6 places

St. Mary's Hall
St. Mary’s Hall was locked when I tried to go in, but the place always gives me a kind of hushed and awed feeling whenever I go in, a sense that important or serious things go on here. Even though I have seen goofy SMC-Men performances and Dance Show performances here as well as poetry readings and guest lecturers, I’m always overwhelmed by a sense of “Shhh!!” when I walk in.

Historic:

I feel that the coffee house in Historic is a pretty neat building. I love seeing historical re-enactments and restoration of historic buildings. I feel that it’s a form of art to not only research these places and times, but then have the imagination and creativity to re-construct and re-enact them. I know I wouldn’t have the patience to do it myself, but I admire the people who do, and I love the end result, and the feeling you get of being transported back in time.

Grave:

I have sat on this bench before and looked at the grave and out at the water, and never really stopped to think about the fact that it IS a grave, and that people might come to this spot to grieve or remember, whereas I have only come there to look at the water or relax. After hearing the story on our walk, I definitely felt a little more somber the next time I sat on that bench.

Shoe Tree:

The shoe tree has always been kind of fascinating, simply because of the sheer number of different kinds and colors of shoes that dangle from its branches. I’m always curious about the choice of shoes tossed into the tree. Do the shoes themselves have any significance, or were they just a pair that could be spared? It’s a spot that always makes me stop to think about all the different things that people could possibly have done to make them want to toss a pair of shoes into the tree.

Gym:

The first thing I notice whenever I go into the gym is the sound of squeaking shoes and the smell of the chlorine from the pool. I swam for ten years, and any time I go into the gym and catch a whiff of that chlorine smell, I instantly feel at home. The smell of chlorine has been such a constant in my life, and it always brings to mind the sensation of moving through the water and the sight of the line on the bottom of the pool.

Grind:

The Daily Grind and the area in front of it will always be a place of some of my fondest memories at SMCM. It is a place that always evokes memories of being with friends – eating food there with my roommates late at night, watching friends perform at coffee house, chatting with friends working at the Grind or in the campus store – it’s always about the warm, happy feeling that comes from spending time with friends.

Six Places

The arena being empty and quiet was such a different experience for me. When I think of the arena, I think of a huge crowd of people, loud cheering, basketball, and the room being filled with excitement. When I went into the arena with the class and by myself, the arena was completely opposite of how it’s embedded into my memory. It was quiet, there was no cheering, and the arena looked so big. The arena is a place of social gathering, but walking into the empty arena had a different vibe. It was not a bad vibe, but very different. Instead of the “pumped up” feeling I usually get after an athletic event, the empty arena left me nostalgic and appreciative of the events and memories from there.

Whenever I walk by the Shoe Tree, I always take a moment to admire it. It is truly a unique and creative piece of art. There is so much meaning behind it and it can really only be appreciated by the St. Mary’s community. The Shoe Tree can be perceived in many ways. To some, the tree dirties the image of the campus and to some, it is beautiful. The Shoe Tree is located in the perfect spot by all the dorms. Many of those who contributed to the Shoe Tree probably lived in one of the residence halls in their underclassman years.

Whenever I go to the Campus Center, it is always filled with people walking by, going to the Great Room, people waiting in line at the Grind, and people browsing the Bookstore. This is where much of the St. Mary’s community comes to get food and drink. Eating and drinking are two very social activities that bring people together. Friends get together for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even for coffee and snacks. It may not have the same atmosphere as the Arena in the ARC, but it is still a very busy area where people come to spend time together.

I have never spent much time in Historic St. Mary’s, so it was very interesting to walk through that area and to see the coffeehouse. The coffeehouse was very dark and solemn to me as I approached it with the class and on my own. It was starting to get dark both times I went, which added to the empty feeling and gloominess of the area. However, it was fascinating to learn that people came to that coffeehouse way long ago just as people now go to the Grind (besides the alcoholic beverages being served). It was also an area of social activity, just as the Campus Center, the Shoe Tree, and the Arena.

When we stopped at the memorial spot for Justin Bates, I did not really see how this place fit in with the previous four places we visited. The graveyard is a quiet place respecting and memorializing people that have passed. It has a more serious atmosphere in comparison to the four previous places. However, after it was pointed out that this particular memorial bench and plaque were by the path that leads to the Point, I quickly realized that this memorial was placed in a great location. It has a great view by the water and many people pass this way to socialize at the Point.

