fossil beds | Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog

Posts Tagged ‘fossil beds’

New Exhibits at the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center

Posted in Art, art and environment, Art and Nature, Artist at Exit 0, assemblage art, collections, creativity, ecosytem, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, found materials, Found objects, fresh water, Installation, lost and found, material culture, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, photography, plastic, recycled art, repurposed art, repurposed materials, sense of place, Styrofoam, unusual collection, watershed, tagged Art, artist at exit o, assemblage art, Devonian Period, driftwood, exhibit design, Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center, Falls of the Ohio State Park, flint artifacts, fossil beds, found objects, Lewis and Clark, nature display, photography, plastic, pollution, sense of place, Shawnee language, Solid Light on January 10, 2016| 6 Comments »

On January 8 of this new year, the exhibits at the renovated Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center opened to the public with a grand ribbon cutting ceremony. The interior of the Interpretive Center had been closed for 13 months. About 6 million dollars had to be raised to upgrade the 22-year-old permanent educational displays. After a national search, Louisville-based exhibit design company, Solid Light, Inc. won this high-profile contract and solidified their growing reputation within the exhibit design field. Judging from the enthusiastic response of the people attending the reopening it was worth the wait. I played a very small part with a commission to create an assemblage from objects I found in the park and I was eager to see how Solid Light used it.

The displays are divided into four themes or sections beginning with “An Ancient Sea” that highlights early marine life during the Devonian Period. The extensive fossil beds in the park date roughly to 400 million years ago and are the remains of an early coral reef ecosystem populated with many species of coral, brachiopods, and early fish which make their first appearance during the Devonian Period. I was glad to see some of the older models that made up the original display were re-purposed into the new display. The exhibit is interactive and there are hands on elements that children will enjoy. Large, wall-sized videos help set the scene through many of the sections and in “An Ancient Sea” an animation depicting a shallow marine environment includes fish swimming through sun-dappled waters as trilobites search for food among the corals.

The second theme is entitled “A Changing Land” and covers all the geologic changes from the Ice Age to the appearance of the first Americans. For me, the highlight of this area is the inclusion of the Shawnee language which can be heard spoken inside a reconstructed shelter. It’s wonderful that the contemporary descendants of these ancient people were involved in the design of this display and acknowledges their presence at the Falls of the Ohio.

Previously, the remains of prehistoric man’s material culture (primarily represented through flint tools) were a focal point in the old center’s displays. For those worried that examples of the “real thing” would be replaced with virtual images and copies will be pleased that you can still explore original material through some inspired casework. Be sure to peek inside many of the drawers in the different themed areas to see fine examples of specimens and artifacts.

The third theme “Converging Cultures” recounts the history of the Falls area with the arrival of the Europeans. The Lewis and Clark Expedition is a key moment not only in the history of the United States, but of the Falls of the Ohio as well. Many of the men that comprised the “Corps of Discovery” were originally from Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Wall-sized videos in the Lewis and Clark Theater recount the biographies of many of the men who made this epic transcontinental journey. The story of John James Audubon is also noted and forms a transition into the last themed area of the new displays.

This last section is called “The Falls Today” and focuses upon the Falls of the Ohio as a rich contemporary ecosystem. Some of the old taxidermy mounts have been reused to highlight some of the many species that live within the park. Another large video display, this time a virtual aquarium, speaks to the richness of life in the river, particularly the species of game fish that are of interest to fisherman. There is also a call to responsible and sustainable living and the need to keep pollution at bay. This is where I come in. I was commissioned by Solid Light to create an assemblage of found objects that is representative of what can be found in the Ohio River. Here is the finished result that was placed within its own case with graphic elements added.

