The Abandoned: Curly Metal Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Curly Metal Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

There is music in The Abandoned--especially when the wind blows. Hanging from the ceiling are thousands of long strips of metal which, when the wind blows, act as giant chimes. When combined with the whiffling air beneath the wings of a great owl and the rhythmic steps of a cautious deer the music is breathtakingly beautiful.

Sissy and I both took pictures of this curling metal heart. As the wind stirred the chimes overhead, the owl found its perch overhead in the rafters and magic filled the air.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: You shouldn't visit The Abandoned without permission from the owner or caretaker. If you do, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

2 comments:

Clytie said...: Nice shot!!! I love this hanging metal heart. Wasn't that owl awesome??? And I can almost hear the clanging of those metallic chimes...; May 4, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Tammie Lee said...: sounds like the two of you enjoyed your stroll into the abandoned. a lovely thing to share.; May 4, 2012 at 11:13 AM

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The Abandoned

Years ago, I dedicated this blog to The Abandoned, a huge complex of abandoned buildings in rural Oregon.

Surrounded by wetlands and old growth timber, The Callahan Center was built in the 1970's by the State of Oregon as a rehabilitation center for people recovering from injuries on the job.

In 1992, the property was bought by a mega church. However, the Living Enrichment Center closed in 2004, amidst financial scandal and the property was abandoned.

The buildings stood empty for many years. Over that span the property was vandalized and looted. Yet the beauty of its rare architecture shone through the shambles of abuse and disrepair.

In the summer of 2013, the complex was completely demolished. We were all sad to see the buildings go, but because of trespassers and vandals, it was necessary to take them down.

The area where The Abandoned once stood is filled with $500,000 mushroom houses (homes built so fast they pop up like mushrooms) built on postage stamp lots. There are sidewalks and tall lamps where I once watched the foxes of the field leaping above the grass, hunting rodents.

The surrounding woodlands still survive. It is my prayer the wetlands and forests with their pristine creeks, native trees and flowers, as well as the wildlife which shelter there, will be protected.