52. A thing for old courthouses and town squares

I enjoy taking photos of old historical buildings like old courthouses.  These photos are of the courthouse of Gibson County, TN located in Trenton, TN.  I went out of my way to stop in this town of  4,100 people about 30 miles north of Jackson, TN.  My father grew up in this town and I wanted to see the old historic buildings so I could take photos of them.  The town square reminds me a lot of Denton , TX.  You have the square where all the shops are then the roundabout with the courthouse.  This courthouse was build in 1898 I believe and it is currently getting its second renovation ever.  This is very costly for a small county.

I took many more photos of the pre Civil War buildings but the court house stood out of them all.  The building is huge.  The inside was even more amazing but sadly they were working inside and I didn't take any photos of the interior.

I wish people would build courthouses like this today.  If I was an architect I would emulate these old historical buildings and rebuild them.  Obviously, any newer building would not have the smell or feel of something over a hundred years old because of new building codes etc.  When I walked inside the interior is still much build of wood frames and they are exposed.  The artwork inside is priceless also.  Many Civil War artifacts are inside and things of Davy Crockett.  He lived about 10 miles north of the courthouse for about two decades I believe and his original cabin still stands in Rutherford, TN.   

51. Grant

This man was the 18th President of the United States of America.  His name is Ulysses S. Grant or otherwise known as General Grant.  I took this photo at Vicksburg National Cemetery where the Siege of Vicksburg took place.  The man looks so noble and deserving.  By looking at this I want to be this man but this piece of art is deceiving if somebody really knows the history of this man.  He ruthlessly used his men to attack the other side and die.  He slaughtered his own men and yet we look to this statue as representing a man of honor.  

I wish I knew what the plaque on the statue said, I did not read it.  I wonder if it glorified the man or said he used his manpower to his advantage ruthlessly.  I just want to interpret this piece of art.  I could say this man kept the country alive tho.  He is a great hero.  By interpreting the piece of art, I am seeing how the creator must have a purpose in his art and a motive.  This piece is intentionally suppose to glorify the man by having him sit high up on a hill overlooking it on his horse.

I learned that you must be biased sometimes and glorify your work even if it is not completely true.  Make it appealing to the audience.  I enjoy taking the time to interrupt Union and Confederate pieces of work and to see what the artist motives are.       

50. Idiots or just geniuses?

Look at these two framed murals.  What do you see?  Who would think of such things?  A drunken dumb ass or is this person a genius?  I believe these two pieces of work could be the next Fountain masterpiece.  It is so stupid its brilliant.  These two pieces of art hang in my dorm in the lobby.  Somebody just put them up one night and they have stayed.

These pieces of art are why learning to not census results in enhanced creativity.  I am absolutely ashamed to have these hanging in my dorm but they have remained for months.  I have come to accept it and find it very comical.  These two pieces have actually made me open my eyes and be more accepting of things.  Our dorm had over 50 pieces of art work of old ships donated by Gary Crum whose name is on our building.  These framed murals hang alongside the thousands of dollars of paintings Crum donated.  I wonder what Mr. Crum would think of this.  I bet he would be horrified but thats because he likely censors things.   A child would see nothing wrong with this work.      

I am aspired by these two simple pieces of art and will continue to think out of the box and be more accepting of my silly yet genius ideas.  

49. Ian Cohen (textbook)

Ian Cohen is one of the cofounders at Wexley School for Girls in Seattle, WA.  His partner and creative director is Cal McAllister.  Yes, Wexley School for Girls is an ad agency and one of the strangest names I have ever heard of for anything.

Ian Cohen's process is about acting like he is not at work and going to stimulating places.  Normal everyday activity helps him deveolp ideas.  He likes using a very cheap notepad and just writing anything or drawing anything that comes to mind.  Initially he is about quantity than quality when it comes to brainstorming. 

Cohen says he can't draw either but he still does which I believe is important because I can relate to this.  If I didn't try to draw things then I would be limiting myself so much.  I would basically be strangling myself in the creative process.  Also the idea of making work seem like its not work is something I relate to.  I find it similar to the idea that I like to keep my room clean but if my mom tells me to clean it then it ruins the mood.  I want to do things without being told or feeling obligated to do something which relates to creativity.  I will be creative when I feel more comfortable and less pressure to do something.  If I feel pressure then I will fail at coming up with something when brainstorming.   

  

48. David Kennedy (textbook)

David Kennedy one of the founding partners at Wieden + Kennedy.  One of the things I took from him was he is a very simple man.  He didn't get any fancy formal training or education on how to be a creative person.  He knew how to draw and he could learn from others like Push Pin Studios and Paul Davis to name a couple.  He learned from other people and influences.  That proves creativity can be learned.

For his employees he likes to get out of their way and let them work their magic.  By interfering, he interrupts the creative process and people will start to censor themselves.  I can relate to this because I remember in elementary school we had an art class and the teacher always interrupted when I did my projects.  I wanted to be left alone and let me do my thing.  Ultimately, my teacher or somebody else can critique my work at the end.  If I wanted advice I can always ask but don't actively overlook somebody when they are working because that makes people less creative.

Also I like the idea of letting your employees work in blue jeans.  Forcing somebody to work in a suit or dress up interrupts people.  Let people be themselves and that will be reflected in their work.    

47. Carvings in a cave

Over the summer, as a part of my hikes into the woods I like to go explore caves.  I carved my initials and my friends and it took over a hour.  We found an old railroad spike to use.  Hopefully the carving was deep enough to stay but its fun to go into caves that are completely pitch black inside with no lights.

I always get some type of rush of adrenaline when I am in a cave with no lights on.  Some caves you can hear the bats inside.  The echos fascinate me too.  I can whisper inside the cave and my voice is as loud as if I was talking normally.  I find it relaxing to be around nature inside caves.  I can explore and be alone.  It allows me to clear my mind and it is very peaceful.       

46. Spiritual Lecture

I thought today's lecture was interesting but very confusing.  I did not completely understand what she was referring to as "spiritual" under the very end when I believe Steve interrupted and then our speaker went on to clarify what it was.  I failed to understand at the beginning what differences if there were any at all between emotions and energy.  The commercial she showed at the end clarified it some but it could be more helpful if she showed that in the beginning to start off.

Also I wish the speaker would have given a little more background on herself... who was she?  She mentioned she took your Class Willie so shes an SMU Alumni?  But in the beginning, she said she moved to the U.S. to go to grad school at UT?  Overall, I was not the most fond of the whole speech because I failed to understand even though I was actively paying attention.  She engaged with the audience very well thought which made it much more easier to pay attention.