Went to the local park the other day and took some snaps for my project. The fine weather had brought lots of people out. You see such a wide range of people enjoying themselves; every age, colour and so many different languages spoken. The mix is easy, the aim, the pursuit of pleasure, if the wider world were as uncomplicated as that.
I firstly photographed the wrought iron cherubs that decorate the park gates and benches. As a kid, they puzzled but intrigued me, I guessed they had something to do with the council, since they appeared as part of the town crest, but was uncertain beyond that. I think I imagined that these “council angels” were guardians of some form, patrolling the park. They didn’t worry me; they appeared heavenly and benevolent. The Park Bye laws are displayed just inside the gate, the text is faded and barely legible, they are dated 1958, I learnt later that they have not changed since that year. The rules appear quaint and out of time. I doubt if anybody even bothers to read- apart from me! Do rules matter? Do people need rules to guide their lives? What are the rules that guide our lives today? The protocol of a space may not be obvious – I remember the first time we took our kids to the local Roman museum. The centre piece of the collection is a large Roman mosaic, centrally placed, a low slung rope separates it from the public. We allowed the kids the freedom to roam and explore the museum on their own. A little later we heard shouts, all at once museum attendants seemed to appear from every direction: it turned out that our kids had stepped over the mosaic rope and were doing laps of the mosaic – you live and learn.
Oh well I can finish my park map now, will add cherubs and some of the park buildings.
