This graceful sculpture sits atop the Charles Crocker tomb in Mt. View Cemetery. It has previously been featured
here. The Crocker name, well known in California, is associated with banking and railroads. Mt. View Cemetery, established in 1863 and designed by
Frederick Law Olmsted, was developed as an ecumenical site that welcomed all races and religions. It also embodied the Transcendentalist philosophy of man as being
of nature rather than being separate from it. The cemetery was intended to be a natural park and to serve as more than a burial ground. Today it is very much occupied by the living as well as the dead. People come to exercise, walk their dogs, attend concerts and holiday celebrations, bird watch, picnic and honor their family members who have gone before. You frequently hear bagpipes playing as part of funeral ceremonies.
This cemetery has been featured many times in this blog, which makes Julie's new meme a perfect fit. She has just launched
Taphophile Tragics to showcase the historical and artistic aspects of cemeteries that make them fascinating to so many of us. Stop by to see what's on display.
It is good to hear that the cemetery is for the living as well as the dead. A well crafted statue and nice angle.
ReplyDeleteYes, like Diane I love the chiselling that has gone into this statue. I love the design, the look of exasperation waiting for eternity. The ceaseless drumming of the fingers. And also ... the shadow framing you have applied, adds tremendously to the atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for contributing to the new meme 'Taphophile Tragics'. Your support means a lot to me.
Great to hear about your local cemetery. That's what I like about them, is the way they honour those who have gone before us. There was a recent news article about the cemetery Julie featured to announce the new meme where they are trying to decide what other community purposes can be applied to the cemetery so it can be enjoyed and kept more readily for the longer term.
ReplyDeleteWent searching ... searching ... right back to December 2009 ... Carolyn ... your name is Carolyn ... shall commit that to memory.
ReplyDeleteJoan is right. There was an article which she and I discussed. Some of these ideas could be applied there. But there would need to be an injection of money to bring the grounds up to a standard where it would be 'attractive'. It is already attractive to a taphophile, but not necessarily to others within the 'paying' community.
Once again, thanks for your support, Carolyn.
What a fantastic concept!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of those who have passed being present in our every day lives.
I guess it's a little bit like how some Asian cultures have shrines to their ancestors in their homes.
It's a delightful piece of statuary - and interesting to read that this Park is used for recreation as well as a resting place.
ReplyDeleteI like this connection between those who live and those who have lived! It gives a cemetery a more "natural" part of our lives rather than a distant place! Intriguing!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully shot!
ReplyDeleteRegarding your comment: I believe the turquoise house must have been built in the early 20th century, so the tiles are not very old.
Lovely image Carolyn, she does look a little vexed about something! I love the idea of incorporating more into a cemetery and making it a place where people can walk their dogs or exercise, the cemetery that I take all my kangaroo pictures is like that, it's so beautiful it should be shared.
ReplyDeleteLovely shot of that statue. I was just there yesterday for another tour, and someone had left a holiday wreath and flowers on the Crocker angel.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
ReplyDeleteSydney - City and Suburbs
Nice image. I like photos of statues. So, a new meme about cemeteries? Hmmm. I will try to remember.
ReplyDeleteIt's in California, of course, but this looks so much like Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
ReplyDeleteAmazing shot!
ReplyDeleteI hope she has time to look after you and your loved ones this new year.
ReplyDeleteI'm verklempt over your artistic photos lately. The murals are fabulous. I see you are making the most of the long nights by getting some good evening shots!
ReplyDeleteShe needs a GOOD book, looks bored as heck!
ReplyDeleteI got side tracked on my way to your ABC Wednesday post this week. I love this statue! The detail is amazing. I have mixed feelings about the expression though. Since it's in a cemetery, the angel could be saying, "God, I really tried!" Or thinking, "Now what am I suppose to do?" :-)
ReplyDeleteThe angel looks very beautiful and is sitting comfortable to watch the dead.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have THE BEST cemetery shots. I'm in awe!
ReplyDeleteAndrew pointed out this is actually the Schmidt angel. It took me a while of looking at my photos, but you can tell because of the corner visible in the lower left. The two statues are virtually identical, but have very different markers they sit on.
ReplyDeleteI wish the cemeteries in my part of the world had such nice sculptures.
ReplyDelete