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Beauty is change
To me, “beauty” is change. Usually of something good to something better, but also just change from what was before. Whether it be a tree growing, landscape maturing, patina giving character to a piece of furniture, creek creating an interesting gully or canyon, or even the restoration of a neglected architectural gem, I love it. It can also be a repeating occurrence, like the weather. I love spring with its flowers, summer with lush greenery, fall with color, and winter interest in branch or other plant structure, and I love the passage of time as they appear and are replaced by the next cycle.
In my non-environmental passion, antique cars, I love to see a car drive, how it handles curves, what it looks like as it moves through an area, not sitting still on some green lawn at a car show. The fleeting picture, a reflection in the chrome, or the car reflected in a window as it passes a building, the ever-changing angles, light, and views of and out of the car. That is beautiful, the changing experience.
As I mature, I love the grace and beauty that comes with age, “character” or patina. Yes, Katy Perry and Zac Efron are hot, but Helen Miren is beautiful, George Clooney is handsome. A bright shiny new dining room table is pretty, but a 100 year old table darkened with age and memories of thousands of dinners is beautiful.
I am making it a “bucket list” item to start visiting the Champion Trees in Indiana to admire their maturity, size, grandeur, and yes, beauty. I will be visiting them while driving an antique car, of course. And bringing friends along to admire the change: what was, what is, and what will be.
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Please join Keep Indianapolis Beautiful as we examine the quality of beauty throughout 2011. Connect with community members and civic leaders as we address this question on our blog through a special series called: What is Beauty? Guest bloggers from all over the city--in every walk life, profession and background--will be asked to submit an entry on the topic of beauty each week. Entries can be as broad as the concept itself or as narrow as a specific location, event, or happening. We only ask that you spark a conversation and help us define, What is Beauty?
To be part of the conversation we hope that you will leave comments and submit your own entries on the topic. For more information please contact Ashlee Fujawa.
We look forward to hearing from you!
