AUG022009

AUG022009, originally uploaded by colemama.

Weathered wood is so intriguing to me - the patterns, the colors, the changes in longevity, the strength. This weathered wood piling is accentuated with the rusty bolt and touches of algae growth. In its younger years, it likely would not be as interesting - that characteristic is only due to its experience in the environmental elements. Just as in a youth culture, it is easy to overlook the contributions of the elders, here it is easy to pass this wooden post as simply as obstacle to the early morning beach walk. Instead of being revered for its function and form, it is ignored - we do that a lot in the modern American culture....and, while I embrace the new and futuristic, I try to balance it with respect for important traditions.

This image also makes me appreciate the importance of patterns ... in nature, in learning, in math and science and history and English, in the psychology of humanity. The zig-zag stripes of the hewed wood provide a structure, a repetitive and predictable foundation, upon which we depend. Interestingly, as solid as this wooden post is, its virtual opposite in the fluidity of rippled water lives side-by-side with it in a seemingly harmonious state. Thus, the need for continuous assessment of all traits for desired balance! 2nd Ave N & Gulf of Mexico, Naples, FL