Saturday, September 27, 2008

T Jeff's Crib


"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden." - Thomas Jefferson, 1811.

Monticello in Italian means "little mountain," and if you were not taken away by the craftsmanship (95% still standing is the original structure) of the mansion, you were sure to admire the secluded view from a top the rolling hillside. Do not get me wrong, the house is great, but it would not be the attraction it is without the landscape surrounding it. As the photos show, we visited on a questionably umbrella needed day. It reminded me of photos I've seen of Scotland (I have not visited but I should because of one word - Braveheart). Monticello is the only house in America on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Other American cultural sites to make the list include: Mesa Verde National Park, Independance Hall, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Statue of Liberty, Chaco Culture, Pueblo de Taos, and La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico. More people have probably seen the seven wonders of the world.

It is ironic that Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration that "all men are created equal," yet he was one of the largest slave owners. It took nearly 150 slaves to tend to the large estate of a man who ended the free-trading of slaves from Africa. He also wrote to have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." I felt Monticello was a visual replica of this idea. The agricultural and technical theories that were displayed in and outside the house were years ahead of his time. A creative mind that could speak and write in seven different languages. I'm still working on English.  

Friday, September 19, 2008

Friday Art Walk


Before arriving to Richmond I pictured it rich with colonial history and American flags hanging from the porches. You would not disagree with this proclamation after seeing the statues driving down Monument Avenue and seeing the different museums (Edgar Allen Poe Museum, Museum of Confederacy, The John Marshall House) that add to the unique architecture Richmond has. Architecture that would be dandy for artists gathering creative inspiration. On the first Friday of every month, Richmond closes off Broad Street to celebrate it's artistic culture for the First Friday's Artwalk. Turning stores, coffee shops, and alley's into galleries. Galleries that host all forms and levels (my personal judgement) of art. One thing the city of Richmond presents to artists that most cities do not is accessibility. This month, one side of the street was blocked off for a staged fashion show. As I was distracted by Sriram dancing to the New Orleans brass band walking down the street, no one could ignore the lighted lanterns on top of the gown being worn in the fashion show. The designers were from the highly regarded Arts program at VCU that is located in a new Never-Never Land for the arts enthused.  

Monday, September 8, 2008

All Y'all See Those Skids?


I struggle to watch 5 minutes of Jack Daniels, DuPont, and Target going around in circles on TV. However, if you are sitting in 90-degree heat having a bruski, and it's so loud you can't hear the person next to you say, "I'm going to puke all over," it's an amazing experience. I think Enrico did a superb job of highlighting our day in this clip. Nascar is a culture in itself. I'm sure some people would tell you they spend 30 minutes watching the race and 180 minutes people watching. The only way to stand out at a Nascar race is to dress for a wedding. The rumors may be exaggerated but there is a truth to the culture that surrounds Nascar. The mullets, confederate flags, beer belly's, and farmer's tans highlighting the bald eagle tattoo is of a higher frequency at this venue than any other athletic event I've been to. 

This culture has made Nascar into one of the most popular and growing sports in America as it continues to gain momentum. In 2005, Nascar was the #2 brand (behind Blackberry and ahead of Google and iPod) from market research firm PSB. Corporate sponsorship revenue was $1.5 billion. That's well ahead of $445 million for the NFL and $340 million for MLB. I would assume numbers would be significantly higher now. You have to feel the ground shake and hear the engines roar to understand what the TV can't capture about this sport.