Christmas Wall on Locust Avenue

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 This is a photograph of the living room exposed by just the light from the street lights outside, via a relatively long (four minutes) time exposure.

The Statue of Liberty Visits Charlottesville

There’s been an unusual sight this year (and last year also) as you drive up the Route 250 Bypass in Charlottesville. As you make your way up the hill past the CVS, quick mufflers, etc., there has been a wild man waving at the traffic in an odd green outfit. All through the worst of the snowstorm he was out there, probably moving to keep himself from freezing to death. The Statue of Liberty, portrayed by a man. Of course, he’s the animated sign for Liberty Tax Preparation. I caught an entirely different Liberty when I stopped to photograph him. It was a warm day for these times, and he was giving a sort of demure wave more like what royalty does as their limo slides by the masses.
Of course, I hate paparazzism, so I spoke with him and got his permission for a photo. (Paparazzi was coined from a character in the movie “La Dolce Vita”). So I got him in action and promised to bring him back a print. Although, I’ll be on the lookout for the some of the dancing, gyrating versions of liberty for yet another photo op. If we forget about Liberty, well, it might just go away.

Event at the Bridge Progressive Art Initiative

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This is a photograph of a very small garage on North 1st street in Charlottesville. I had just come back from taking a few photos near the McGuffey Art Center, and noticed that this space was hosting an event. I’ve happened across at least one other event here. During one of the few snow storms of last winter I was biking back from Preston Ave. and noticed the garage was open. There were a few people who had finished up hanging a “mobile” of jars with various items in them. They were hung over a map of Charlottesville, indicating the location of the contents of each jar. I guess it was a Mobile Geolocation device : >.

I sat down on the side of the wall on Lee Park with a small group of others. Having missed the first act, the next was a mix of poetry and singing using a tape looping device, although the device was digital. Tape loops thankfully are no longer with us.

It was a well done short piece. I had the camera (the Rapid Omega 6X7 with 58 mm lens) so I dropped it in place on the tripod and took one exposure.

I’ve attended a number of events at the Bridge, and even had my own photo night there last year. The Bridge and its projects (which are many) has been a real boon for Charlottesville, providing show space and lots of entertainment. One particularly interesting event was about producing audio for radio. It was presented along with a few other nights of presentations involving just sound. The best feature of Bridge presentations is the audience interaction, which is really encouraged.

Montreal Museum mentioned in Boing Boing

Boing Boing just published an web article (by Xeni Jarden) on a Museum in Montreal dedicated to a family of “short stature.” The permalink is here; http://www.boingboing.net/2007/07/30/weird_1940s_tourist_.html
I visited there about 20 years ago, while staying with friends in Montreal. The picture above is from the Son’s room (taken on Kodachrome), who evidently was born without the genetic complexities of his parents. Here is a zoomed in image of the Father and Son in a photographic hung on the wall;


The story spelled out on several wall plaques was; the original couple worked and earned money in the circus for many years. They ended up wealthy for the time, through savings and investments. They bought the house and various other properties in Montreal. The house was precisely constructed to size; beds, commodes, etc. When they had their son, they added the room in the photograph, which is scaled for his size. He was of “ordinary” height.
The main attraction to the museum (although called “Palais” in advertisements) was the rooms and the antique décor.