I went into SF today to deliver some painting panels to a painter friend of mine. I've been making her panels for more than 15 years. Her studio is in a very old industrial complex called the Union Iron Works that started making ships in the 1860-1870 era, and right through to the present, although now it is only ship repair. She looks out of her studio right onto the water. She paints what she sees out there - all kinds of ships in the changing light and colors of the SF Bay. http://www.suzybarnard.com/ships18.html
After I left there, I wandered around the shipyard area for awhile and snapped some pics of what was going on - which mostly looks like decay. Lots of the buildings are ruins and many of the huge cranes and shipways are derelict and now just rusting relics.
Industrial sites are kind of fascinating now that they are almost defunct. I keep thinking about the people who worked there in the past, and now the very few people who still have jobs there. I worry about the future seeing this irreversible decay, the loss of skilled work and workers, and the expansion of delusional thinking everywhere.
Ships are awesome! Maybe when it's all over here, I will stowaway on one and come stay with you. That would be great, huh!
That's interestng. So, it has been in the Suisun Bay all these years - not far away from me in Vallejo. There has been some talk of opening the shipyard at Mare Island again to begin cutting up some of that mothball fleet out there, but there is a lot of opposition because of noise and pollution concerns. Texas, having no such concerns, gets the prize. I'll second that.
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Once more with feeling...(and the correct login)
Re: Once more with feeling...(and the correct login)
Date: 2010-12-14 04:56 am (UTC)http://www.suzybarnard.com/ships18.html
After I left there, I wandered around the shipyard area for awhile and snapped some pics of what was going on - which mostly looks like decay. Lots of the buildings are ruins and many of the huge cranes and shipways are derelict and now just rusting relics.
Industrial sites are kind of fascinating now that they are almost defunct. I keep thinking about the people who worked there in the past, and now the very few people who still have jobs there. I worry about the future seeing this irreversible decay, the loss of skilled work and workers, and the expansion of delusional thinking everywhere.
Ships are awesome! Maybe when it's all over here, I will stowaway on one and come stay with you. That would be great, huh!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 02:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 03:16 am (UTC)Thanks for your research.