From: Keith Gerling (keithgerling@att.net)
Date: 09/07/02-06:22:10 AM Z
"Preachy wide-open space types?" ME? So, is everything west of the Hudson a
"wide-open space", and the inhabitants "wide-open space *types*?"
Puhleeeeze. And PREACHY? Look whose talking. Really, Judy, you ought to
drop this silly us (NY-ers) agin' them (the rest of 'em) attitude.
Particularly regarding environmental responsibility. Your New York
chauvinism is kind of touching - even though you use it like a club to beat
the rest of us, or in this case ME - for having the temerity to suggest that
Ansel Adams might have made successful revelations. Yes, your statistics
are true. Well, *mostly* true: NYers use less fossil fuel per capita (much
less? I don't see it) mostly as a result of the transportation sector, as
you suggest, and for being low-ranking amongst the states for industry. For
residential energy use, NY is pretty much the same as other states, and
scores lowers than California. But I wouldn't wear the stats as a merit
badge, because its not like these stats were earned by means of any
conscious effort. I know NY. I've had to open the windows in an apartment
in Hells Kitchen in the dead of winter many many times because there was no
way to cut off that steam heat. This, while the family shivered responsibly
in Illinois. I've spent considerable time and money in order to maximize
my energy conservation, and I resent your notions. I drive no SUV. I use
solar power and I sweat considerably cutting and splitting wood for the
fireplace, so it really ticks me off to have you place me in a category of
some energy glutton.
Look, my "tree-hugging" comment was made as a lighthearted side-note to my
comments regarding Ansel Adams. I suppose I should expect your ridicule,
having questioned your assertion that we ALL somehow KNOW that "nature is
grand". But we don't. We have no innate understanding of the glories of
nature, and why should we? Perhaps you are personally familiar with the
places where AA photographed, but most people aren't. His works have opened
many eyes in more ways than one, and it is reasonable to suggest that his
works might have value, even *artistic* value for centuries to come.
Keith
-----Original Message-----
From: Judy Seigel [mailto:jseigel@panix.com]
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2002 7:10 PM
To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
Subject: RE: "CALENDAR ARTIST"
On Thu, 5 Sep 2002, Keith Gerling wrote:
> Judy sez:
>
> "There may be mastery, beauty, et al, in Adams, but no revelation. We
KNOW
> nature is grand."
>
> Oh we do? Is that a universal truth? Hardly. Many (perhaps most) would
> gladly forfeit the "grandness" in return for monetary rewards. Adams
> revelations were elementary: he revealed that these places even EXISTED.
> The Hetch Hetchy valley was destroyed and will never be seen again. Why?
> Because it happened before people like Adams could "reveal" it to us.
>
> Keith (in a particularly tree-hugging mood)
What has tree hugging got to do with it? Let us not confuse USEFUL, even
vitally important, with CREATIVE, or "art."
In fact, I could make the argument that the highest art has no practical
value at all except its own sweet self. It is its own justification,
broadening our minds, adding to our graphic consciousness, expanding our
vision, or just existing in the world. What earthly **use** is [name your
masterpiece]...???? In fact art with a USE is (by definition, I bet)
propaganda.
Nyah nyah,
Judy, who is also in a tree-hugging mood, having just finished Barbara
Kingsolver's "Prodigal Summer" on tape in the studio, but reminding you
preachy wide-open space types that denizens of NYC use less (much less)
fossil fuel per capita than you folks who have to drive 5 miles (even NOT
in an SUV) to get a newspaper or a quart of milk, as we not only have mass
transit, but the corner deli, and that our architecture -- row houses and
other forms of massed dwellings -- use far less fuel to heat than your
freestanding buildings of one or two stories, unless you have solar
everything, which would of course be lovely.
So save the environment by moving to a city.
J..
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