The only other times I have been to St. Mary’s Hall have been for the dance show. It was strange entering the building with the class, because the room was so empty. Similar to the Arena, this area to me is a place of many people, music, applause, and performance. The atmosphere was very different from the Arena, because St. Mary’s Hall has a more serious vibe to it when it is empty or full. However, my memories of the events that occurred at each place involved a social gathering with many people and great experiences.

6 PLACES

Grave:
Of all the place on the list, I felt the most uncomfortable here. The intrinsic value that others feel for this place, both humbled me, and made me feel as if i was intruding. The placement of the bench, further personified the grave by suggesting conversation. What continued to humble me, was the face that the bench was designed to seat more than one. This raised questions such as, "do groups come to meet here?" or "are visitors likely to run into each other"?

Courts:

The layout of the gym is perfect. This is done by positioning the bleachers out of sight when facing the hoop, and retractable practice rims (that allow less accurate players the opportunity to develop without tainting the real rim). It is wonderful to see a gym built for practicing, which then is converted into a game court, and not the other way around. This is important because every shot taken in a game, had thousands in its development.

Shoe Tree:

The placement of the tree is what makes it truly special. From the path it appears an extension of the forest behind it, while from behind it one cannot help but admire the human involvement. It serves almost as a buffer between the unknown and our campus. Although it's assumed that the activity was undertaken by all of the shoe throwers, it is interesting to note that some are tied together. This changes the whole attitude of their permanence, and the emotion it instills on people.


In front of the Grind

Its hard for me to construct an artistic depiction of such a plain space. Of all the places, this one is the most mediocre. It serves its purpose as an indoor unit that connects two shops. The colors are far from comforting, the lighting is overwhelmed by the adjacent stores, and the seating is stiff. No meaningful sense of place. The outside seating area does allow for a more scenic social gathering. During the day, people never fail to relax by the found, or sit on the steps. The contrast of the indoor outdoor preference is interesting.

Concert Hall:

This building is rather intimidating, both in stature and exclusiveness. Its seclusion from the main part of campus gives it a filter of purpose. This was apparent, because the average student has would not randomly end up here. The intimidating factor was also aided by the fact that I was not allowed in thanks to the lock.

Historic:

Beautiful waterfront property...ugly decaying structure. Although importance is placed in what the structure once was, all that remains is a rebuild eye sore. The back drop of the water presents and opportunity for a beautiful view during a sun set, but this area is closed after dark. I try to inspire myself into imagining it in its original setting, but all I could focus on was how much more fitting and oped field would be. This structure takes away from the fauna's aesthetically pleasing potential, while providing nothing in return.

Six Places

1. The Arc

Both times I visited the Arc for this assignment the main basketball court was empty.  Despite the lack of both people and noise, the court still has an loud and active vibe about it.  I am obviously influenced by my own memories of the Arc, but I think this vibe would occur to someone who had never been to the Arc, and maybe even someone who had never even been to a gym.  The layout and acoustics of the gym give away the activities that take place there daily.  There is also a strange contrast of both serious and fun elements in the gym.  Whether the game taking place in the gym is a varsity sporting event or pick up among friends, it can be both competitive and enjoyable.  Also the different parts of the gym are more serious than others.  In the main gym specifically, the stands are more light hearted, while the court is more competitive and serious.  

2.  The Shoe Tree

The shoe tree was definitely my favorite spot we visited during our walk.  This landmark, like a few of the others visited on the walk, is extremely unique to our campus.  It is interesting and can be provocative, depending on the explanation given to you by your tour guide.  Though it seems like the least serious landmark, it represents a lot of history (in a different way than the coffee house in Historic might).  Each pair of shoes represents a different person and a different story.  The shoe tree represents a different aspect of St. Mary's history, an aspect that is more relatable for students.  It also represents the corky, carefree side of St. Mary's, though maybe frowned on by administration, is an undeniable trademark of this school. 

3. The Campus Center

The Campus Center was the definitely the busiest spot I visited on both walks.  This is probably because it serves as a gateway to many other places: the campus store, the patio, the library, the mail room, the help desk, and the Great Room.  On my second walk, there was a woman set up outside the grind who was selling posters.  The woman had obviously picked (or been assigned to) this spot because it is the center of campus.  Not only is it literally in the center of campus, it also houses the places that most students need to visit everyday.  People are always hanging out on the patio when they want to be social because they know they will run into almost everyone for some reason or another.  