The panel within the case is 8 feet by 4 feet large. I posted about the panel as I was creating it and showed many details of the more than 100 different objects that comprise it. Of course, everything I’ve attached here was found within the context of the park. The early reaction is that children in particular love looking at all the odd elements especially the found toys. My panel is among the last things you see as you leave the exhibits area to exit the building. I’m glad that there has been a greater emphasis in this new interpretation to include the current state of the world. One could argue that as interesting as the past is…it is the present that is of the greatest concern. Further reinforcing this idea are the results of the minor flooding we experienced the previous week. As the river has subsided, another massive new inventory of junk has washed into the park. As I was leaving the ribbon cutting ceremony and walking to my vehicle, I could clearly see how much more work needs to be done. Until next time…from the Falls of the Ohio.

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Odd Fish Discovery at the Falls of the Ohio

Posted in Absurd, animal art works, animals, Art, art and environment, creativity, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, nature, nature photography, recycled art, tagged Art, artist at exit o, driftwood, ecostory, environmental art, environmental story, Falls of the Ohio, fish, fishing, fossil beds, found art materials, nature, photography, plastic, recycled art, sense of place, Styrofoam, willow trees on October 9, 2014| 2 Comments »

After my all day excursion to the Kentucky side of the fossil beds…my next visit to the park was a relatively short one. I had a few hours to work with and decided to check out the riverbank on the Indiana side. It has been very dry of late and I heard on the radio that farmers have begun revising their optimism about this year’s corn crop. Once again, we have had a season that seems atypical in a few respects. Most notably, our summer has been a cool one. No temperatures in the high 90 or 100 degree range…that would be about 35 to 38 degrees on the Celsius scale. Climatologists point to the cold Arctic air that came sweeping down from Canada during July as the reason our summer was not as hot. People around here aren’t complaining about that, but after last year’s polar vortex winter… folks are wondering if that bodes well for this year’s fall and winter?

In addition to the coolness, it’s also been dry of late. Seems that we haven’t had a significant rain storm to speak of in weeks and the river continues to recede. New pools are formed stranding fish in them and many creatures take advantage of this bounty. Walking along the cracked riverbank I find evidence of this.

I soon came across dead fish left behind in the wake of weekend fishermen. In this picture, an armored and toothy Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus) lies side by side with an equally interesting fish that is rarely found here. With its thick body, white caudil fins, and unique pectoral fins…I identify this smaller fish. It’s more commonly called a Bull Gill, but science also recognizes it as (Taurus opercula). I wonder if there are any other specimens hiding in the deeper pools around here? To find out, I gather waste monofilament line found all along the riverbank along with a found lead-headed jig and before too long I have improvised a hand line for fishing.

After some trial and error, I succeeded in catching a Bull Gill by bumping my jig along the bottom of a wide, but shallow pool. The fish was well hooked and after a short struggle I was able to bring him up for a better look.

I hurriedly take as many photographs as I can. My intention is to release this fish back into the water after I document its presence here at the Falls of the Ohio. As you can see, this fish contrasts greatly with the dead gar we saw earlier. The gar is in fact a more ancient and primitive fish that relies on its hard armor for protection. The gar is mostly a surface fish mimicking a floating piece of wood while it stealthily seeks out smaller fish to ambush. The gar’s strategy has been so successful that it has changed little after millions of years. The Bull Gill evolved much later and lacks prominent scales on its more compact body. It too, however has evolved a unique method of feeding.

The Bull Gill gets its name from its powerfully muscled head. Just below and behind its gill covers, the unique pectoral fins have evolved so that this fish can support itself on the bottom of a swiftly moving stream or river. I was able to demonstrate this with my specimen. I placed my fish upon the rocks by the riverbank and it was able to support its body off the rocky surface using its strong and rigid fins. In the water, the Bull Gill secures itself on the rocky bottom with its stiff pectoral fins and with its head facing upriver. The Bull Gill is a predatory bottom feeder. As prey fish swim by, the Bull Gill with a quick burst is able to capture its food and swallows them head first before returning to its spot on the river bottom. I had this fish out of water for just a couple of minutes before releasing it safely back into the Ohio River. I had to say that I enjoyed encountering a creature you don’t see every day. It’s presence here is a good sign since the Bull Gill needs good quality water to thrive. I gathered up my collecting bag and walking stick and decided to check out my stash of Styrofoam under the willows.

