Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Faces I See--Belfast, Northern Ireland

My love of graffiti started a little over a year ago when I visited an area of Brooklyn which was run-down and industrial. There were few shop fronts and in the dingy industrial sized windows above, I could see brushes, paints, and canvases leaning against the glass. Because of the landscape, the whole neighborhood consisted of flat concrete or stucco walls, many of which were now spray painted brightly. The artwork was what one would think of when you'd think of 'typical' graffiti--colorful, distorted letters--but what struck me was how it seemed that the artists were courteous of each other's work. It seemed almost as if each artist had been commissioned to do a particular square of wall and no one tagged over another's work. This may be the case, that they were somehow 'commissioned', but from this point, graffiti transformed into an art form for me. As I travel, I am drawn to the graffiti of cities. Much of the work within the confines of these urban areas is mural-esque displaying a variety of interesting or historical content, and tagging is less commonplace. Or, rather it may just be that my perception of graffiti has changed and it's this new light I see. I no longer need to visit the local art institutes (though I still do) because the city itself is thriving with masterpieces, one just has to explore a little. 


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Arches on the Seine--Paris, France

There's something alluring about an arch--it creates a subtle line for the eye to follow. The curves of the bridges along the Seine, one after another, create the perfect frame to view the city as one walks riverside. As one walks the Seine's path, passengers wave to you from the ferry and you can peer into the house boats docked along the river bank, getting a glimpse of how life would be like traveling Europe by boat. 



Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The Entries and Other Quiet Streets--High Street, Belfast

The Historical narrow alleyways, which were used to service homes and shops, are some of Belfast's oldest passages. Seven entries still exist today around High Street, each with their own character and name. The alleys should be avoided in the dark (they are quite secluded from regular foot traffic), but by day one can travel back in time to cobblestone paths and hidden taverns with no sense of the busy modern streets of city center surroundings. 



Monday, October 27, 2014

A Colorful Graffiti Corner--Belfast, Northern Ireland

The streets of Belfast city center were quite on a rainy Sunday afternoon as I wandered wandered toward the outskirts. Among the grey streets and sky was this colorful alley--a street converted into a pedestrian walk. The upper windows were boarded up, each painted with a different figure and the ground level featured a series of murals with no particular style of coherence.  




A Day Trip to the Coast--Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

The beauty of nature is not easily accessible. In fact, in order to see it, one must take a train, hop on a bus, and walk along a narrow country road until they reach the coast. However, the view of the naturally volcanic formed Giant's Causeway is well worth the trek. Octagonal pillars jut up from the earth forming pyramids of stone and create calm pools of ocean water amongst the crashing waves. Of course, no journey in Ireland is without a little rain, and this day was no exception. As we arrived, many visitors were leaving because of a rain shower, but having already made a three hour journey, we proceeded. No matter which direction we hiked, the rain blew into us and the drops pelted our flushed faces. When we reached the cliff edges, we had to brace ourselves in order to look over the edge, but once we steadied ourselves, we were offered a panoramic view of Northern Ireland's countryside and ocean front. Oh what a view! Some even say you can see Scotland on the horizon on a clear blue day.





Thursday, October 23, 2014

A Sunset Stroll in the City--Near Luxembourg Gardens, Paris

The sun was just right--the church in sunlight and the square in dusk, appearing grey almost as if the color had just been erased from the image. The square was full of people, many of who had recently been displaced from the nearby Luxembourg Gardens which had closed at dusk commenced by the blowing of police whistles. Parisians perched at the edge of the fountain, children ran free and young folk waited for their dates to arrive as I watched the sun finally disappear behind the church too. 



Tuesday, October 21, 2014

The Structure of the City--Paris, France

Hidden beneath the fancy Parisian exterior is a view less seen--the steel structure of the city. The detail and pattern of the rivets, punch-outs, and criss-crosses create a beautiful juxtaposition to the decorative urban fabric. This is how I see Paris--through a black and white lens, gazing up and through instead of at.





Monday, October 20, 2014

The Underground River--Near Pont de l'Alma, Paris

When in Paris, visit the sewers. Forget Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, or the Arc de Triomphe, one can take a self-guided tour a few meters below the streets in the sewer system of Paris. I must shamefully admit, this was the only tour I had set out on my agenda for my weekend after hearing about the history of the tours in a historical geography module. In the 19th century, Paris elite would take river boat tours of the newly constructed system as part of a Sunday outing! Once you've made the descent below the street, the tunnels open up to a walking height and you are free to roam a section of the system. Periodically, one must duck to dodge large dripping pipes (let's hope they're dripping clean water...) Below, under a grated cage walkway, runs the open sewage, and it is truly sewage, toilet paper and all. Aside from the odor, which is not a deterring factor from the tour--it really isn't noticeable--the tour gives a nice historical and modern representation of the system, which any engineer or curious individual would find fascinating. 



Sunday, October 19, 2014

My Paris Pants--Lourve, Paris

Sometimes fashion talks, and in my case, fashion screams--at least that's what my Paris pants did. I bought these pants back in Oklahoma (of all places!). They're some version of a 1980's MC Hammer-esque elastic waist, tapered pant that one could only pick up at Goodwill. They magically fit, and have been stowed in my wardrobe until this moment--to make their debut in the city of fashion. They make me feel fabulous. And fabulous they were--children adjacent to me on the metro stared, fashionistas on the street gave me the look-over of approval, and the people-watchers at street side cafes followed in gaze at my pants as I passed by.