4. Coffeehouse in Historic

This spot, like we discussed in class, directly contrasts the Campus Center.  Unlike the campus center, this coffeehouse was completely empty.  It was hard to see into and impossible to get into because it was locked.  I assume that it must be open at certain times or on certain days, however I, and probably most other students, do not know when those times are.  This also contrasts to the Campus Center because almost all students know when the Campus Center will be open and plan certain aspects of their days accordingly. While most students visit the Campus Center several times a day, it would be surprising if a student visited the coffeehouse at all.  Most students visit Historic St. Mary's at least once in their career here for various reasons.  I cannot speak for other students, but though I have visited Historic several times, I never know what any of the buildings actually were, including the coffeehouse.  Historic is such an interesting cultural aspect of our campus that is overlooked by most students.  Though unfortunate, this is understandable because unlike the shoe tree, the coffeehouse is not a relatable source of history for students.

5. Grave

Though the coffeehouse started a more somber vibe on the walk, this spot was definitely when the walk got much more serious.  The sites like the Arc, the shoe tree, and the campus center (all on one side of the river) were more lively and even silly.  However, once I walked through Historic and ended up at the grave, I lost that feeling.  The spot, looking out on the water, is definitely a place to think.  Though there are many graves around, this one sticks out.  Not knowing much about the death, I was left thinking about the things I did know.  For example, I know that he was the son of St. Mary's professors.  Though sad, this incorporates a special connection to St. Mary's and its history.  The first time we visited the grave, we commented on the shells that had been put on the grave.  The second time I went back, more flowers and a piece of driftwood had been added to the shells.  This gave me even more to think about.  Since the death occurred several years ago, I wonder how many people on campus are still aware of the incident and of the grave.  And out of those people, who is still visiting the graves and leaving the tokens. 

 

7. St. Mary’s Hall

This final site is a good way to end the walk.  While ending there made me feel like we had visited the St. Mary’s spectrum, I also felt like we had come full circle.  We started with fun and lively, and ended with somber and quiet.  However, St. Mary’s Hall still connects back to the first place we visited, the Arc.  Similarly, both spots are performance areas however they differ greatly.  Things performed in the Arc are big and loud, while things performed in St. Mary’s are intimate and quiet.  I enjoyed the quiet in St. Mary’s Hall because it allowed me to think about all the places I had just visited, what they mean to me, and how they relate to each other.  

Places

The most striking aspect of the athletic center was the echo. The noises of squeaky sneakers and a basketball bouncing came to mind. After that I started to imagine the fans, and their loud cheering. There seemed to be remnants of energy left behind by both the fans, and the athletes. This space brings people together in a very active way. Both the fans and the athletes are often jumping around, screaming, and displaying their liveliness and pride in one of the loudest ways possible. Even when the arena is empty, it never seems to be too quiet, or still; always holding onto a piece of the energy that was left behind.

The shoe-tree reminded me of something one might see at a sculpture garden. The variety of color and texture contrast very well with the neutral colors of the tree. However, at the same time, some of the more faded shoes and shoelaces seemed to be morphing into a lighter brown color, as if they were camouflaging with the tree. The semi-private meaning of the tree’s significance seems to add to its importance. The idea behind all of the shoes is something that ties the St. Mary’s students together in a completely silent way. The dangling shoes seem to represent a kind of quiet pride that enhances the small community atmosphere, and the traditions held at St. Mary’s.

While the area surrounding the Grind typically goes unnoticed, it seems to be one of the most active places on campus. Even at relatively quiet hours, there is always someone there. On my tour, the campus center (and the Grind area), are actually part of the reason I decided to come to St. Mary’s. For some reason, even before I was a student here, I noticed the amount of energy and life coming from this particular area. Now, the space seems slightly more mundane, but still a necessary part of St. Mary’s campus.

The tall ceiling is what captured my attention when I was walking past the coffee house. The fact that this venue served wine and beer, along with coffee seems rather surprising to me. I did not think that this early on in history, this would be an acceptable place for social gathering. The small door seemed too add to the fact that social gathering was prevalent in this building. For me, the under-sized entrance enhanced the cozy and comfortable atmosphere.

The atmosphere of the graveyard was strangely comforting. When I’m in a graveyard such as this, I try not to think of the many lives that were lost, but the fact that people were here before me. The graveyard enhances the idea that was planted into my head from historic St. Mary’s City: the thought that hundreds of years ago, there were people living where we live. While people were part of a different society and time period, they still dealt with some of the problems that we continue to face today. Another comforting aspect of the graveyard is that even though the people are no longer physically present, their memories, and ideas are carried on by those who care for them.

