Sunday, January 13, 2019

Closed until further notice


I want to begin by saying I am NOT political.  I try to not take sides, and I try to keep anything political off my blog.  However, I can no longer stand by without making a few comments.

Many of you are probably aware that Alison/Craftytrog is our host this month at Art Journal Journey.  Her theme is Geometric Shapes and she has asked us to make any art as long as it includes something geometric.  

While looking for something entirely different in my stash, I ran into this page from a slick (a magazine with a slick coating) that showed Washington D.C..  Anyone who has tried to photograph a slick knows how difficult it is.

Back to the subject at hand, though.  I noticed how many of the buildings were geometric in shape, therefore that's how this spread was born.

The caption reads Closed until further notice, the title of the piece.   For those of you who don't live in the states, you might not be aware our Federal government has shut down.  It's the longest shut-down in history.  All Federal buildings are closed, all National Parks, all National Museums, and the National Zoo.  These employees are not working, and they didn't receive a paycheck on Friday.

That's not the worst part, though.  ALL air traffic controllers and all TSA agents (those people who scan you before you get on an airplane) are required to report to work, but got no pay check on Friday, either.

I don't care what your political affiliation is, or even if you live on my side of the pond.  Ask yourself: if you were required to come to work, yet told you would not be paid for it, how would you feel?  Would you feel like you were being used, made a pawn, or had become a serf?

This is all because of a damned wall, a wall that minds smarter than mine, and engineers smarter than me, have shown doesn't work.  We all saw what a wall did to Germany.

Eight prototype walls were recently built in San Diego, CA, near the Mexico/U.S. border.  Every one of them had problems, including shape, cost, and materials.  Many agree that a single wall design will not work over the entire 1954 miles of border.  There are fault lines that must be considered, there are specifications that must be followed, there are barriers that must be repaired or replaced over time.

In the meantime, Federal workers and their families are paying the price, as are people who these families must answer to, like their utility suppliers amd their mortgage lenders or landlords.  Others affected include the people who offer services, like dry cleaners, grocers, and food service employees, to name just a few.  I'm off my soap box now, but I hope you understand why this means so much to me.  I would NOT feel like reporting to work if I was told I was working for FREE (even though I'm known as the Queen of FREE)!

All these buildings

have geometric components.




For this page, I spent more time on my diatribe than I did on the actual journal page.   To the image I found in a slick magazine, I added the moon and the sentiment.  

Thanks for visiting. I'm so grateful for your support and understanding of both my art and my beliefs, political feelings aside.  I hope to see you at Art Journal Journey.  Bleubeard and I would love to have you join us, too.

22 thoughtful remarks:

Cindy McMath said...

Well first off let me say the title of this post had me worried for a minute - I was afraid your blog was temporarily closing down! Of course we are watching the situation with interest from up North, and really hope it gets resolved soon. Great page.

Valerie-Jael said...

Yes, its a bad situation, we see it on our news every day. The Freemasons had a lot of influence in the building of Washington, and they did love geometric shapes. Have a great day, Valerie

Helen said...

it's covered all the time on the news here in the UK too. a dreadful situation and the least said about the orange man the better.

frogmen. people who work underwater in protective rubber suits.. in Kew's case will be dismantling the light installation from the pond. often they are officials in the police ie searching for bodies etc. no idea why frogman
... something to do frogs living underwater i guess..

chrissie said...

Such a mess for the US Elizabeth but little anyone can do by the looks of things.

We have Brexit that is similar and MPs that can't make up their minds.

Love that you are so passionate about it and made a wonderful page.

Have a great day

Love Chrissie xx

Cath Wilson said...

It's a beautiful city. I visited it once, with my grandparents (I was only 12, big awww!) and remember how impressive it was, even to me at that age.

Politicians do try their best to mess with our lives, don't they? I hope and pray the deadlock is broken soon, so the uncertainty will end for those who are worrying about paying bills. A leader who throws toys out of the pram doesn't inspire confidence, but sadly, bullies don't consider the consequences for others of their actions.

A great page and an interesting post.

Cath x

froebelsternchen said...

We knew it from the beginning on - I can remember your postings two years ago. Simply a tragedy!I hope and think he will not get away with this way!!
I love your page - I love the thoughts behind!
A fabulous thoughtprovoking entry for GEOMETRIC SHAPES dear Eliazebth!
Happy Sunday!
Congrats on the win of the chiefs!!!
Hugs, Susi

Meggymay said...

Rant away Elizabeth, its a dreadful situation for your country and as other have said it hit our News programs.
I think this may be in hopes that we in the UK will be distracted from our own issues Brexit. It gets no better and the deadline day at the end of March is approaching rapidly.
Anyway it is a fabulous page and a wonderful skyline scene.
Yvonne xx

CJ Kennedy said...

A very beautiful skyline. Sad the country is being held hostage by a Senior toddler.

Lotte Kristensen said...

Great AJ page, and I agree with every sentiment in your 'rant' - sometimes it gets too much to, and we simply *have* to say something!! It seems everywhere in the world there's some big upheaval going on - goodness knows what historians will make of this time in years to come! But nevertheless, I wish you and yours - and all your kittehs - a happy new year, we can but hope that things will look better! Thank you also for your kind new year wishes, and I am likewise so happy to have met you in blogland - where else do you meet such a variety of people? - so here's to a creative 2019, and I look forward to seeing more of your wonderful artwork in the coming year. Lotte x

Divers and Sundry said...