The willow trees are up the riverbank and the leaves are beginning to yellow more noticeably. Along the way you pass by a couple of courses of deposited driftwood. I love the silvery color of this wood which is due to exposure to the sun and elements. I had a great surprise in store for me once I ducked under the cover of the trees. For many years I have known that White-tail Deer are present in the park because their tracks are all over the place. These ghost deer are fairly close to a populated area and extremely wary of people. They must move around the park in the middle of the night or really early in the morning to avoid detection.

As I moved near my spot, I spooked a doe and her late season fawn. I could still make out the spotted pattern on the fawn. They were bedded down near a large log that floated into the park last year. I first saw the doe which rose and ran off upon sighting me. The fawn then stood up and followed after its mom. I was unable to take a photograph because this sequence happened in just seconds. I then followed to see if a second glimpse was possible and I even doubled back to this spot should the deer attempt the same maneuver. Unfortunately, I didn’t get another look at them, but since they are near my outdoor studio, I will be sure to check for them next time.

It had been many weeks since I last visited my larder of river-gleaned materials. I could tell that people had been through here, but there is obviously nothing of value. I mean what could one do with water-tumbled polystyrene and sticks? If the river doesn’t rise anytime soon, I will come back and make something from this odd deposit. My next post, however, will come from the Kentucky side of the fossil beds. After this adventure, I returned with my river-polished coal and explored a few more areas around Goose Island and the hydroelectric plant. I think I made some compelling images that speak of a sense for place and I look forward to sharing them with you.

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Three Flowers and Three Fish

Posted in Absurd, animal art works, animals, art and environment, creativity, ecosytem, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, nature, nature photography, public art, recycled art, unusual collection, tagged Art, artist at exit 0, creativity, ecological art, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, fish, flowers, fossil beds, found objects, found toys, lucky finds, nature, photography, sense of place on September 23, 2013| 11 Comments »

This post is the last of this year’s summer posts and documents a walk I made at the Falls of the Ohio State Park one week before autumn officially began. As you can see by the pictures…it was a very beautiful day filled with all kinds of discoveries. There was a profusion of yellow-flowering plants of various species including goldenrod and sunflowers. Here is a detail, I think from the Woodland Sunflower? I wish I was as confident about plants as I am in identifying animals. When I break out my flower books, I realize it would aid identification greatly to have an example on hand. Collecting plants is not allowed within the park limits…so I try to take photos that might be of use in discerning the various closely related species. Besides, I don’t think pressing these plants flat would even work? I ask myself, what leaf shape does it have? Are the leaves serrated, smooth, or hairy and how many rays do the flower heads have and other such questions of concern to the botanist.

I suppose I’m more of an imaginative botanist at heart who also appreciates the beauty and variety the many flowers add to the temporal landscape. I do, however, stumble upon plants that I wonder if anyone else is noticing? I’ve posted about these anomalies before and as the seasons change, the parade of these “unnatural plants” and “faux flowers” continues. Consider these fresh blooms.

I call this one the “Surprising Poinsettia” because it comes shockingly red and completely unexpected. Its sepals are rather fabric-like and its stem is grafted upon this sunflower by some unknown means. The next plant is more subtle.

This is “Orangey-tickseed” and at first blush, one might be tempted to pass over it. I had to do a double-take on this one, however, my instincts told me something was not quite right here. Indeed the orange-colored flowers are not at all like the yellow plant it is cohabiting with. Again, the texture is very much like plastic. One final plant before moving on to other interesting discoveries.

I found this beautiful flower growing near the river in the sand and I have designated it the “Pink Sand Lily” because I’m not sure what else to call it? It is for the most part, a low growing plant and the “flower” appears at the terminal end of a wiry green stalk about four inches tall or so. The flower petals are composed of a string-like fiber while the stamens are hard and have pseudo-pollen on them. These unusual plants were not my only discoveries on this fine day. I nearly always find some doll or doll part that the river has washed into here and today was no exception. I spotted a form in the wood chips and bark bits and went in for a closer look. Dusting off the form revealed this doll body.

