Blog Archives
Water Gardens
So, this place. The Fort Worth Water Gardens. It was designed in the 1970s by famed architect Philip Johnson, and is in a style called “brutalism.” From the looks of the place, I’d say “brutalism” involves lots and lots of exposed aggregate concrete.
The gardens have three separate water features – an active pool (which was the site of a tragic multiple drowning in 1984), an aeration pool, and a meditation pool. This picture was taken beside the meditation pool.
All three fountain areas are interesting to visit (though it was hard to put the memories of the drownings out of my head at the active pool) – they were designed to give visitors different experiences at each location. While I didn’t necessarily stop and meditate at the meditation pool, it was a very calm place to sit in the warm winter sun for a few minutes. Until I saw some other things to photograph….
Fort Worth, Texas
photographed 12.26.2013
Three barriers
These three skinny sentries keep (everyone hopes) cars from turning into the pedestrian walkway at this parking garage. I like how the concrete is discolored where people walk, and lighter where they don’t. And I like the way the posts lean slightly in different directions, as though they are getting tired of standing there.
Fort Worth, Texas
photographed 12.26.2013
Connections
A few days ago, blogger Merilee and I were trading comments on Far West Texas; she mentioned photographing a particular mural in the Alpine train station when her Chicago-Los Angeles train had made a stop. I knew the mural, and had in fact photographed it myself just a few months ago. We decided that we’d each post the photo that Merilee dubbed the Alpine Man. Here’s mine:
You can see Merilee’s photo of the Alpine Man here..
Nice connection to have made.
But wait. There’s more. In a recent post, Merilee included a poem written by W. C. Jameson. Turns out that W.C. and Merilee collaborate from time to time, pairing his poems with her photos. But what closes this circle, which is smaller and tighter than I could have imagined, is this: W. C.’s wife Laurie and I have been friends for nearly twenty years. Those of you who know my blog The Poetry of Photography may recognize her name as the poet who contributed the first 359 poems on that blog.
Connections. Indeed.
Alpine, Texas
photographed 8.16.2013
Fair enough
After I got through looking at this building, I wandered to the vacant place next door. The sign on the front proclaimed it to be a hail-repair business (which tend to come and go, depending on the weather: this one was out of business), but the back wall held this important message.
Lubbock, Texas
photographed 12.24.2013
Shadows on a distant wall
My cat, Balboa, gets credit here: if she hadn’t needed to go to the vet, I wouldn’t have driven by this vacant place and noticed what the low winter sunlight did to the dusty windows. And I wouldn’t have gone back a few days later to see what else was there.
It was a good find, and you’ll see more of this place. But for today, check out the way the peeling letters (that used to say “Sexton Automotive”) cast a shadow on that far wall.
Lubbock, Texas
photographed 12.24.2013
PS: Balboa is fine. She just needed shots. The vet called her a “big girl” which is a LOT nicer than saying she’s fat, right?