I am definitely political but generally save it for my FB account which isn't public. I'm glad to see your post, as this mess is affecting so much of our lives. We won't even talk about how my husband's pension plan is suffering or about how much of the wall will require the government to confiscate private land. It's not a matter of whether or not we want secure borders but of how best to do that. A sea-to-shining-sea border wall ain't the answer. Let's talk visa overstays. Let's talk increased border patrol personnel and better technology. I could go on. And on.

But maybe I'll make an ATC with geometric shapes instead ;)

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

Like Cindy, I worried about the post title. Yes, I feel so terribly for the federal workers. It's so insane what has happened, and so unnecessary. (I am an opponent of this stupid wall.) Meanwhile, your pictures and art capture so beautifully the feeling of being in Washington.

Lowcarb team member said...

Goodness … I was afraid your blog was temporarily closing down!

It seems no matter which country you live in at the moment there are problems.
The shut down is being covered in news reports here in the UK and also of course Brexit … really not sure what the rest of this month or year will bring!!!

I did enjoy your art though :)

All the best Jan

Julia Dunnit said...

The shut down makes our national news daily, the angle has changed from being about how extraordinary it is that a President can cause this sort of thing , to how typical it is of the current incumbent to behave like a three year old over something he can’t easily have, and at last the attention is turning to the employees who are now having to work for nothing and rely on food banks. It enrages me and I’m not supposed to have an opinion as I’m not a US citizen! Meanwhile, I like that you turned a slick into a great page, apart from anything else, you sure have captured a bit of history for your journal.

My name is Erika. said...

I think our president is really clueless what people in this country need to do to be able to pay their bills, feed their families and have housing. Who, I wonder, is willing to suffer so one man can get his childish stubborn desire. (That isn't really go doing anything if you ask me since there are lots of other ways to enter the country) Time for some listening and compromising, which is what life is all about. Ok, now I will get off my saltbox and say it was a cool idea to see the geometry of this buildings. And it looks like New England will be heading to Kansas City. It should be a good game next Sunday! Hugs-Erika

Rita said...

Totally agree with you, Elizabeth! The rich folks in DC haven't a clue what this is doing to people. Suggesting they babysit or have garage sales--OMG! If Trump, our owner of the shutdown who accepts zero responsibility, did actually have a clue--he wouldn't care anyways. Empathy or compassion are not exactly in his wheelhouse. There--I'm off my soapbox, too. ;)

Birgit said...

First, I want to say that the image you chose looks beautiful especially with the red background. I think it is downright horrible that he started the shutdown claiming he is responsible for this and when things went bad, he now blames the democrats. If a child bullies and gives a temper tantrum why would a parent give in to what the brat demands? The unfortunate problem is that all the people around the screaming brat look at the parents and many think to just shut the kid up and let him have what he wants. If I was working at a regular museum, I would not go in but if I had to take care of animals, I would. I worry for the animals that are at the zoos and would make sure they are taken care of somehow. I would want to make sure the art pieces are ok and I would amass a clean up with the neighbours with the garbage that is piling up because that brings rats which br8ngs disease. It is just horrible and a bully should not get his way.

Words and Pictures said...

Agreed agreed agreed - it's shocking and shameful. (We are equally in thrall to blind and bullying leaders here in the UK who are about to do long-term damage to this country if they allow a no-deal Brexit to go ahead, or even the ridiculously bad deal that May has brought back. I was nearly sick when I saw those photos of her and Trump gripping hands when she visited DC!) And I think it's great that you expressed all that anger and frustration in such a powerful and beautiful way with your page. We need somewhere to put all of our anxiety and anger!
Alison x

RO said...

Like everyone else, I was nervous that you were closing down the blog! One of the reasons that I love you and your blog so much, is because you're not afraid to take a stand, and you do it with such kindness and excellence. The artwork is right on point too. I worked in DC for 3 years, and my brother lives there. Also, as a veteran, lots of my military friends now work for the government so I know firsthand what they are going through financially and emotionally. Like you, I don't get into politics online, but I do get into feelings of hurt and frustration, and I pray and hope for resolution soon. Hope all is well and Happy Monday! RO

Jeanie said...

Well stated. I couldn't agree more. What is happening to our country is tragic with overtones of the last World War. We don't need a wall and we don't need a national emergency. We've been in one for the past two years. What we do need is for the government to open and restitution with interest paid to those who have been unable to receive a paycheck for work done -- or work at all.

craftytrog said...

It's an amazing page Elizabeth. I hadn't quite grasped what the situation was with you across the pond, there being crazy stuff happening here in the UK too. Hopefully the situations will be resolved soon.
Alison xx

Eileen Bergen said...

Great page for AJJ about a shameful situation.

While you're all dealing with that, we have gas lines like on the East Coast in the 70s. We're hunkering down and conserving gas - lucky we're retired and don't need to go out much. Working Mexicans are really suffering.

pearshapedcrafting said...

Rant on I say Elizabeth - well justified! We do see some of this on our news programmes but at the moment we are now in turmoil with no idea what will happen next!! What a bad example our politicians set - and I think many European politicians are as bad as any...and they wonder why we see our youth rebelling! If all this continues though I can see a pensioners rebellion coming too!!! Love this page that records this event - the shiny page makes it look suitably threatening!! Hugs, Chrisx