WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
Wrath of Gnon: Traditionalist
byVanderleunonSeptember 20, 2020
“Why should it matter that the people who gave us modern architecture in the 20th century had traumatic brain damage and disorders? For one, the information reframes our understanding of how modern architecture came to be.” https://t.co/vcZLcBxK4L
Before a major storm or hurricane, remember to secure your garden tools, your window shutters and your flotilla of construction barges. https://t.co/kR62kJ2ncq
Invite the jungle into the city and you also get the mosquitoes. This particular species is adept at surviving in modern cities: vertical gardens and concrete = jackpot. And do wear a helmet if you walk around beneath the buildings, especially windy days. https://t.co/OdxdD2t4mH
I’ll never forget the time I spent with a young Down Syndrom woman and her nomadic family in Mongolia. She pulled her load as much as anyone else, but constantly cheerful, always happily busy with household chores. To hell with modern civilization if it can’t be made to fit them. https://t.co/jT7m6VnZT0
You will never be as cool as a Tokyo firefighter in the middle of the 19th century wearing this cotton hanten. Doused in water when going out to fight the blaze, then turned inside out for the (victorious) return journey. #MementoMoripic.twitter.com/QZZqY5Ngz8
A woman I once met told me this: “To judge a place, look at the stray cats. If they are friendly, bold and relaxed, you know it is a good village with good people.” pic.twitter.com/GypzbQwHUj
One of the most iconic instances of classical architecture in the American arts of the 20th century: the 1929 art deco 55 Central Park West, NYC, as it was used in the movie Ghostbusters. pic.twitter.com/fXCwFg95yN
Most people who read this live in an area on Earth that is eminently suitable for digging or drilling wells, if for no other reason than to ensure that you have access to fresh water in an emergency, in case of prolonged black outs or tampering with municipal water reserves. pic.twitter.com/ED6VSZhaa3
Everyone has heard of the people making an effort to live more natural lives, off-grid, usually deep in the country or far away from other people. What if I told you we could live off-grid, but in the heart of cities and thriving urban communities? #OffGrid#UrbanPermaCulturepic.twitter.com/4opNq6lP7B
One way to reduce lion vs. human conflicts: help protect cattle from predation. “None of the 683 painted “eye-cows” were killed by ambush predators during the four-year study, while 15 (of 835) unpainted, and 4 (of 543) cross-painted cattle were killed.” https://t.co/8kf4ty10yC
“Factory entrance, Copenhagen, 1901. The decline in architecture has been incredibly steep since then.”
An understatement for the century.
There was a time when architecture was aesthetically pleasing, interesting, attractive even. Now everything looks like the politburo headquarters in the Soviet Union.
A number of questions spring to mind….
* Has this image been there long? I’m a regular here and I certainly don’t remember seeing this beauty.
* How is it possible for a photographer to be so skilled at his craft so as to create this wonderful image while leaving us each wondering the same central question?
* That question being, of course: Is she married? [Nevermind. I’m married, and happily so. But, yeah, is she married?]
* And how old is she? Late 20s? Early 30s? Am I too old for her? [Again, nevermind. I’m still happily married, and in my 60s, so of course I’m too old for her. But a guy can mentally rewind his clock to a time when he could have fallen head-over-heels for this kind of beauty, can’t he?]
* OMG, Gerard, I’m in love with a picture on the internet. Just like a 14 year old boy.
A cold shower awaits.
VanderleunSeptember 20, 2020, 12:45 PM
Be glad you still need a cold shower. I am.
Kevin in PASeptember 20, 2020, 12:52 PM
She sure has some nice cans.
StargazerSeptember 20, 2020, 1:08 PM
Yes, that is quite a pair. Ummm! I mean collection.
TerrySeptember 20, 2020, 3:25 PM
@azlibertarian I discovered the most beautiful photo ever, yesterday. Read my post in comments under “Something Wonderful: Let’s party like its 1955”
I think my eyes are somehow wired for automatic scanning of just this type of art. I enjoy guns also.
I may have been born in the year 1945, but I am still as “alert” as I was at 18.
And I thank Gerard for his similar interests- AD is a one stop shopping site of the highest caliber.
Snakepit KansasSeptember 20, 2020, 5:31 PM
In regard to the picture of Wrath of Gnon. Very interesting drawing made with multiple vanishing points. They can be arbitrarily chosen by the artist, and in this case done below and to the horizon. A true mechanical drawing does not adjust for size shrink appearance at any distance or depth. This very creative drawing does it from height to depth, and also toward the horizon and somewhat extreme for effect. Very nice. I would appreciate Ghost’s thoughts on this as a professional architect as well as Casey’s from the artist perspective. I am a mere amateur in both fields.
ghostsniperSeptember 20, 2020, 6:26 PM
The truest perspective is the 3 point perspective, height, depth, width. Most of my rendering have been of short buildings so they are usually just 2 points, and height is not necessary. Yes, you can say the points are arbitrarily chosen but I prefer to think of them as carefully chosen. Depends on what you are trying to achieve. What we see everyday is mostly 2 point perspective, width and depth, but if we look up at something tall or high we will experience the 3rd point, height. Height reverses of course when you are looking down on the subject like in the pik above. Rarely do we get to see a view like that – us normal folks that shun the large metropolis’s.
