Today I heard the river calling on a spectacular day at the Falls of the Ohio. Apparently, I was not the only one who heeded this call and the park is already full of people upon my arrival. I checked out the fossil cliffs and quickly determined that there were too many people at this location for me and I moved on. Ducking under the trees I moved into the shade, but before I did I stopped to hear an American goldfinch that had taken up residence on a willow branch right above my head. His perch is on the borderline of sunshine and shadow and he was singing away in his timeless goldfinch way. In appreciation I took in every note as though his song was meant for me.
Under the protection of the forest’s canopy, I came across many other spring birds including a magnificent male Pileated Woodpecker hammering away at the soft wood of a decayed log in his pursuit of wood ants and beetle larvae. I even came across a turtle…although it’s not the type you typically find out here. It is, however, a reminder that this bottom land where I’m walking was recently flooded. This turtle moved into this area with the rising river. I have a small collection of sand molds and this is my fourth different turtle design I’ve found in the park…into the collecting bag it goes.
Another unusual sight was a plastic five gallon bucket that also floated in with the high water. Checking it out, I tried to determine whether this bucket was half full or half empty with mud and whether or not this reflected on my general outlook on life?
Eventually, my walk brought me to the creek that marks the western limit of the park’s Woodland Loop Trail. As I moved to this spot…I was also picking up the bits and pieces that form my latest Styrofoam figure. I posed my latest creation in a location above the creek where it meanders into the Ohio River.
I like this place because it affords a good view of the Ohio River sweeping westward. I also enjoy checking out the mud along the creek’s banks because animals leave their tracks here. This time I could distinguish raccoon, squirrel, heron, and dog tracks. Because the water running through this creek is also tied to the City of Clarksville’s sewer overflow system…during peak rain storms water comes rushing through the creek. As a result of these torrents, large boulders and stones that were buried in the mud and soil come to the forefront and help create small cascades and waterfalls.
My little man did what I also like to do which is sitting by a waterfall and losing myself in the sound of running water. This sound and effect are so peaceful to me that I wonder if it also affects my brain’s waves? It’s easier to clear my mind with the sound of water as a backdrop and makes me lose my sense of time. Today, the creek offers up several terraced waterfalls and my Styroman visited them all. Here he is by waterfall #2.
This dramatic shot depends a lot on the angle which wasn’t as acute. Now for a couple more views.
One frequent criticism of my project which I embrace is that it is overly romantic and sentimental. Ironically, these are also qualities I find missing in much contemporary art which seems to rely upon one’s head more than the heart. I try to involve both feeling centers in my work. My brand of romanticism comes from trying to evoke some sense of the sublime and respect for nature through all the garbage and habitat destruction that marks our era because this ongoing planetary degradation ultimately affects our own and other species’ chances in the game of life. Believe it or not.
This is the last waterfall my figure visited and is marked by crisscrossing logs that were deposited here during the last good flood. I like the composition created by all this interlocking wood. I hung out here until the light started to slip below the horizon and I turned for home. My mind felt relaxed and open for nearly anything. I think this is ultimately what brings me back to the river time after time. I can forget my daily woes, politics, and the work a day world and for a few hours transport myself to a more real and peaceful place. I hope all of you out there in the wider world have discovered places that do the same for you.
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 
Hear Hear for romantic sentimentalism!
Me too, I’m all for romantic sentimentalism! This is another great post, I love the buckets, it’s as if they’ve become the earth. What are you going to do if styrofoam ever gets banned like it should? It’s almost as if they’d be happy participants in their own extinction. Btw, have you seen the movie Wasteland about this amazing art project with Brazilian garbage pickers? I think you’d love it, it’s an amazing film: http://www.wastelandmovie.com/
Hi Sven, Thanks for the great comment and link. I have heard about this project and seen a few stills…so I’m looking forward to seeing the film. It is weird to wish that your principle art making material would go away permanently, but that is exactly how I feel about all this polystyrene and plastic. I try to have fun with this by saying that this body of work is critic-proof because if you think it’s all garbage…you are right. That is an attitude that I don’t think many other artists would subscribe to! I’m sure that I would just find something else like I always have.
Albertus, I think that’s what makes you an authentic artist in my eyes. If more of us were as committed to the process as we are to the outcome, there would probably be less “garbage” flowing down the Ohio River in the first place.
I echo the comment, bravo for romantic sentimentalism!
You are totally highlighting the destruction of the planet and the overabundance of garbage, and you’re making me laugh at the same time! Another quality of your artwork that I I find sadly lacking in a lot of today’s art, a sense of humour.
Thanks so much for doing what you do!
Glad there are so many romantic sentimentalists still out there!
Sometimes we need to look out to see and feel inner peace and tranquility.
Thank You Styrofoam Thoreau,
for bringing us along your romantic interpretive walks offering us a chance to see and hear nature’s offerings as though they were meant solely for us individually.
Bernie
Laugh, Dream, Try, and do-good.
It’s all out there for all of us and it’s free…it’s the best bargain in the universe!
Hey Al. Much enjoyed this water journey with you. I agree with the prior comments whole heartedly. A ‘head’ without a ‘heart’ is only part of a whole ‘person’–and offers only a partial perspective. Lack of sentiment is part of what’s responsible for the degradation of Earth.
Beautiful Goldfinch photo, btw. I haven’t seen one of those particular woodpeckers in a while. But I am enjoying the antics of a couple of litle hairy woodpeckers who are fond of the Poplar tree in the backyard.
So glad you continue to share you journeys along the falls. 🙂
Thanks Eva…we are in agreement about the “whole person”. I often wonder if the fatal quality of our times keeps us from feeling better about ourselves and by extension, the planet? I like watching woodpeckers too and their interesting behaviors.
Thank you for these photos of the waterfalls. I, too, like the sound of them. I do not find your work overly sentimental at all. I think it imparts exactly what you want it to, Al. That first shot of today’s styroman has me believing he is real. The look over his shoulder and the distance you took the photo from brings the feeling that he could just get up and walk over and shake my hand.