desert vision

“one breath of juniper smoke, like the perfume of sagebrush after rain, evokes in magical catalysis, like certain music, the space and light and clarity and piercing strangeness of the american west. long may it burn.”
― Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire

buckskin gulch 1

buckskin gulch 2

buckskin gulch 3

buckskin gulch 4

buckskin gulch 5

drifting in red sands before the edge of the longest and deepest slot canyon, the landscape is full of magic. rock formations hold ancient petroglyphs, telling the story of the land and people that have lived here for thousands of years.

petroglyphs near buckskin gulch

sandstone formations 1

sandstone formations 2

sandstone formations 3

sandstone formations 4

sandstone formations 5

large swaths of this land were at the bottom of the ocean that divided the continent. now, it is rich with sage, juniper, scrub oak, and cacti – even moss.

tumbleweed 1

tumbleweed 2

tumbleweed 3

tumbleweed 4

tumbleweed 5

the colors, otherworldly – the designs of nature, striking.

desert cacti

desert flower

desert seed

desert cacti

flowering shrub

climbing deep into the slot canyon, the temperature drops, shadows slide over liquid stone. echoes of the floods – walls of water and debris, their markings left as tree trunks and branches held by the narrow walls, high overhead.

slot canyon 1

slot canyon 2

slot canyon 3

slot canyon 4

slot canyon 5

“men come and go, cities rise and fall, whole civilizations appear and disappear-the earth remains, slightly modified. the earth remains, and the heartbreaking beauty where there are no hearts to break….I sometimes choose to think, no doubt perversely, that man is a dream, thought an illusion, and only rock is real. Rock and sun.”
― Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness

light architecture – spain.5

it is striking, how architecture has transformed with the use of artificial light

in spain, there are many structures (more than a century ago) created with only considerations of natural light

created in relationship to cycles of day to night, season to season, and the interplay of light with materiality

places for meditation, prayer, contemplation, retreat, and community congregation have light imbedded into their structures

transformational it is, to be considering the natural and ever-changing source of light, the form that will be sculpted from that light, and the surfaces to be illuminated

how memorable to the eye, and to the deeper experience of those who are held within?

silence architecture – spain.3

in the convents and monasteries of spain

the architecture speaks of silence

a shelter from the noise of life

for quiet reflection

for living in the silence of being

still

palm springs modern

the inspired architecture of the desert,

standing still in time for more than 50 years..

capturing light, sheltering shade,

soaring over the landscape

all grace and beauty

tramway gas station (enco) by albert frey, 1965 - palm springs

tramway gas station (enco), 1965, by albert frey - palm springs

tramway gas station (enco) 1965, albert frey - palm springs

tramway gas station (enco) 1965, robert frey - palm springs

tramway gas station (enco) by albert frey, 1965 - palm springs

palm springs modern - estate home 1

palm springs modern - estate home 2

palm springs modern - desert home 1

palm springs modern - desert home 2

palm springs modern - desert home 3

palm springs modern - estate home 3

palm springs modern - estate home 4

palm springs modern desert home 4

palm springs modern - estate home 5

palm springs modern - estate home 6

kaufmann house 1946, richard neutra - palm springs

visitor center - tramway gas station

spirit architecture – spain.2

evening shadow in the alhambra gardens – granada, spain

in spain, for thousands of years, architecture has been infused with the essence of human spirit

catedral primada santa maria de toledo - spain

human form, and the spirit of imagination have inspired the creation of powerful structures

virgin of montserrat – santa maria de montserrat monastery, spain

for centuries the benedictine monastery of montserrat developed around the legend of the black virgin – now a place of pilgrimage for millions

santa maria de montserrat – spain

elaborate courtyards, passageways, plazas, and intricately detailed structures inspire the continual flow of seekers

ribbed vaults of the monastery of montserrat

angel gracing the entrance to the shrine at montserrat - spain

scripts, hands, ribs, angels, saints, spirits – all deeply embedded into the form, the essence of buildings, in every detail

in the cloister of tortosa cathedral – spain

spirits that have passed become part of the walls

tortosa cathedral angel – spain

spirits carved out of the same materials of the structure – radiant and alive – polished skin and stone made fluid into wings and robes

gauidi’s sagrada familia facade – barcelona, spain

spirits emerging out of the structure – in the arches, window frames, and columns – growing out of the stone and earth

gaudi's park guell - barcelona, spain

human spirits are lifted from the ground, through the columns, to the arches and domes – upward into the light

central dome of the sagrada familia - spain

a striking reminder of how architecture can be a powerful embodiment of the spirit – how it can be the soul of the people who create it, or of those who are held within

tortosa cathedral - spain

or the spirit of those who have passed through

catedral primada santa maria de toledo – spain

or the spirit of those who surround it, or the community that is sheltered or inspired by it’s presence

granada cathedral - spain

or the eyes looking toward what cannot be seen

santa maria del mar - barcelona, spain

windows into the past and future

santa maria del mar – barcelona, spain

or the realization of collective dreams

shadow at the alhambra gate - granada, spain

or places to find your own shadow, in the dreams of a thousand years past.

lighthouse series #5 – kilauea lighthouse, kauai

kilauea lighthouse #1 - kauai, hawaii

out on kilauea point, atop the rolling green bluffs of northern kauai, the kilauea lighthouse still stands, as it has for nearly 100 years.

kilauea point - kauai, hawaii

anchored in quiet grace against the lashing winds, standing serene above the rocky black cliffs and crashing waves below.

kilauea lighthouse bluff - kauai

home to thousands of migratory seabirds nesting at kīlauea point national wildlife refuge, hypnotic to watch as they soar and dive along the cliffs above the surf.  laysan albatrosses, red-footed boobies, brown boobies, red-tailed and white-tailed tropicbirds, great frigatebirds, and wedge-tailed shearwaters all visit the refuge.

