Junk Art

I just changed my cover photo on my Facebook page to the image above. This interesting rendition of our US flag is located at the entrance of a junkyard on old Rte 16 in Rochester, New Hampshire. It has been there for several or more years at the least. I have passed it many, many times as it is on our route to our favorite grocery store about 40 minutes from our home here on Sam Page Road in Acton. 

I know nothing of the statement the artist might be trying to make. That it turned up here in the Trump era, I could jump to all kinds of conclusions. But since I never saw a Trump sign within close proximity, I hesitate to conclude it is a voicing a vote of confidence for the Orange shit stain. But so what if it is. The ultimate meaning of any piece of art is in the eye of the beholder. What does it mean to them? What feelings, if any, does it dig up?

It has elicited many differing trains of thought for me over the years. 

I really appreciate its ingenuity and artistic medium. It is majestic and grand and makes no apologies. And what a great use of something not many of us ever really think about. A junked car is an eyesore, something to be taken to ....... yeah, a junkyard. This sculpture; for it is indeed a sculpture; this sculpture has well over a thousand words tucked into every crinkle, dent and mangled fender.

The 100 plus year love affair with the automobile here in America has resulted in too many to count cars, trucks and other conveyances used in artistic expressions of all kinds. My favorite is one I watched grow during my years as an over the road trucker. Outside Amarillo, Texas in 1974, some artists bought a strip of land alongside I-40. They named it "Cadillac Ranch" and proceeded too plant Cadillacs, nose down, in the dirt. They inserted one a year for a total of the 10 years.

My first view, there were three in the ground. The last time I passed by there were 6 or 7. They stopped at 10 because the display was an homage to not only Cadillac, but to the Cadillacs that had sported fins. And though this display of junkers is my favorite, I am quickly being won over by the one I pass on the way to the grocery store.

I debated whether or not I should pass on what meanings I draw from the flag sculpture. I decided to not taint the message any one reading this might take from it.

Keep it 'tween the ditches ...................................

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When I ran across this video, I knew I had to post it; never mind it's amateurish result. I was at this concert 2 days ago at the Left Bank venue in Laconia, New Hampshire with BA, and the kids. We had great seats and the sound system was excellent. Great time. But then any time with my kid and her Marine is fine with me.

Tedeski Trucks Band headlined with Whiskey Mires performing front band duties. Sadly this video does not cover the whole 10 to 15 minute version. So I am going to also offer the original "Spanish Moon" as performed by Little Feat back the 1970s. Little Feat was and still is maybe my favorite band of all time I never saw in concert. .... Oh well, I can still listen to their music and that is a lot to be thankful for.