St. Mary’s Hall is probably one of my favorite spaces on campus. The space feels completely peaceful, and simultaneously inspiring. I feel like I’m part of something that is bigger than both myself, and St. Mary’s. The interior is relatively modern, and sharply contrasts with the nearby Historic St. Mary’s City. However, this is another reason why I seem to identify with this building. One aspect of the hall is that it is small, quiet, and quaint. However, the interior also seems to be an all encompassing, limitless space. While there is room for a rather large and seemingly distracting audience, the focal point always seems to be directed at the hardwood stage, toward the performer.

Places and Spaces

The Michael P. O’Brien arena is a radical place on campus. When no one is in the arena but yourself, it’s fairly quiet but not quite isolated. Other times it is a loud and bustling place for people to play sports or watch a performance. The rules pertaining to the arena’s usage are a bit strict, and it was locked when I visited. When it is open, it becomes a place to be entertained with other many other people, though it is not as personally sociable like the Daily Grind area is.

The Shoe Tree is an example of something that is both public and private. The tangle of footwear can be viewed as a public sculpture, but the purpose remains a mystery to those that weren’t in the loop originally, giving the tree some private meaning and ascending it to the status of an enigma. Examination of some of the shoes and the cords that hold them lead me to believe that people have been adding shoes to the tree for a long time. Perhaps the senior class leaves some of their shoes to symbolize that they’ll always be a part of the college.

The area outside of the campus store is an obvious social gathering place with a coffee shop literally steps away, but it’s also a sort of central hub for college life. Books are there, food is there, just about everything you could need is around that spot. I noted a few people sitting at one of the tables having a conversation and one or two in the campus store, with a few more people walking through. The Daily Grind/campus store area is truly the path most traveled around here.

The historic area’s coffeehouse is an odd specimen in that it isn’t used for its intended purpose anymore. A few centuries ago it was a social gathering place where people would chat over coffee and other drinks, much like the Daily Grind. Today it is the equivalent of an artifact in a museum, something that remains so the past isn’t forgotten. One specific element of the coffeehouse is the small doorway that many people today would not be able to fit in comfortably. It’s clear that people were shorter on average just by looking at one part of the building.

The bench and memorial at the cemetery is an oddball compared to the rest of the scenery. The memorial is a plaque facing the sea and was made in memory of Justin Bates, the son of two faculty members here. His death was untimely and he is missed by many, but he is not completely gone. People often leave mementos at the site and there are even a few social gatherings in the vicinity. Doing some research, I also learned that there is a Justin Bates Memorial scholarship, which is an honour to say the least. Similar to the shoe tree, Justin left a part of himself at the school, as the plaque well states, but also lives on in the memories of those who knew him.

St. Mary’s Hall is both similar and dissimilar to the ARC arena in that performances are held in both, but the Hall almost seems hidden; when you walk in it is unlike any other place on campus. It’s eerily quiet, and when a performance is held there it’s as if the rest of the world doesn’t matter, just for that moment. The stage is large enough for a few people and there are a little over a hundred seats for the audience, so the performances seem more personal.

Alan Sokol

six places

1) The ARC

It's actually very hard for me to think of this place in an artistic way. I guess I can say the meaning of facilities like the ARC, a stadium, a school’s gym, etc. has been construed by my personal experience; I have developed a bias against sports... The ARC -though I will go there to exercise- is almost something I wish to avoid. The arena is cool though, when you are alone. Its vast emptiness is interesting, it takes on a whole new meaning, as if it is a void. There is no past, present, or future there… Just a strange feeling of nothing.

2) The Shoe Tree

I remember the first time I saw the shoe tree a couple of years ago. It was so amazing to me; it looked so heavy with the weight of shoes, it seemed like a miracle that the tree was still standing under so many shoes. (I actually think there were more shoes on it then than there are now… Either my memory is false, or I think that a lot of shoes have been removed.) I felt like it had so much energy I could practically see it like smoke, coming off of the shoes and into the sky. How it looks now has changed since I learned why kids throw their shoes up there... It’s almost as if it’s been a little degraded. This isn’t because the reason why kids throw shoes up there is silly (even though it IS silly) but simply because it’s no longer a mystery to me anymore. It just goes to show, that sometimes something is more interesting when it is unknown.

3) The Campus Center

I love the campus center, there’s always something happening there. The longer I stay here, the more meaning it has for me. It is slowly starting to feel like home to me and I can feel it carving a place into my heart, though it isn’t quite there yet. Unlike the shoe tree, or historic St. Mary’s, I don’t feel and see the past but instead the present and the future. The fact that it is unknown is quite exciting, and although I am not consciously considering all of this while I’m visiting the campus center, I am certainly feeling it.

4) Historic St. Mary's

How the historic city is portrayed to us is ENTIRELY dependant on its history. You don’t just look at it and see frames of houses, you imagine the houses built up completely, with the wooden walls, roof, and brick fire place. You imagine who might of lived in those houses, went to the church, the coffee house. You might even create, in your mind, the roads/paths on which they walked on… This is a place that is completely in your own mind. Before I knew it was the historic St. Mary’s, I thought it was just some sheds that people were building. It wasn’t very interesting to me until I found out what it was.

5) The Grave

What a beautiful spot to be buried. Graveyards have never been really depressing for me, I enjoy going through them and looking at how old the graves are and imagining the people. Like the shoe tree, each grave is the nametag for a different person, who lived at a different time that I did. I think the same why about cars when I’m driving on the highway… Each car represents at least one different person, who lives a completely different life than I do and here our lives briefly meet on the road. Graves have been tacked on with sadness for the lost, especially at this particular grave. A student, just like I, who drowned at the point, a place I enjoy visiting. That all gives this grave very significant meaning and changes it’s entire appearance. I wonder if his shoes are in the shoe tree…

6) St. Mary's Hall

This is just like the arena in the ARC, that vast emptiness. It feels kind of heavy being that quiet. Though this space isn’t as big as the ARC’s arena… It’s filled with seats. On stage it is kind of frightening though, to be on stage with empty seats staring at you. You feel like people should be sitting in those seats, but no one is there. It sends shivers down my spine. It seems all of these places I have listed are connected with people, people who aren’t there, have been there, are there, or should be there. Without people, all of these places take on very different meanings.

6 Places

The hallway leading up to the gymnasium/stadium is pretty quite at this time in the early afternoon, only a handful of people walking from the weight room or the cardio machines. I step up to the glass separating the hallway from the gym and peer inside. A team of girls (possibly SMCM affiliated) is practicing basketball-shooting techniques. They shoot and then wait for another ball to be passed from a teammate, and this goes on for several cycles. It feels odd looking in through the glass, the lights are not all the way turned on inside, and it gives a “hidden” quality to the team and the gym as a whole.

After leaving the Arc I follow the same path we walked during class and the next stop is the shoe tree. Since it is still fairly early in the morning I am not surprised that I do not see much activity at this spot. Now that I realized that I would not be seeing anyone “interacting” with the tree, the whole spot seems sort of empty and forgotten. However, that does not mean that the tree seems any less important, if anything the shoe tree has the feeling that it is just waiting for the next student to visit. The shoe tree, to me at least, is a spot that should be visited latter in the day, it seems more important then.

Following the path behind Dorchester, I walk down past St. John’s pond and arrive at the Campus Center. Specifically I walk into the café area in-between the Daily Grind and the Campus Store. There is a group of people sitting at a table talking about what’s playing on the TV and at the bar is a man reading a book. Even though this looks to be one of the most casual places on campus there is an air of seriousness about the place. As if this is the place that some people come to power through stressful assignments, but at the same time people come here for a light atmosphere. I guess the café is the best of both worlds at St. Mary’s; people walk through on a daily basis but some take the time to sit and just be in the moment.

The next location is the old coffee house in Historic St. Mary’s. Unlike at the Daily Grind, there is no one getting coffee here (at least when I visited). The building is a shell of what was once a major point of interest, one where the original inhabitants of Maryland would talk and share stories, but not anymore, it’s just a relic now. Since I can not see the Coffee House in it’s original state, I can only guess that it was something similar to the Daily Grind; the Coffee House probably held plenty of people and everyone most likely would have enjoyed being there. But as I look in through the windows I can only imagine how important it was and I can only imagine what someone 200 years from now will think of how important the Daily Grind was.

I then walk through Historic and the Trinity Church graveyard and arrive at the Justin Bates memorial marker. It so strange to think that in all the times that I walked past this marker last year to go to the Point, I never once stopped to look at the marker. But now that I am, the whole area seems so much more…fragile. This marker is a place for reflection, remembrance and appreciation of what is around me. The bench and the Marker with Justin’s name on it are both very simple, but they speak for all the years between Justin Bates’ death and now. This spot stands in sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of the other locations.

