Wednesday, December 15, 2010

School, Sky and Tree

Does everyone love the art deco lines of South Pas High as much as I do? Maybe it's because I attended high school in a windowless cement block of a building that would would make your average prison feel downright elegant by comparison.

That depressing sky zapped what was left of my holiday spirit. I needed something lovely to pose in front of all those clouds, or else you guys would have ended up with a post today featuring a depressing poem and a black and white shot of a broken Christmas tree ornament.

Thanks, South Pas High! Nothing like a little architecture to lift a mood.

14 comments:

Mister Earl said...

Must be a winter day in the mid-west!

Judy Williams said...

WHat I love is the perspective and the red leafed tree as it slightly leans into the historic building. Lovely! Ok, off to read Patch. :)

Jean Spitzer said...

Yes. I love the lines of this building.

One of the best things about my high school (Hollywood) was the 30's bits.

San Diego Farmgirl said...

Beautiful shot! I love the color contrast of the warm building to the cool sky.

I attended an art deco high school built in the 20s or 30s, and decorated with 60s tile. It had the coolest atrium in the center - although we weren't allowed inside (or outside, as it were).

I think you should have included the depressing poem anyway, in an ode to the high school experience. My Mom used to judge speech tournaments, and would always chuckle at the frequency of 'dark' performances.

She'd always recite an example that went something like:
I walk alone
Dark washes over me like the black, black ink of death
I walk alone
Pain, sweet pain, is gnawing, ever gnawing at my empty soul
I walk alone
As so forth ... ;o)

TheChieftess said...

My sophomore year was in a charming historic building, built in the early 1900's...My parents went there, Dan's parents went there, sisters, brothers, etc. In my Junior year, they began to tear the building down and replace it with...yep, you guessed it...one like Laurie's windowless cement block prison looking building. When they demolished the tower...the symbol on our class rings etc...the press, the students, alumni...everyone who could, attended when it went down...the only plus to the demolition and rebuilding of GHS was the reduced class schedule!!! I think they shaved off 10 minutes per class and we got out about an hour early each day!!! My Senior year was in the new school...I remember problems with the air conditioning and of course, the windows didn't open, etc, etc...Now, a bunch of years later, it looks awful. It looks more run down and out of style than it ever did in the old buildings...

TheChieftess said...

PS...love the clouds!!! Love the building...and the angle!!! SoPas High is a beautiful art deco school!!!

Laurie Allee said...

I am so influenced by beautiful surroundings. I really think going to school in a beautiful place makes the entire experience better. That awful cement block school of mine was cheerless. High school is hard enough without having to live with no natural light in building with no personality.

I lived on the west side of LA for many years and learned to tune out the inherent ugliness of Pico and Olympic blvds. When we moved to South Pas, Jon and I both couldn't get over how much different it is to run errands on streets where virtually everything you see is lovely!

TheChieftess said...

I agree Laurie!!! When our new high school was built, it's only saving grace was that it was new...now that it is older...there's nothing attractive about it...I'd hate to be going there now! As a student or a teacher!!!

You've never enjoyed the beauty of running errands so much as we have though...since we moved up here to God's country!!! Oh...I have to go run some more errands, darn!!!!

Laurie Allee said...

Chieftess, I imagine you snowshoe-ing down the mountain to gather fresh farmers market eggs in a handmade basket...

I know, I know, you don't really do that but don't ruin my mental picture.

Mister Earl said...

Don't touch those! They're bear eggs!

Who cares what I think? said...

I really like the high school, too. This is a really beautiful shot.

TheChieftess said...

It's not the going down the mountain in snow shoes to gather eggs in my homemade basket that keeps me from fulfilling this dream of yours...it's snow shoeing back UP the mountain!!!

Laurie Allee said...

Chieftess, you made me laugh with THAT image. Hadn't ever pictured how you'd get back up. Ski lift, perhaps?

Farmgirl, I did one of those dark poetry readings for a drama monologue in high school. I thought I was so edgy... Sigh...

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful!