Friday, January 29, 2010

Skywatch Friday, Pier Park





These pictures were taken before dawn, at dawn and just after dawn at Pier Park. This morning (as I write this), my 15-year old son woke me earlier than usual and wanted me to drive him to school because it was abominably cold out. And very windy—bad wind chill. Normally he walks. And he was wearing his pajamas. They aren’t very warm.

So I got up, dressed warmly, put on wind pants and drove him to school—then drove down to the lake where I saw, in the dark, that the ice was piled up along the lake wall—frigid-looking but beautiful.

I drove to Pier Park and got there at 7:36 AM—it was still dark and the park was closed but the attendant let me in when I told him I just wanted to talk a walk.

I’d bundled myself up but was still shocked by the cold. Brr—and the wind tore through me. But I walked through the dark and the slow growing of predawn light until gradually it was nearly light out—and then I witnessed the dawn over the frozen and partly frozen lake and bays. It was lovely. I took lots of pictures with my tiny digital camera. I walked over the frozen sand of the lake and the frozen docks past the frozen boats slips and up on to the viewing platform and around to the gazebo. I was out for about an hour and some man came looking for me, because it was so cold the parking attendant was worried about me—also maybe worried because a couple weeks ago, a local woman parked by the lake and walked into it and was never found. It was so cold they said she’d have died of hypothermia in about ten minutes—and it’s colder than that, today. Oh, how I hate to think of her there . . .

But I was okay—my hands hurt when I took pictures, because I couldn’t do it with my glove on.And I couldn’t take the time to be precisely careful about the pictures.

I had a warm car and a warm house to return to, but I worry about the homeless in this bitter cold. And the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I took lots of pictures ad will be sharing them over the next few days (or weeks?)

And here are two of the new art pieces I've been doing:




The first is called "At the Black Canyon of the Gunnison" and is made with Christmas markers. It is 8 x 10, on watercolor paper. The second is gouache--I was just fooling around testing the transparency/opacity of the gouache. I haven't had time lately to post my art.

22 comments:

Gunn White said...

Very pretty and creative!

VP said...

Great images and an amazing story, reading it in a warm place!

Wolynski said...

Love that first one with the benches - almost looks like a fake, painted film set, but it's real.

Oh my, look at all this ice. Can't even imagine the wind from the lake.

Damn comes after 7:40 in Detroit? It comes around 6:15 in Vegas now. Have no idea why you're being short changed.

Lovely paintings - I'm always impressed when people can do that.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thanks Gunn, VP and Wolynski!

VP: it is even colder today than yesterday and I think I will wait a while before I walk!!!

Detroit is on the Western edge of the time Zone so we get dawn about an hour later than those at the Eastern edge!

I don't usually mind though, I'd prefer longer evenings to brighter mornings.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Gunn, how come I can't find you?

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

If anyone knows Gunn's link, please leave it for me.

GIOVANNI said...

wowowee.. grat pics..

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thanks, Giovanni!

Louise said...

That lake is incredible, if cold. And the paintings are fabulous as well.

Linnea said...

Interesting experience you had. But you were well rewarded by that incredible sunrise. It looks very desolate, but I would love to experience this view in person, especially so early in the morning. Stay warm.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thank you both for your kind words!!! I did not go out again becasue it is so cold--but I am glad I was there.

Hildred said...

Beautiful pictures and gorgeous pastels. I can feel the cold and the wind! Your paintings, too, are lovely.

Rose said...

Wonderful, wonderful pictures! I like the painting, also.

Bradley Hsi said...

Like the firat one most, very nice composition. Have a nice weekend.

Lowell said...

Good night, that does look soooooo cold! What in the world's the matter with you? Do you want to catch pneumonia? :-)

But you are an artist, my friend...the photos, the paintings...just wonderful!

I can imagine sitting on those benches mid-summer but not now!

Our morning was a bit different - if you check out Ocala DP...

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thank you all so very much for your sweet kindness!!!!!

Three Rivers, Michigan said...

These are beautiful photos of the ice covered water, the one of the two empty benches is very poignant. I like your marker-art, too, especially the trees. Hope you spent the rest of the day somewhere warm!

Three Rivers Daily Photo

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thank you SO MUCH! :-D YAY!

Marie said...

Jacob is right, you are an artist! Great photos and great art.

Unknown said...

The water and sky look as frigid as you described. How terrible that a woman met her end there. EW! However, the view is actually very pretty, even if was very cold.

Montag said...

Stunning pictures of the lake.
It makes the little puddle look legendary...as it was when I was young.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Thank you Marie, Stine and Montag for your very kind comments! I'm sorry I am so far behind.