The beauty of old barns for me begins with their riot of shapes and panoply of textures. Barns are industrial buildings that often meet a complex architectural program. They grow with the farm they serve and change with changes in agricultural markets. Their organization usually follows considered decisions about how to get more out of the work day with fewer sore muscles. One can often trace the history of what was farmed and how, by additions and changes made to the farmstead.
A lot of hands went into the making of any old farmstead. Every window and every wall carries the particular quirks of each hand & mind that hammered on it. In some old farms, even today, a great great great grandchild has taken me to places where great grampa set a mark.
Sadly, all of my encounters with old barns also remind me that these geriatric structures are often crumbling. As they fall, they plow under a rich history and a lifestyle. I'd like to think that "plowing under" is the compost of images such as this.
2 comments:
Hi Roth,
Thats very interesting to know all about the existing of "old barns", I always like it more to see (look at) a photo with 'a story' more that 'just a photo' , it makes it more interesting,
I love this photo.
Have a great weekend. :) JoAnn
As land prices have gone way up where I live, many of these farms are being sold and turned into housing. It's very sad to see the character of the land change in this way. Fortunately, there are some corners where the trend has still been resisted. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, JoAnn.
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