kilauea lighthouse #2 - kauai

atop the lighthouse, the historic fresnel lens is still held in a glass enclosure on the sturdy white concrete tower of 52 feet, streaked with rust from the iron roof and casings.

kilauea lighthouse lantern room - kauai

some notes on the lens, excerpted from information posted inside the lighthouse:

fresnel lens - kilauea lighthouse, kauai

the four ton fresnel lens is the largest clamshell lens in the world, 300 hand ground glass lenses and prisms, made by french craftsmen in 1912.  the prism design of the lens created a double flash every ten seconds.

the lighthouse’s 2,500,000 candlepower beam could be seen 20 miles by sea and over 90 miles by air on a clear night. the light was retired in 1976, replaced by the automatic beacon.

kilauea lighthouse #3 - kauai

the white concrete pillar glows as the sun sinks to the west, coming alive in the darkening sky.

kilauea lighthouse #4 - kauai

it is a continual quest, exploring these beacons of light, made with skill, innovation and craft, kept with great care through the passing of days into nights.  the perpetual beam of light, striking a path through darkness, anchored in the storm, piercing through the mists, constant in winds, striking straight into lightning.. holding steady, serene, shining in all.

light of the past

remembering

warehouse windows – seattle

streaming light

old garage windows – seattle

is seen

the cloisters – new york

in the reflections

walking shadow – decatur island

of what has come

the cloisters – new york

before

steam plant smokestack – spokane

lighthouse series #4 – cape florida lighthouse

historic photo – cape florida lighthouse, miami – key biscayne

in planning my first visit to miami, exploring the architectural heritage of south beach – morris lapidus’ fountainebleau, the streamline moderne art deco lined ocean drive, and a launching point to the everglades and onward to the southern tip of the country, key west.

pathway to the light – cape florida

on the lookout for old structures, and lighthouses – i found both here – the oldest structure in miami-dade county.

from the beach – cape florida lighthouse

the original lighthouse and cottage, built in 1825, were attacked and burned in 1836 by Seminole warriors protesting U.S. presence in the South Florida wilderness and resisting deportation from Florida to the West.

white light into blue – cape florida lighthouse

When the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1855-1856, it was extended from 65 feet to its present 95 feet in height, and wooden stairs were replaced with 119 spiraling iron steps to the top.

door marker – cape florida lighthouse

the first day i’d arrived too late.. the door, locked. i came back the next day, to climb

the light – cape florida lighthouse

119 steps

the climb – cape florida lighthouse

upward, the curving rhythm of steps, bolts, spiraling – hypnotic

spiraling structure – cape florida lighthouse

the spine – cape florida lighthouse

the steps – cape florida lighthouse

nearing the light – cape florida lighthouse

cape florida lighthouse

cape florida lighthouse

cape florida lighthouse

reaching the top platform, a door opens out to the sea

the place under the light – cape florida lighthouse

reconnecting to the brilliant sun, splintering light-shards over the water

the top, the sea – cape florida lighthouse

then one last climb, up to the housing of the beacon – original fresnel lens now replaced

at the top – cape florida lighthouse

final ascent – cape florida lighthouse

from the light to the sea – cape florida lighthouse

from here, the glass is etched with salted air, the ocean, shrouded in this veil

i wonder of the mysteries of all that has passed here before, seen and guided, held within the walls, shone out to the world

on this year-end, i wonder what will come out of the mist, in light

lighthouse series #3 – seattle’s smith tower lighthouse

smith tower is seattle’s original skyscraper – part of every architectural landmark tour of seattle - it’s graceful and delicate sillouette still a prominant mark on the cityscape. the tower’s historic status eclipses it’s distinction as a lighthouse.

tower stair to the light – smith tower, seattle

i had the unique opportunity to experience the lighthouse, under the pyramidal top of smith tower during a reception held there. this mythical place has been profiled in the new york times, and the story told by its resident light-keeper.

stair to the light - smith tower, seattle

unlike other lighthouses, the access to the light – a glass globe at the top of the tower – is a steel ladder through a concrete chute just barely large enough to squeeze through. 

ladder to the light - smith tower, seattle

 the transformation from being compressed and surrounded by concrete, to floating above the city in a glass globe was breathtaking..

light globe - smith tower, seattle

the feeling inside this glass ball, floating above the city is dreamlike.

city lights from the globe - smith tower, seattle

just light, glass, reflections – a way of seeing and feeling the city as never before. like flying dreams.

view from the globe – smith tower, seattle

an unforgettable experience – i remember it as much with my body as my eyes – being inside that floating dreamlike light-beacon.

inside the light – smith tower, seattle

being light.

lighthouse series #2 – key west

key west lighthouse - florida

lighthouse door with banyan tree - key west lighthouse, florida

reflecting on the year past, and in to the light of the next..

wrought iron ring lock - key west lighthouse, florida

beginning the journey again, today — climbing the 88 steps of key west lighthouse, up to the light – to look out

stair tower - inside key west lighthouse - florida

lantern oil coiling upward - key west lighthouse, florida

on the southern edge of the country, a shimmering blue ocean in the most brilliant sun – a glimpse of light in the opening of the year to come

light portal - key west lighthouse - florida

seeing all beauty in light on this quest..

top of the lighthouse - key west, florida

the circular spiral, the stair is the passage of space and time, experience and energy, light and beauty

windows in the lighthouse cupola - key west, florida

an inspiring opening to 2011, a hope whispered in the wind – to see more light in all things

shaft window - key west lighthouse, florida

to see all light reflected, refracted, magnified, spectral – the pure energy of being alive

fresnel lens - key west lighthouse, florida

here

now