Progress?

We live in a state that is all about the wilderness and nature. Graffiti Falls in Manitou is a melding of nature and human nature. Its the a place that incorporates rocks and water and the natural side of life along with the man made, a bridge for our road system. My favorite thing about this video is what has been added. You have the natural and the man made but at the same time you have a group of people, most likely young people, who have inserted themselves into their landscape. It is a sense of rebellion in what they are doing yet at the same time they are creating art. Personality shines through even with the signatures on the stones surrounding the creek. Small drawings on the side of the wall to the extravagance of the drawings that were painted while rock climbing upside down. The artists are creating means to an end. They have constructed their own means of transportation in this make shift culture that has been created under the bridge. Years of layers have been added by rebellious youths until now there is a full painted wall of art and decoration.

What I think is sad is that it was recently given to the city and the city has promised to turn it into a park and clean it up. Make shift fire pits and multi-colored rocks will be replaced with park benches and gravel. A place of originality and expression will be replaced to make local young families feel at home and the rebellious youths will have to find a new habitat to set up their angst-y roots.

But maybe the artists will revolt and take back the park and restore it to its colorful self.

We will have to see.