Destruction in Color

by Joni Eskridge

Title

Destruction in Color

Artist

Joni Eskridge

Medium

Photograph

Description

In April of 2012 a derecho (a derecho is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line wind storm that is associated with a land-based, fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms) hit the Chicagoland area, including the western suburb in which I live. The destruction was severe. After the storm passed, I walked around the neighborhood simply amazed by the water and downed trees � certainly it was not tornado grade destruction, but people were standing out in their yards and on the streets of the neighborhood trying to take it all in and figure out how to clean up or make repairs. Some streets were impassable. I took a walk down to the marsh where I often walk my dog or take my camera to de-stress. The path I usually take was blocked by sheered off trees. The marsh area was completely under water. I met up with a couple of teenagers who were kayaking through the area I usually walked through. Fully 30-50% of the trees were twisted or broken in some form, leaving it grotesque and spooky. How long, I wondered, would it take before my frequent get-away place would again be the peaceful place I knew? Over the weeks and months I walked often through the woods with my camera, clicking the shutter in attempts to create an image that would convey the devastation that brought me to tears that first day. But none of those early images told the story as I saw it. It was not until November, on a cool and foggy fall morning, that I felt I had finally captured images that elicited the same emotion as being there in person.

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October 14th, 2015

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