A Cemetery in the Fall--Pere' Lachaise, Paris

What once was out of the confines of Paris, has since been engulfed by the surrounding city. Yet despite this fact, the grounds seem to stay calm within the chaos and bustle of the city. The old cemetery, Pere' Lachaise, was much as I remember ten years ago--moss covered surfaces, darkened limestone from decades of weather, and ornate wrought iron details. Cobblestone pathways connect the different named rues, leading visitors through the grounds, but also defining the address where the deceased now permanently reside. As I viewed the scenery for a second time in my life, it was no longer a spooky experience, rather peaceful. The tombs seemed to radiate in the sun as a celebration of life rather than loom in darkness. The fall weather complemented the stroll as leaves rained down in a scattering of orange, my feet crunching them on the cobble stone as I continued on. 






Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Kayaks in the City--River Lee, Cork

The cold and wet rain has settled, and I think it's here to stay. The city has a foggy blanket of haze--coming in and out with the tide. Amongst all of the grey are those brave enough to immerse themselves the cold, using bright color to fight the chill. 


Tuesday, October 14, 2014

The Gift of Gab--Blarney Castle, Ireland

I have joined the ranks of those like Winston Churchill and Mick Jagger. I have kissed the stone--the Blarney Stone, that is--and have been bestowed with the gift of eloquence. The ritual of kissing this famous stone is achieved by laying on one's back, and with the assistance of another, leaning backward over the ledge of the castle's roof to kiss the bottom stone of an overhang. The stone itself has no particular distinguishing appearance other than the fact that it looks and feels much smoother than all of the others--a shockingly real indication of exactly how many lips have touched its surface.



Saturday, October 11, 2014

A Framed Point of View--Ireland

Isn't a window, in a sense, the frame of a scene--a focused view deliberately designed by an architect to emphasize a picture of particular note? These snapshots, one from Dublin and the other from Cork City center, prove that a window is more than just a means of light or ventilation--architecture is about art too. 

Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

Crawford Art Gallery, Cork

Friday, October 10, 2014

New Neighborhoods, New Art--Pine Street, Cork

Any surface--back allies, garages, fences, doors--that may be bare now, is a potential canvas for undiscovered artists. As my explorations continue, my collection of graffiti photography expands. Venturing further and further from the radius of my flat into neighborhoods like Blackpool and Shandon, I've discovered that different areas of the city have different 'genres' of street art ranging from pure tagging, murals, graphic collages, and bold patterns of color. This particular piece is part of a collection spanning an entire block of Pine Street. As I Google Mapped the street (I did not know the name) it was unrecognizable. The street view from September 2011, was completely devoid of color--a stark contrast to the personality of the street as it is today.


Thursday, October 9, 2014

A Means of Modern City Transport--Dublin, London, etc.

As I walk city streets, brave bicyclists whiz by, weaving in and out of stopped traffic. Much like america where New York city has 'Citi Bikes,' Denver has 'Bcycle,' and DC has 'Capitol Bikeshare,' European cities have their own versions of bike share. Morning commuters in Dublin are a sea of neon--cyclists don bright construction vest-esque windbreakers and helmets, taking every preventative measure to be seen by vehicle traffic. In London, tourists cycle through Hyde Park or down the Mall, trying to catch a glimpse of the Royal family. With docking stations around every corner, it seems as though the Europeans have eco means of transportation in mind--or rather, a more sustainable user-base than in the states. 

London, England
Dublin, Ireland

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Surrounded by Neighborhood Culture--Colombia Flower Market, London

I always try to get a feel for the local culture of a city (especially when I travel by myself), and local markets are one of the best means to discover. From the recommendation of a new local London friend, I spent my last day in the neighborhood of Shoreditch. Each Sunday, a quiet street lined with cafes, vintage shops, and art galleries, transforms into a vibrant market where flower vendors sell any and every type of flower imaginable. My senses were stimulate by fragrant smells of hydrangeas, the sounds of vendors yelling out 'buy five, get one free' and a local artist performing on her accordion, and the bold, black taste of my coffee. The market draws people from all parts of the city--a promenade of fashionable city folk. As I explored further from Colombia Street to Brick Lane and finally to Liverpool Station, it seemed as if the entire city carried these bundles of flowers--all wrapped up in the same fashion of brown paper. 




Tuesday, October 7, 2014

A Sneak Peak of the City--London, England

The city is comprised of greys and blues, but when the light hits it right, the urban scene lights up--London is best viewed from dusk. The skyline of London is different from many of the cities I've been to; it's conglomeration of old, new, modern, restored. Devastation of the original city during the great London fire and destruction to many parts of the city during WWII stimulated phases of rebuild, creating the unique architectural panoramic that London has today. London is a true modern city adapting to modern technologies (seen most prominently through the transportation system) and the lifestyles of it's residents, yet it still clings to it's history, preserving the culture of the city. 





Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Row Houses with Colorful Doors--Blackpool, Cork

While studying at UCC, I am taking an architecture module titled Conservation Theory and Practice. The course is taught by a series of lecturers who discuss a range of topics including the evolution of historic Irish building, conservation technologies, surveying, and analyzing relevant legislation. In addition to the lecture series, we have a project component which coincides with the third year studio whose focus is on the Blackpool neighborhood of Cork City. The assignment is to represent an aspect of the neighborhood's fabric through photographs and annotated drawings. At the end of the project, the class will have compiled a historic record of the area. After spending five hours wandering down every main street and alley way after lecture, I had taken a lot of pictures, but had come to no conclusion on what I wanted to focus my study on. 
This series of row houses was one of my favorite shots of the day.