And then there is exaggeration, and this is where the “arbitrary” part comes in and it happens for a variety of reasons. Per the owners request, at times I have exaggerated the height of upscale residences making them taller than they really are as they present a more compelling curb appeal. If you compare the exaggerated height in the pik above with a 3d aerial view of the exact building in google maps you’ll see that I mean.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
“Factory entrance, Copenhagen, 1901. The decline in architecture has been incredibly steep since then.”
An understatement for the century.
There was a time when architecture was aesthetically pleasing, interesting, attractive even. Now everything looks like the politburo headquarters in the Soviet Union.
OT: How can it be that I am just now noticing this picture in your sidebar….
http://americandigest.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/afiresale.jpg
A number of questions spring to mind….
* Has this image been there long? I’m a regular here and I certainly don’t remember seeing this beauty.
* How is it possible for a photographer to be so skilled at his craft so as to create this wonderful image while leaving us each wondering the same central question?
* That question being, of course: Is she married? [Nevermind. I’m married, and happily so. But, yeah, is she married?]
* And how old is she? Late 20s? Early 30s? Am I too old for her? [Again, nevermind. I’m still happily married, and in my 60s, so of course I’m too old for her. But a guy can mentally rewind his clock to a time when he could have fallen head-over-heels for this kind of beauty, can’t he?]
* OMG, Gerard, I’m in love with a picture on the internet. Just like a 14 year old boy.
A cold shower awaits.
Be glad you still need a cold shower. I am.
She sure has some nice cans.
Yes, that is quite a pair. Ummm! I mean collection.
@azlibertarian I discovered the most beautiful photo ever, yesterday. Read my post in comments under “Something Wonderful: Let’s party like its 1955”
I think my eyes are somehow wired for automatic scanning of just this type of art. I enjoy guns also.
I may have been born in the year 1945, but I am still as “alert” as I was at 18.
And I thank Gerard for his similar interests- AD is a one stop shopping site of the highest caliber.
In regard to the picture of Wrath of Gnon. Very interesting drawing made with multiple vanishing points. They can be arbitrarily chosen by the artist, and in this case done below and to the horizon. A true mechanical drawing does not adjust for size shrink appearance at any distance or depth. This very creative drawing does it from height to depth, and also toward the horizon and somewhat extreme for effect. Very nice. I would appreciate Ghost’s thoughts on this as a professional architect as well as Casey’s from the artist perspective. I am a mere amateur in both fields.
The truest perspective is the 3 point perspective, height, depth, width. Most of my rendering have been of short buildings so they are usually just 2 points, and height is not necessary. Yes, you can say the points are arbitrarily chosen but I prefer to think of them as carefully chosen. Depends on what you are trying to achieve. What we see everyday is mostly 2 point perspective, width and depth, but if we look up at something tall or high we will experience the 3rd point, height. Height reverses of course when you are looking down on the subject like in the pik above. Rarely do we get to see a view like that – us normal folks that shun the large metropolis’s.
And then there is exaggeration, and this is where the “arbitrary” part comes in and it happens for a variety of reasons. Per the owners request, at times I have exaggerated the height of upscale residences making them taller than they really are as they present a more compelling curb appeal. If you compare the exaggerated height in the pik above with a 3d aerial view of the exact building in google maps you’ll see that I mean.
Don’t know if this will work but you can try to see that building here:
https://www.google.com/maps/search/55+Central+Park+West/@40.7720667,-73.97726,189a,35y,289.31h,50.38t/data=!3m1!1e3
Speaking of a decline in architecture: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/palacio-postal
I do enjoy Wrath of Gnon’s twitter postings.
His 19th cent, Japanese firemen posting above; meanwhile in a neighborhood close to him those guys were doing this in the 1800s and are still doing so today http://shashinski.com/2014/04/05/japanese-firefighters-traditional-style/
Here’s a link to an 1877 Ukiyo-e print of firemen putting on the same show; https://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/A1-92-333/New-Year-s-Parade-of-Fire-Brigades
@James ONeil – Thanks for those links to the Japanese firemen. It’s nice to see a tradition ongoing still, as the print from 1877 illustrates nicely.
loved the picture. They hadn’t got this new-found perspective thing just right then.