Archives for January 2009

What will we eat When the farmers are gone?

01.19.2009 by Peter J. Crowley // 2 Comments

In elementary school when I was a child we would sing a song with the refrain “the Farmer is the one who feeds us all” I think they still sing the song in school. But when I was 10 I knew the farmers. I played with their kids and sometimes helped with chores. But New England family farms are disappearing. In fact in the late fifties and early sixties I remember that some of my farm friends already had a second job to break even. As new developments encroached on pastures harvests decreased and the profit from produce dipped lower. The baby boomers and their new houses literally ate up the once fertile land. Now I’ll looking back fifty years and forward perhaps five. Hindsight is always twenty twenty and foresight is to often ruled by instant gratification/profit. Or put another way foresight is blind to tomorrow.

Now we have genetically engineered food and fewer Monarch butterflies, we have sick bees and Agra Business suing small farmers because the wind carried their genetically altered pollen into the farmers corn crop Copyright infringement. Hope the Honey Bees have a good Lawyer. Think you don’t eat genetically engineered food? Just read the labels at the market. Oh that’s right the USDA does not require labeling. ” The Farmer is the one who feeds us all?” Better living through Chemistry? enjoy pjc

Small Business not bailed out.

January Prints for the People
I know it says Sept at top.

The Aztec Motel Albuquerque, Off The Southwest Chief for 4 days to Worship

01.15.2009 by Peter J. Crowley // 12 Comments

A Life in Photographic Art

The Aztec Motel with
The King on the wall.

More Religious Icons and Art

Well it is late August [heh don’t I wish] and I’m wandering around Albuquerque. On Central Avenue which is also Rt 66 in The Nob Hill section it is the Main St. In 1955 Route 66 was the main road America’s highway from Chicago to LA. There were 98 motels on Albuquerque’s Route 66 by 1992 there were only 48 remained and there are many fewer now. But the Route 66 Diner remains still in the 50’s period and the food is great. Up the ave a bit is The Aztec Motel one of the survivor’s but hardly a motel 6, no time and lifestyles have passed on this motel now being home to outsider artists and other non mainstream folks. The building is a gallery wall for all to see through the wildflowers the art varies from wonderful ceramics to “The King” and other Religious Icons. It had the mystical feeling of past life’s and times. I stood and looked a long time and shot numerous images, never not even now am I sure I captured what I felt. Perhaps it was my memories of the song, TV show and the romance of travel. In hindsight I wish I had met some of the residents but everyone has 20/20 hindsight, next trip perhaps.

The third image is on a side street walking back from coffee at Satellite Coffee. At first as I walked by this contractors truck I was stricken, no amused that someone would have switched from Fred Thomson to Obama, being as Fred was already out of the race. I turned and went back to read the third sticker only then did I notice that Barack was wearing a Che Guevara beret. Now it all made sense Chuck Baldwin on the “Anti immigrant ticket” I am being nice here for I don’t know Chuck but it wouldn’t surprise me to find his hoody was WHITE. I wonder now are these contractors still working? or did they loss their jobs to Mexicans or more likely to “in Fraud We Trust” Wall Street Thugs.
Yes socialism is alright when the billions of dollars are going to the ultra rich campaign contributors, but good health care for the poor and middle class damn put on a beret with a red star you are a Commie. Five more days to pick on the jawbone of an ass while he and the fat pig in the bunker pick your pockets. Enough for now comments welcome.
enjoy pjc

Photographic Art for the People
January Specials

Albuquerque Public Art

01.11.2009 by Peter J. Crowley // 3 Comments

Not my painting.

So today my thoughts travel through the seasons an ideal metaphor for humanity. Winter outside I’m older. The observation is more back, weighing events and roads taken. The image today is Summer, Assholes Garage Central Avenue Albuquerque. Summer where each new step is the beginning of an adventure. Summer I am younger and the vision is forward like a bee in a field of flowers awestruck by all the pollination options. So much to do, too many creative avenues to take, every block provides three new choices. In the summer we would listen to Tom Rush sing Joni Mitchell’s “The Circle Game” a band of gypsies following a meandering straight line that would never end and certainly not in winter. But winter comes and the rejuvenating of dark, cold, short days stretch out beyond the sight of the Forsythia’s first Yellow Light and the short solos of the Purple Crocus taunting winters last cool breezes bursting out in sunny spaces while snow retreats to the shade.
For today and the next few posts I will visit summer mostly through the blossoms of New Mexico artists and their public exhibits. Four days in Albuquerque provided a myriad of paths to art some by local artists some pollinated by my vision.
In summer people tent to speak more so pretend it is summer offer a metaphor, story or just a hello and if anyone knows who painted the Garage [all four sides] please ring in with a name. I searched for a signature and knocked on the door without an answer.
Warm summer thoughts to all don’t forget the sun screen. enjoy pjc

January’s Prints for the People

Summertime and the living is easy