moving in the opposite direction . . .





“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.”
- E.F. Schumacker

Why do old, eroding, structures appear romantic to me? I love the way the materials are blending into each other, the slow process of becoming one with the earth and the wonderful mix of chaos and order that appears to be playing out. Perhaps it is the ‘move in the opposite direction’ that I love so much. Maybe I am attracted to the gentle movement of letting down and letting in.
My son Teiji and I had an art show in Harris Saskatchewan this weekend. As we drove there, we saw these buildings scattered across the landscape. He wondered aloud if it was a law that every farm had to have one disintegrating shed, lean-to, or barn in the field next to the road. I couldn’t help feeling that the structures had entered a phase of peace making with the earth. It looked to me as if the structures, which once stood up straight on the land they occupied, were now bowing to the land.


You cannot be nonviolent if there is any part of yourself that you are in opposition to.
-Cheri Huber

4 comments:

  1. Oh, such beautiful pictures and words. I just love the church photo. I always felt sad when looking at these buildings, but I like your interpretation better.

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  2. Elena, I also have a sweet sadness around old churches. I sat inside for a while and just felt the atmosphere. Warmly, Karen

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  3. Your post today is spot on for me -- moving in the opposite direction -- I didn't get the job I had been interviewing for the last few months. A bit of a let down. Okay, big let down ;-)

    Something to be said about going in a different direction like the pictures you posted. I know there's something to learn from experiences such as this, hard lessons at that, but how those buildings are still standing after all these years is a testament to how sound something is built (whether an object or a person).

    xoxox

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