Into the Thick of It...

Finally winter is here.

 Vegetable garden in winter

Big storm over the weekend left the farm with a blanket of snow that outlines all the branches, trellis, and fencing.
Very pretty with the sun sparkling off of the crystals.

 After cleaning off the greenhouse twice from the foot or so of snow I tackled laying out the illustrations for the Mt Rushmore Book. I am divided over the project as my Native American lineage makes me cringe at what was done to the mountain. I also know they took the land after it was promised to them away from the Native Americans who lived there as gold was found nearby. On the other hand, I have to recognize the brazen audacity and willpower of Borglum and his backers to do such an immense carving.... requiring years of effort, a dangerous situation, huge funding, and a lot of manpower.

I've seen the mountain sculpture in person and it is quite spectacular, but is that because of it's largeness or where it is? If suggested today I believe the project would be turned down. Is art really meant to be carved into the landscape like this? Is this a form of defacement? Something to think about.

 Sculptor Gutzon Borglum with his initial model

I love the history behind the project...turns out the state couldn't get federal funds until Coolidge choose to vacation there. The wily state officials netted the river near his vacation camp and stocked it with trout so he'd be successful at fishing for the 3 months he stayed on. Coolidge never knew...was so delighted with his vacation that he financially backed the plan.