Hidden and Gross Places

This image is one from my landscape project. I really like the feeling of claustrophobia this composition makes. This was one of the most interesting spaces I found in downtown Elgin. Formally I like the bold colors and the asymmetrical balance. The colors really stand out from the monochromatic background of the brick. The bars at the top of the picture help to create a pressing down on the viewer to create a more pronounced claustrophobic experience.
Throughout this project, I have been looking in historical areas for places that are interesting based upon their grittiness and unkempt atmosphere. I find it ironic that these spaces are in areas that are known for their historical quality. Yes, that means they are old which is part of the problem, but other areas are very well manicured. Whether it is a place to put garbage or a door into an apartment, some places are not deemed as important and are somewhat hidden, so they are ignored. There are places in our lives that this happens. We think that certain parts of our lives are important, so we pay attention to them, but there are other parts of our lives or personalities that we neglect for various reasons. It is our priorities that determine these things, but I'm not sure that it is valid. We will always have nasty parts to our personality because we are fallen creatures, but I don't think our attitude should be so nonchalant. We can't do it on our own, but those nasty spaces in our lives need to be paid attention to. We need to recognize their existence and do something about it. We have to give them over to the one God who can heal everything.