Continuation:
View on Monroe St.
Time has taken its toll on the quality of the photographic record for this project, yet it survives.
Detail from the beginning of human art
Human art is an expression of the world view by the individual artist concerning elements of the collective experience of the clan, village, city or civilization. Seen from a larger frame of reference considering the commonality of expression on all living entities, human art is a departure from a natural urge to communicate survival information. This urge continues to be vital in the survival strategy of most living entities. In human art, however, we can see an ever-widening gap between art's utility as a communicator of vital societal survival information and today's fare of art for art sake with its limited message or "no message" at all.
Detail from human aggression and the invention of war
Millions of species for millions of years have been well-served by aggression. Aggression is a vital characteristic of survival. Aside from the human species, aggression follows strict levels of sufficiency unique to each entity’s survival needs. Humanity has amplified aggression beyond its basic survival needs and opened onto itself unlimited levels of sufficiency to accommodate its progressive urge to conquer the world for its exclusive dominion.
Detail from a nuclear outcome
Humanity has been on the planet for a very short while, geologically speaking. Yet, in about 5000 years we have become a force of nature capable of moving mountains, stopping the flow of rivers, clearing entire forests, and, yes, capable of destroying the world at the touch of a button.
Detail from nuclear outcome
Our limited worldview, further impaired by a misshaped sense of justice, may not be able to remove its blindfold in time to avert a nuclear catastrophe.
Detail from nuclear outcome "peace at last"
From that inhospitable outcome comes the hope that we can indeed evolve to transcend our focus on aggression as a destructive force and learn to utilize its energy to revitalize our culture and rebuild our world.