The Life in Death - The Human Touch

First of all, I apologize if it seems like I am yelling in this post.  In order for the words to stand out from the photography, the print needs to be gargantuan as the difference between "normal" and "large" in this blog hosting device (see I'm so technical) is more than a little noticeable.  Moving on, I hope you enjoy my observations on human demarcation of death.

Whether it is to honor those who have died, to find closure for the loss we have suffered, or for different motivations entirely - cemeteries are near to bursting with statuary.  Some religious, some not.  No matter the motive, they all have one common trait.  They lend a personality to the space in which they exist.  It can be culturally defined as sections of the cemetery are clearly one ethnicity or another.  Others are motivated by the specific individual for which the items are placed.  All in all, there is a humanity in wanting to leave a remembrance or a mark, and it was omnipresent in these particular grounds.

Asserting A Sense Of Control:

 

Death is neither neat nor orderly, but at times we try to insist that it conform.

 

 

Proving our individualism to stand out from the rows of sameness

 

 

The entryway looks as though it could be a home.  Just someone's front yard.  Knock if you care to visit for a while. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Culture Defines Itself:

 

 The area is full of Armenian grocery stores and restaurants.  It is fitting that the cemeteries should reflect some of the same linguistic duplicity.  It did not stop there.

 

 

 

 

 

 Religious symbols were both hidden and ostentatious.  Crosses of many flavors were the most prevalent.

 

 

 In case you were wondering, there aren't any flowers growing on the tops of the grave stones.  Those are all carved into the stone.  So impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Artisan's Influence:

 

 It is an understatement to say that the craftsmanship is impressive and meticulous.

 The level of detail carved into some of these stones was amazing, especially considering time and weather had already begun to erode many of them.

 

 Some pieces were more personal than others.

Such a powerful representation of grief. 

 

At first this installation seemed out of place.  It is modern, abstract, and simply put it isn't made of stone as one might expect from this cemetery. Upon closer observation, however, etched around the base of the statue are many names with dates of birth and death.  It is a microcosm of the rest of the cemetery and it really is quite beautiful.  There is a peacefulness and solemnity to it that I find quite appealing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time Collects Its Due:

  

I couldn't be sure but the coloring in the stone almost appears as though it's part of the weathering.  It's possible that it was inherently there, but it wears well with the erosion of the design.

 Ruth and Edgar have grown apart over the years.

 

 

Yet some couples stay together even as they fade through time.

 

 

This one just baffles me.  I like it, but I don't understand it.  May a seal watch over you to the end of time.

 

 

Thanks for reading.