Most of the work that I have created at the Falls of the Ohio State Park was made between the two “P’s” on the above map detail. I lifted this image from a recent brochure about the Ohio River Greenway. I’m just noticing that the word “park” has an “e” at the end…what’s with that? Is this a variation of Ye Old Park(e) or a simple misspelling? Anyway, the green line that separates the dark blue river from the blonde fossil beds is the area I walk. Most of my river finds and the pieces I make from them occur in this area. The thicker black line is the old iron railroad bridge that I have featured so often throughout this blog. It’s been a while since I posted anything new here. In fact, since I started the old riverblog, this is the longest I have gone without posting something. I have had a series of misfortunes that have dented my mojo with the biggest being losing my day job. I’m not one that easily compartmentalizes my life and occasionally things spill over and affect other areas. Among the other changes included having to purchase a new computer. It’s taken a while to get used to doing things in a different way. I’m still in the process of transferring images and data from the old machine to the new one. I have too many images that need parking in a “cloud” somewhere. I debate with myself whether or not I absolutely need all of these pictures? I do harbor the ambition to produce a book or two about my stories and collections, but I’m sure I have enough material already. This blog after all, has over 3,ooo images that I have already published. What it doesn’t have are the first five years or so of this project that are recorded on 4″ x 6″ color prints that were developed at the local drugstore.
Although I haven’t posted much recently, I am still going to the river. It’s been an unusual year out here and for much of this spring the river has been high. Summer is now upon us and with that comes the high heat and humidity. This adventure happened in early June after the willow trees had fully leafed out. I believe this is also my first post using just images recorded with my cell phone. I now have a new Nikon my brother gave me as a birthday present. He is an avid nature photographer living in Florida and had a spare digital SLR he could part with. I can’t wait to try out the new camera at the river and I hope to do this soon.
I have really fallen in love with this old willow tree. Last year, I photographed my “La Belle Riviere” piece using this tree as my model. This tree is a survivor. It’s managed to go through many floods and while it is severely bent over and its roots are exposed…it keeps on living and adding character to this landscape. I have noticed that the center of its trunk is starting to hollow out a bit. I wonder how long this willow has held this ground? I was musing about these things when I noticed movement in a nearby stand of mixed maple and willow trees. I picked up my collecting bag and walking stick and quietly moved over to investigate. I was quite unprepared for what I was about to discover! Here are a few of the first images I made of my new find.
It was another giant spider! I recalled that it was about this time last year that I encountered the Giant Driftwood Spider which is a completely different animal from the spider I was looking at now. It’s body was a bit over two feet long and a mottled white in color. This seems to be another example of what I have come to coin as the “Falls of the Ohio Godzilla Effect”. Over the years, this particular park has regularly produced freaks of nature. The most striking of which are the giant insects (and now spiders) that pop up on occasion. My theory as to why this happens here has everything to do with contemporary pollution and a degraded environment. For some reason, arthropods in particular are sensitive to these ecological changes which can result in gigantism in these organisms.
I decided to call this the Great Wolf Spider, (Lycosa styreni). Looking around, I could find no trace of a web and decided that this was a ground hunting species like other members of the family of wolf spiders, Lycosidae. I imagined that this impressive spider subsisted upon the small mammals that it could capture within the confines of this park. That would include many rodents including squirrels, rats, groundhogs, and perhaps the occasional beaver. I also imagine that stray cats and dogs would be on the menu too. This spider has large pink-colored fangs that gave it a somewhat bucktoothed appearance. As long I kept my distance and did not make any threatening moves…the spider tolerated me. I also noticed that this amazing creature also has unusual eyes.
From what I could discern…this spider sported four eyes total and all in a row. It had two large and rather mismatched eyes. One eye possessed a large red iris that leant a diabolical aspect to it. On either side of these “great eyes” were two smaller, black vestigial eyes. I wonder if the smaller eyes are used to detect peripheral motion? It was disconcerting in the least to be the object of attention from these unblinking eyes. I approached this spider with caution. Although I was fearful once the spider moved…I, however, was never in any actual danger since the spider never took any aggressive actions toward me. I was of course satisfied to keep my distance just in case!
My last images of this impressive arachnid show it blending into its surrounding environment. The sun light filtering through the tree canopy produced a dappled light and dark pattern that helped camouflage the spider as it lay in wait of its next meal. The only bit of movement that could betray it was the slight, subtle twitching produced by its driftwood-like legs. It was at this moment that I decided to back off and head home. I don’t know if this spider is a one of a kind creature or whether there are other examples of this species that could populate this park? I’m inclined to believe that I was observing a single individual. The question is…how long will it be before our continued abuse of the environment produces monsters we may regret? Until the next adventure…
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 
Great looking bunch of pics, Al; especially the first 4 to 5 of them. (At the risk of sounding like a broken record: beautifully exposed.) And you raise a good point- how long DO we have until we do so much damage that the monsters we make will turn on us and devour the land…and perhaps us? I like that little bit at the end: makes me think. Great seeing your work- as always!
Thanks B., I have had a rough patch of late, but it’s great to reconnect with the river again. I have been following your decision about which direction your further education will take. Good luck to you always.
