Made the Map!

As Occupy Jacksonville we held the front of City Hall for four months - from November 5, 2011 to March 5, 2012.  As far as I know that was the longest sustained occupation site in the nation.   The above is from Google earth.  One of my favorite things to do overnight when things got slow was to gather up a few friends and head off site with some sidewalk chalk.  Above you can make out one of our giant peace signs from mid-December.  It was always our hope that one of them would be captured from space by satellite and make its way into Google.  Sure enough there it is!

Seeing this makes me think about the enormous impact we had on our city during those months we spent in front of City Hall.  All the lives that we touched.   All those small little moments that ripple back and forth from person to person still to this day.  We are still planning and organizing.  In fact, this weekend a working group that I have been involved with is starting construction on our first of many community gardens for the Jacksonville area.  

OccupyJax

Since my last post the Occupy movement was born and is now starting to grow up.   It seems as if I wasn't the only one thinking about walls.  I'm very proud to be apart of Occupy Jacksonville.  Yes even here in conservative Jacksonville, Fl we occupy.  Rain or Shine, Day and Night we will be in front of City Hall downtown Jacksonville until (904) is fixed.  After holding weekly meetings each Saturday starting October 8th we voted to start occupying 24/7 on November 5th and have ever since. 

At OccupyJax we are unable to sleep or have tents, so we take turns with day and night crews.  No worries this is not about tents or sleeping Occupy is an Idea and that is why we are here. It has been a challenge to say the least but I find myself inspired by my new friends.  These are the bravest lovely people that I have ever known.  This has been a movement of love and peace and community!  We don't know you but we love you all!

Some of the pictures are done with my phone some with my F3 on film.  I regret not taking more pictures now that I have found some time to think and blog.  I've been using my eyes instead.  I plan on bring my camera out more often in the future.  

Walls and Fences

On the past few walk-a-bouts the plants finding their way over and through walls and fences captured my attention. If given the chance these plants would tear them down. Of course this got me thinking about my own invisible walls and barriers I put up around my own life. I thought about the areas in my walls that nature is trying to break through and tear down. I know some of my walls are necessary but others... not so much.

Why hold back that smile or complement? I'd rather be a comma then a full stop.

Into the Light

Armed with a roll of Kodak T-Max 400, I ventured out on a few walk-a-bouts. It was my first time shooting with black and white since a photography class in high school. High school was a long time ago so let us just say this was my first roll of black and white. I stepped way outside of my comfort zone, into the unknown, with this roll and why not? What is the fun in doing the same thing over and over?

At any rate, I love the way the light is larger than life in these photos. It comes across natural and true.  The light is overwhelming and almost too much to bear. I thought about the "Allegory of the Cave" and how at first it hurts to step out into unknown. It is often the unknown that we fear and avoid, but it is often in the unknown that we find something spectacular.

Now play it with me

And love, the shoreline, where you and I meet