This was quite unlike any other doll “body” I’ve found before at the river. The material was obviously made from a foam-like material, but it had the flexibility of rubber. Nearby, I also discovered an unusual serpent.

Approximately a foot long, this red plush snake had large black eyes and had just a bit of its tongue sticking out. This is the first of one of these objects that I have come across . The river was flowing nearby and I walked over to the edge of the riverbank. The water level has finally leveled off to more of its seasonal pool and the fossil banks on the Kentucky side were exposed for the first time this year. Looking along the water’s edge, I came across this Freshwater Drum that an angler caught and released. Unfortunately, for the fish…it did not survive being captured. Here is its final portrait.

The Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) is a widespread fish and common in the Ohio River. It has several molar-like teeth in its mouth that it uses to crush and eat snails and small clams. The drum is not considered a desirable food species around here. Here’s another fish I found on this walk that is also inedible.

The second “fish” I came across was this plastic bottle. I’m guessing that the bottle may have contained shampoo for children? Regardless, I was struck by the level of abstraction occurring here. The tail is minimally represented and the gills are indicated by two lines near the eyes, but there is enough here to suggest a fish. My next find is mid way between the drum and the plastic bottle being closer to the latter than the former. Here are two views of it.

This is a Silvergill which is closely related to the Iron Gill (which I have posted about previously). Differences between the two species include size (this fish is smaller) and some of the fins are not the same shape or in the same position. The Silvergill is much more rarely encountered than its larger cousin. It is found in water of average to poor quality and often associated with coal and coal dust. It is omnivorous and eats aquatic insect larvae and algae which it grazes off of rocks. I’m assuming that it washed up here a victim (like the Freshwater Drum) of an angler looking to catch something more worthwhile. I took a few photos and then moved on. The fossil beds were beckoning and I could see the resident flock of Black Vultures congregating on the rocks. No doubt they had discovered a fish or two on their own. Until next time from the Falls of the Ohio.

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The Waterfalls

Posted in Absurd, Art, art and environment, creativity, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio River, public art, recycled art, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged Art, Falls of the Ohio, fossil beds, found objects, nature, Ohio River, waterfalls on September 21, 2010| 4 Comments »

The Falls of the Ohio was never a classic waterfall such as Niagara Falls or even Cumberland Falls in Kentucky. It’s been described as a series of rapids that drop the river level about 26 feet over a length of about a two and a half miles. This is the only place in the nearly thousand mile length of the river that posed a major navigation obstacle. Traditionally, the Ohio River hasn’t been a deep river, in fact in historic times the water level could get so low in the summer that you could literally wade your livestock over from one side to another with ease. That’s why this area was also a bison trace and indigenous people crossed the river here for thousands of years.

Of course, having a river that can be this shallow poses an impediment to river traffic. Louisville is where it is because when the river was low you had to either portage your boat, hire a special pilot to guide you around the rocks and waves, or wait until the river level rose again to move on. When the river was high, the Falls could be heard. John James Audubon once wrote, ” The rumbling sound of the Falls as they tumble over the rock-paved bed of the rapids is at all times soothing to the ear.” All that changed when the Army Corps of Engineers constructed a dam in the 1920’s. The purpose of the dam is to provide a stable pool of water for the barge traffic going through the locks of this important intercoastal waterway. It has meant billions of dollars in river goods can travel easily with coal being the most lucrative cargo. That dam also defines what the Falls of the Ohio are now and in the heart of summer, the famous fossil beds are exposed for all to see. Well, except for the majority of the fossil beds that are now regularly underwater on the opposite side of the dam! To say that this area is far from its original state is an understatement. Most people don’t have knowledge of this and so this place is just as marvelous as ever!