Al, how wonderful to have you back 😀 You kept us waiting 😉 I bet that the recent changes feel very difficult right now, but most of the time, when one door is closing, another door is opening and giving us the chance to experience new things that we would never have had experienced without this unexpected change. I, for sure, am waiting impatiently for your book(s) and will be between your first buyers and readers 😉 And then ~ Happy Birthday to you 🙂 and what a very awesome brother you have! 🙂 Looking forward to seeing your creations through your ‘new’ camera lens soon. Loved the wolf spider, how wise to have kept your distance 🙂 Thank you for sharing your new adventure!
Take good care of yourself
d~wolf 🙂
Thank you Wolf Lady…Your support is always greatly appreciated. Of course your point about doors opening is taken, however, it is hard to sometimes to see the way through to the other side until some time has passed. I am looking forward to whatever happens next. I am thankful to have my creativity to sustain the highs and the lows. I hope all is going well in your world and thanks for all the emoticons!!
Thank you for your most recent post. I had been a bit worried, having become used to going on the adventures you share with us.
I hope your situation stabilizes soon. Like the willow, you too are a survivor.
Your art is very inspiring and so whimsical. I’ve many times, after reading your latest, thought of digging out some of the foam I have packed off the beaches at Point Reyes National Seashore and done some creating.
Best wishes to you.
richard
coastodian
Richard, thanks for your kind comments and well wishes. I checked out your site and will add it to my blog roll so I can keep up with your activities. “Coastodian” perfectly describes what you do which is inspirational and fills me with admiration. Love those meta bottle sculptures and beautiful photography too. Not sure what else you can use washed up Styrofoam for except to make art. Give it a try if the spirit moves you. Unfortunately, it has some rather good art making properties. Enjoyed your links as well.
I’m sorry to hear that you lost your day job and are going through tough times. I love the buck-toothed spider in its dappled environment. All the best!
I appreciate that Annerose. Ideally, I would love to earn some kind of living through my art. Glad you liked the sun-dappled spider. It’s amazing how well it does blend into the environment considering how starkly white the polystyrene is in even light.
I am so sorry to hear of the job loss, Al. Good fortune to what comes next and I mean that.
I really appreciated your map, above. Somehow, it defines my wanderings with you on this blog. Grounds it all, somehow.
Your photography is always interesting and your story line even more. Very interesting discussion about the spider!
I appreciate your comments Leslie. I’m working on other ways that I can take people with me on my adventures. As for the job situation, I am plugging away at finding something new and looking forward to what that opportunity will present.
I was very pleased to see your map, because it somehow made me feel more ‘grounded’ in your adventures. I have been toying for a long time with producing small artist’s books of my own local wanderings, to include maps, music etc – but not yet quite got my act together!
I was sorry to read of your job loss – though reckon it might be one of those golden opportunities in disguise! And as for changing computers… well, I have recently gone through the same trauma myself. I heard someone on the radio saying that Windows 8 (how I wish I had gone down the Mac route)… Windows 8 “was about as charming as using a second-hand toothbrush” – and I absolutely agree!
The spider was scary. I didn’t like the looks in his eyes. Though maybe he is just a bit fed up because he is in need of a good, understanding optician and dentist?
I am aware too that the earth will take drastic measures if necessary, to protect itself from human insanity. Listening to world ‘news’; it does seem that bad things are escalating towards a terrible climax, though I can see there is also a massive, less noisy, groundswell of ecologically-minded people (like yourself) working to make things better.
A few other folks have said that the map helps. On my Blog roll, there is a link to the state park that has all kinds of other useful information about this unique place. I tend to be the park’s more eccentric interpreter.
I do believe you are right about the lost job being another opportunity. So much had changed in the five years since I first started working with a local company helping adults with developmental disabilities. That would require a lengthy explanation and is perhaps outside the scope of this blog. What hasn’t changed is my desire to be a help in the world. I tend to gravitate towards life’s underdogs. Still, there is a grieving process and lot’s of uncertainty about what will be next?
The spider strikes me as being more goofy than anything else. You might appreciate that the eye with the big red center also says “Please Recycle” on it. It is the plastic cap to some unknown container, but the sentiment informs this spider.
Yes, I am learning this new operating system too. None of these programs ever feels intuitive to me in the same way riding a bicycle does. I’m already resenting that in a few years in the not too distant future it too will be obsolete and won’t be supported by the company that produced it.
I do like your book idea. Your projects are all unique in time and place and could stand alone or as individual chapters in one encompassing volume. Linda, thanks for taking the time to comment. It’s great to find kindred spirits out in the wider world.
Hello again from Linda – thanks for your response to my comment. Hope things are going well and you are having a great time! I also hope that at some point you will produce a physical anthology of your stories and pictures… I think it would be wonderful to keep by the bedside, to lift the spirits on a jaded or gloomy day!
Thanks also for your final words of encouragement. I will make some sort of start… soon.
Really love this blog. The freakish nature of things and the bizarre biodiversity that has developed with the effects of pollution. You have mentioned to me before the effects of styrofoam on the indigenous animal/insect life. Lycosa styreni is quite a find Al. How exciting to be the first to watch it in its natural habitat. And you got photos. Thats even better.
Thanks Cat…for me, art and biology have been twin loves and in this blog I get to combine the pair. I have always wanted to be a discoverer of new species, but I have been quite unprepared for what has presented itself at the Falls of the Ohio State Park. Realistically, I thought I might stumble upon some very small organism that others had overlooked…not the giants and mutant plants that seem to be on the increase. Thanks for playing along!