Finally I walk back through the graveyard, hop the same fence I did when the class visited these locations, and arrive at the doors of St. Mary’s Hall. If anything this is sort of an awkward last stop, I have never felt much connection or feeling for St. Mary’s Hall, I only know that it is used for visiting comedians and other musical performances. The hall was once a place of learning and now is a place of performance, which I suppose really is a form of learning, just much different from the classical sense. From the outside entrance to the hall I can see people out in kayaks on the river and I get the feeling that this is the perfect place for St. Mary’s Hall, one where a place of learning is fully greeted by the natural world outside.

Places

The arena is empty except for one person, he’s shooting hoops facing the door. There must be something special about this basketball court, or this athlete; I passed the other gym on my way into the ARC, and it was full of people playing basketball together. The arena seems to large for one person. All of the seats are empty, but not absent. The lack of an audience still seems to see the basketball player, like the empty seats are watching his efforts. He reminds me of a musician, practicing his songs in a quiet room. The arena is for many to watch and one, or a few, to perform.

I need coffee. Upstairs, they’re all out, and this is a crisis. It’s late morning? I go to the Grind like I always do: I race through the tables, they’re in the way of my caffeine and they slow me down like hurdles on a track. The t.v. is on, someone is watching, someone is studying and trying not to watch, and for me it’s all background noise. Order, no room for cream please, smile at the coffee boy, sip the coffee fast. Then, I can sit down. I can relax and talk to my roommate, who got pulled here by my coffee needs. Everyone sitting around-they were hurdles before- was brought here by the my habit, but it’s theirs, instead. And we share that, sitting in the coffee chairs.

I shouldn’t have come to the shoe tree during the day, that isn’t The Time. Although no one has ever specified that there is A Time. But you just know. You go to the shoe tree in the middle of the night. The stars are winking, the black night envelopes you, and you feel alive when you whip those shoes off, tie them together, and throw them back to the great tree. They land perfectly on the shoe branches on the first throw, of course. The tree is the perfect place. It’s always growing. You leave behind your sacred memory, and the memories grow behind you as you and everyone else leaves their secrets behind. During this sleepy afternoon. Everyone passes the tree. They walk to their classes and dorms, and no one even looks at the tree. It just is, existing. No one would dare see the shoe tree now, but everyone knows its secrets.

St. Mary’s Hall is closed. Which I expected- there is no lecture or performance now. With nothing to watch, the stage is closed and empty. Inside, it’s more intimate than the arena. The focus is on the stage, the high ceilings rise above you… but you are right next to the where the performer should be. The seats are not raised so that you feel separate. But still, there is a place to be watched, and seats to sit when you are watching.

The Private inn at Historic is museum? Which is strange, considering that it was a hub of conversation once. The political elite of Maryland ate there, drank there, slept there. The tourists amble through in the breezy, sunny hallway, and it’s much like the grind would be if it were reduced to a fact sheet. The coffee would be gone, the t.v. off, people would give no more purpose to it but as an oddity, a remnant of a weird coffee culture. All the life would be sucked out of it, like the inn is now.

“He is made one with Nature: there is heard

His voice in all her music, from the moan

Of thunder, to the song of night’s sweet bird;

He is a presence to be felt and known

In darkness and in light, from herb and stone”

The afternoon is pleasant. Somehow I forgot that on Sunday afternoons, churchgoers leave next to the graveyard. A little girl asked why my feet are bare, I told her the grass is soft. You can feel the earth better when your feet touch it. I’m sitting on the bench, by the marker. Even in the sunlight, it isn’t hot. Just comfortable. Someone has added to the marker since I was here last; there is a chunk of driftwood, and an angel statuette with small glistening hands. The oyster shells still line the marker, and I find it incredible that this spirit is so loved. It’s much like the tree- the memory of Justin is left behind, resides there. But his love is always growing, in the beautiful days, the swimmers passing by, the soft grass, the little girls in church dresses, the father teaching history in the graveyard, the rain that runs down the hill to greet the river, the oyster shells that are given as tokens, and the angel with the shimmering hands.

“There is heard His voice in all her music.”

what is art

Art to me is a way for people to express themselves. Art can sometimes have symbollic meaning,or it can just be a reproduction of an image. It sometimes has the value of psysical beauty. It is something which can require talent and creativity. Art is a very general term for something which is actuallyvery diverse.