“Oh honey, we made it!” “The waterfall looks beautiful and I’m so glad we are here together to share this.” The new couple on their own personal journey of discovery have decided to check out an American landmark.

“This is such a famous place and I will always remember this day because we spent it together!” “I feel completely refreshed in the presence of you and nature.” “The water spray is so cooling.”

Care is needed because you don’t want to get swept away. The sound of running water can be hypnotic and you can lose yourself in it. ” I’m happy that you are here for me and I will be there for you too.” Such is the promise that they made to each other standing by the waterfall.

“We have our entire futures ahead of us, but for now, let’s remember being happy in this moment.” “The two of us are like this water in that we are on a long journey and who knows if we will ever cross this spot again?”

“This has all been so beautiful, but I’m getting hungry.” “Are you ready to go?” “I’ve heard that there is another waterfall not too far away from here…wanna check it out later?” Behind them, water was pouring through a special slot in the dam that allowed water to pass over these rocks and to provide a little more water for this bit of wetland that remains. When you are hiking out here and you think of it… it can be a little disconcerting knowing that the top of the river is now that high over your head!

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Fossil Bed Excursion, Part III

Posted in Absurd, Art, art and environment, creativity, ecosytem, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, Originality, public art, recycled art, sculpture, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged Falls of the Ohio, fossil beds, found art, photo essay, recycled art, site specific art, skyline of Louisville on September 6, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Fish Sand Drawing, 8/09

With the power plant behind us, I retrace my steps in the sand along Goose Island. At the moment, there is shade. Once we venture back onto the fossil beds we may get momentary cover from a passing cloud. I stopped along the sand bank and made one more Styrofoam figure from materials found along the way. He’s a simple guy with one very apparent attribute. He has a bright yellow belly button.

Figure with Big Nose, 8/09

He’s made from found Styrofoam, sticks, various plastics, bark, and nuts. I decide to take him with me and work him into other images. I briefly watched a cormorant swimming near my position. One moment his head was up in the air and then the next he was in underwater pursuit of some fish. Continuing my walk, I’m heading towards the fossil beds and the remains of a 19thcentury dike. I like some of the views of the skyline of Louisville from here. With the water being so low, the exposed rocks create an other worldly sight. Walking on the rocks it’s easy to imagine you are walking on an alien and ancient surface because it is!

Louisville skyline from dike at the Falls of the Ohio, 8/09

Figure on the Dike, 8/09

Here are two views from the Goose Island Dike. You can see how this barrier divides the fossil beds from the Prairie Grass Habitat on the right. This is where I left this figure…with his legs wedged in the crack of a broken rock. I left him for someone else to find and enjoy.

Louisville skyline as seen from the Falls of the Ohio, 8/09

Moving down from the dike and onto to the fossil beds, I’m going to follow the river’s edge. A small and noisey flock of Killdeer plovers scatters in front of me. From here you can see how the water has sculpted this limestone into a pock marked wave. It’s not the easiest surface to walk on and it’s very slippery when wet. I have always liked this view and feel it’s worth the trek. It’s like looking at a cross section of the history of life. It’s ancient rocks represent a moment long ago when life was tropical and the water tasted salty. Now, we are at a different latitude and the environment has shifted over deep time. Fresh water now governs this landscape and we cling to it down to its very edge. The tourist in me is saying my camera’s memory card is full for today and so this marks the end of this particular trip over the fossil beds. I hope to return soon. Perhaps the early fall when the sycamore and willow tree leaves start to turn yellow and ducks are in the air.

