POTD: Oil Patch Vernacular #4

POTD: Oil Patch Vernacular #4Oil Patch Vernacular #4 Rawlins, Wyoming 2014

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8 thoughts on “POTD: Oil Patch Vernacular #4”

  1. Again I like the geometry, or maybe graphics is a better word. All the lines created by the conduit counterposed by the round grill makes my eye move through the image easily.

  2. I guess that the butt-ugly honesty is sort of an acquired taste. In the three photos I had the perspective of my usual time spent in Rawlins- driving through in a car – so I really didn’t think about them. The back alley ( you really should put together a Back Alley Portfolio, you have some very interesting back alley pics) POV is a nice simple composition but I think reveals the get the job done character of the oil patch you mentioned. Hanging new infrastructure such as upgraded power and data lines on dilapated old buildings really captures the essence of the culture.

    1. Steve I’m not sure I can acquire a true aesthetic taste for butt-ugly honesty but can develop an appreciation on a different level, perhaps something related to the extreme practicality of getting needed infrastructure at a minimum cost and effort (e.g. The way new service lines are tacked to old buildings). When that direct practicality produces something like the pleasing geometry that Kathy pointed out I guess it does start to bring aesthetic issues into play that are perhaps made even more interesting due to their accidental nature.

  3. It’s probably safe to assume that these retrofits were done by different people at different times. Interesting then to contemplate “design by committee” which in this case produced something visually pleasing. I think artists call this “collaboration” but the committee model is not always the best way to solve problems or create “art.” 🙂

    1. Kathy I’m not sure there was much conscious design work either originally or later. They may bee more like random acts of architecture.

    2. Kathy I’m not sure there was much conscious design work either originally or later. They may be more like random acts of architecture.

  4. Exactly, Larry. Which is why I find it intriguing that these “random acts” made with no artistic intent (mere practicality) should come together in what some of us perceive as an interesting design!

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