View of Louisville from the Falls of the Ohio, 8/09

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Fossil Bed Excursion, Part I

Posted in animals, Art, art and environment, birding, birds and birding, creativity, ecosytem, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, Originality, public art, recycled art, sculpture, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged fossil beds, fresh water, fresh water dam, hike, Ohio River, the Falls of the Ohio, vultures, walking on August 30, 2009| Leave a Comment »

View facing east, fossil beds, Falls of the Ohio, 8/09

At last I made it over to the fossil beds on the Kentucky side of the park. As previously mentioned, this hasn’t been an easy year to forecast storms or the amount of water to be found locally at any given time. We have experienced the extremes. For now, I can get off the Indiana bank and explore a very special landscape. This side of the park is so interesting that it’s difficult to pack it into one post. I’m going to attempt it in three. I did make several Styrofoam sculptures and a few sand drawings. I took about eight hours to walk the park from east to west and back to the lot again. If you like to hike vicariously you may enjoy this trip over the fossil beds. The rocks date to 375 million years ago and the fossils preserved here help form a picture of life as it existed during the Devonian Age.

Vulture tree, 8/09

I began my trip in the cool morning. I rolled my pants legs up just below the knee and walked into the flowing water. The wet rocks are as slippery as ice and it’s tricky to keep my balance. The worn out sneakers I’m wearing are fine for walking in mud, but the lack of any tread turns this phase of the walk into a skating event. The dry rocks pose obstacles as well. The fossil beds are an undulating surface of river worn rock and it’s easy to twist an ankle or knee here. You need to find or bring a good walking stick for additional stability. I’m carrying my collecting bag and my camera and going to see what there is to see today.

vultures chasing possum, 8/09

The first feature I walk towards is this stranded tree that has become a bird magnet. Black vultures are using it as a roost and ducks and herons circulate around this new hub. The Black vultures are having a good year and seem to be increasing in numbers. Last week I counted a flock of sixty birds flying along the dam’s wall. The vultures have been dining on dead fish either caught by fisherman or marooned in small ever-drying pools. There are fish bones, scales, and skeletons all over the fossil beds. I did witness something I hadn’t seen before. Off in the distance I could see the vultures pursuing something alive! I did capture this one image of vultures chasing an opossum. You can’t play possum with vultures! There were a few birds that managed to get a few pecks in, but the possum never stopped running and was able to get off the wall into some cover. It’s a regular Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom moment at the Falls of the Ohio.

Fixed Wier Dam, 8/09

Here’s a view of the Fixed Wier Dam with the vultures flying along. This wall was built in the 1920’s to create a stable pool of water for Ohio River commerce and to generate electricity at the Lower Tainter Gates. I’m guessing that it’s about fifteen feet to the top of the dam. When you are walking on the fossil beds below it’s an odd feeling knowing that the surface of the river is way over your head. Slots formed on the top of the dam create pathways that feed water to the Little Slough and Whiskey Chute channels. A small marsh near Goose Island receives this water too.

artificial waterfall, 8/09

Our stopping point in today’s post is just up ahead. A small amphitheater of terraced limestone provides a glimpse of the cascades that originally flowed here. It’s also a good place to sit and relax or watch birds.

The "Falls" at the Falls of the Ohio, 8/09

I made a figure from found materials and photographed it at this location. From here the scene shifts towards the western limits of the park. Some of the best views of the city’s skyline are also up ahead. Until then, here is another water feature to enjoy!

At the "Falls", facing east, 8/09

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Treading Water

Posted in art and environment, collections, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, watershed, tagged flooding, fossil beds, landscape, logs, rainfall, riverscape, Seurat on August 9, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Perhaps you heard that we had an unusual flash flooding incident in Louisville on Tuesday, August 4? It made the national news. It’s not everyday that parts of the city receive 6 1/2 inches of rain in an hour! This storm just hung over the city and wouldn’t budge. The dark clouds poured it on and we experienced serious flooding damage. I haven’t been to the Falls this week, but I’m really curious to see what’s different. Is my studio under the willows still there? Are there new materials washed up? I had water come into my house via the basement and roof and so I have been busy with that. My problems have been minor compared to some and so for that I’m thankful. It’s just another meteorological moment in what continues to be the oddest of years. For now, I’m treading water ” blog-ilogically” and rather than offer you a brief interlude of pre-recorded music will submit these images instead. I always have more photos than I can post. This occasion gives me the chance to show the ever changing landscape around the Falls of the Ohio. These are images from July 2009.

The Falls looking east, 7/09

Looking east, I like the way the railing on this handicap accessible ramp echos the hard lines in the bridge beyond. A visitor contemplates the exposed fossil beds below the Interpretive Center.

Activity on the fossil rocks, 7/09

Activity on the Fossil beds, 7/09

People on fossil beds, 7/09

Looking at this trio of images reminds me of the 19Th century painter Georges Seurat. Perhaps it’s the frieze-like quality of the trees and the people absorbed in their own forms of river recreation? So far this year, this was the most extensive exposure of the fossil beds. I heard the other day that we have had a ridiculous 20 inches of rain over the past couple of months. I wonder if our annual precipitation record is at risk this year?

Logs, view west, 7/09

These logs have been rolled against other downed trees in the water. It’s the grinding action of water and wave that peels the bark and knocks off the branches. In this way, trees are reduced to being straight logs. I’ll end with another view of the Ohio River flowing westward. Several hundred miles to go before entering the Mississippi River.

River flowing westward, 7/09

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An Abstract Man

Posted in Absurd, animals, Art, art and environment, birds and birding, creativity, ecosytem, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, Originality, public art, recycled art, sculpture, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged abstract man, day lily, driftwood, fossil beds, groundhog, oil sheen, photo essay, vultures on July 19, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Falls of the Ohio, 7/09

The river is low and the fossil beds are exposed. I still can’t get over how this is the bedrock of the river. Bowls of water pockmark the scalloped surface as the retreating liquid pools where it can. It will take a good rain to wash the dirt away revealing details from Devonian times. Still, some people are disappointed because you can’t find dinosaurs here. The terrible lizards are still millions and millions of years into the future.

Black vultures, 7/09

Today the fishing was good if you are a Black vulture. For us it’s a different story. Although there were lots of people trying, I didn’t see anyone catching anything. The weather has been odd for July. It’s so cool outside you would think you were in Michigan instead of Kentuckiana. The television says it has something to do with high pressure coming down from the north.

shelf fungus with chains, 7/09

I took a longer walk today than usual before making something. Along the way I came across a decaying log with an old chain embedded in it. Wood and bark grew over this wound when the tree was alive. Now it’s at the Falls turning into humus as the fungi break down the wood. I’m keeping an eye out for how long it will take to free this chain from it’s matrix of cellulose.

"treehog", 7/09

Ever see a “treehog” before? Today I came across this guy sitting on top of a tree that snapped in two during a thunder storm. I’m looking downhill and the woodchuck is about eight or nine feet above the ground. On a number of occasions I’ve watched them climb trees to obtain tender leaves to eat. This one appeared to be just hanging out, watching life go by. Once it spotted me, it ran down the tree and into the brush.

driftwood and inridescent water, 7/09

In the driftwood zone are small rivulets where the water trickles over the sand and under the silvery wood. An iridescent sheen from minerals leached underground creates an oily rainbow slick. I’ve begun to pay attention to this prismatic effect by photographing it several times. The colors move with the water and contrast with the solidity of the driftwood.

Abstract man w/yellow sprayer, 7/09

I made this figure today. I call him “Abstract Man with Spray Bottle” which is not an imaginative title, but a descriptive one. Because of the profile view, this was the most different of the lot. This piece seemed to work in multiple environments. In my next post, I will show you images of this figure shot at various locations around the park. I waited for the sunshine to burn off the cloud cover before I went home, but that didn’t happen while I was there. I stopped by the lilies again and shot this view with the fossil beds in the distance. There is a lot of compressed time here.

Day lilies and fossil beds, 7/09

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Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog

Art and images from the Falls of the Ohio.

Posts Tagged ‘fossil beds’

New Exhibits at the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center

Odd Fish Discovery at the Falls of the Ohio

Three Flowers and Three Fish

The Waterfalls

Fossil Bed Excursion, Part III

Fossil Bed Excursion, Part I

Treading Water

An Abstract Man

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