Impressions of Mecca, a photo from Eastern Cape, West

Photographer's Note

I've posted a couple of other shots taken in the ‘Camel Yard’, the remarkable sculpture garden of “outsider artist" Helen Martin.

Spirituality is an overarching theme and alongside Christian and Buddhist imagery Islam is represented. Helen had an extraordinary fascination for Mecca and she wanted to build a Mecca before she died. In search of photos, she located the Young Men’s Muslim Association, and began a correspondence with them, explaining that she hoped to build a Mecca of her own in her yard in South Africa. Martins’ Mecca was built from concrete and embellished with beer and wine bottles, “the absolute antithesis of what the Young Muslim men would have appreciated,” noted Martins’ friend. Mecca was inspirational to Helen Martins and she, in turn, inspired Athol Fugard, one of South Africa’s most imminent playwrights. Fugard’s The Road to Mecca is a story about a reclusive woman, a visionary artist who is shunned by her community. The play has appeared on stages throughout the United States and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1988.

This shot was taken from the inside of Helen Martins' ‘Mecca’.
See http://www.trekearth.com/viewphotos.php?l=7&p=1398316 and http://www.trekearth.com/viewphotos.php?l=7&p=1398089 for further information about this remarkable woman.

This photograph is copyright of Rosemary Walden - © Rosemary Walden 2013. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction of the image in any form is prohibited. You may not, except with my express written permission, copy, reproduce, download, distribute or exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system

Noel_Byrne, Romano46, williewhistler, krzychu30, msadurski, chanteuse, mayjayne, timecapturer, delpeoples, annjackman, adores, Wanda1 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Noel_Byrne (8073) 2013-03-05 11:41

hi Rosemary,
We are neighbours today!

I am really pleased to be able to appreciate the inside of this structure, as I thouroughly enjoyed your previous postings of this remarkable place. I see what you mean about its building materials not nessecarily being of the approved kind in the Muslim faith, but there is no denying the beauty this artist captured with her structure here. The light effect through all that coloured glass is simply wonderful, and the feeling it invokes is the same as that of a massive cathdral a thousand times its size.

I am fascinated by this place and the artist, and your wonderful captures from here show her work to be a resounding success.

Thanks for sharing this.
All the best
Noel

willperrett (3061) 2013-03-05 11:44

Hello Rosemary
Bizarre but delightful sculpture, and excellently-lit and composed photograph to show it to us. I particularly like the contrast between the brick-reds of the walls and the luminous green of the "roof". I hope she drank them all first!
Regards
Will

Romano46 (5988) 2013-03-05 11:54

Ciao Rosemary,
passi da uno stato all'altro sempre proponendo foto molto belle nelle quali il colore domina incontrastato, come in questa che affascina per il bel contrasto tra i toni del rosso e quelli del verde incastonati in una bella e affascinante composizione.
Complimenti
Ciao e buona serata
Romano

chrisvek (5675) 2013-03-05 12:34

Hello dear Rosemary

Very unique composition here.Amazing colors and ligthning usage.Splendid result!Thank you for sharing with us.

Have a nice evening
Chris

williewhistler (7595) 2013-03-05 13:03

Hello Rosemary,I do enjoy the effect the light has on the bottles,just goes to show what can be done with a bit of imagination and a lot of endevour.
Kind regards Les.

emka (59010) 2013-03-05 13:05

Hi Rosemary, i looked at other photos from this mini serious. Amazing artist and her work. And what a tragic end!
Interesting also this photo. What a creative mind can do with just the bottles of wine! Beautiful composition. Excellent post in TE spirit.

WArm regrads

MAlgo

Silvio1953 (99199) 2013-03-05 13:52

Ciao Rosemary, great POV on fantastic architecture, nice graphic, excellent clarity, splendid light and colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

carlo62 (13544) 2013-03-05 14:11

Ciao Rosemary
ricordo i precedenti scatti e questo mi piace molto, è originale e con bei colori.
Saluti
Carlo

ACL1978 (6103) 2013-03-05 17:03

So far, I've really enjoyed every shot I've seen you post of Helen's work, but this one is the top of the barrel. A beautiful concept for the artwork itself, playing on the concept and symbol of Mecca, and to use the glass in this way creates a beautiful structure. You, meanwhile, have done outstanding work in bringing it to life - the walls glow, and the light of the sky is revelatory at top. Really beautiful work, Rosemary. To the favorites with this one...

Andrew

dkmurphys (37419) 2013-03-05 21:51

Hi Rosemary,
Spectacular detail. I like the result of those different textures and colors. Ell seen.

Daniel

jjcordier (63074) 2013-03-05 22:43

Rosemary
Tes photos précédentes avaient attiré mon attention mais cette vue "de l'intérieur" est encore plus originale, la lumière créant un bel effet de transparence.
Amicalement
JJ

krzychu30 (9399) 2013-03-06 2:08

Hello Rosemary,
amazing what one can create using only the bottles.She seems to be really an exceptional artist and her Impressions of Mecca appeals to me much.I like the play of light&shade and different,but strong and vivid colors that create here so eye-catching effect.But apart from the undeniable beauty of this work of art I have to mention your excellent work and the way you presented this scene to us.Beautiful picture!

Have a nice day
Krzysztof

msadurski (230) 2013-03-06 2:14

Interesting photo and even more interesting story.

Sergiom (40169) 2013-03-06 5:34

Bonjour Rosemary,

J'aime beaucoup la construction de cette image. J'aime les couleurs vives, la belle contre plongée ainsi que le petit côté graphique de l'ensemble.

Amicalement

Serge

timecapturer (31278) 2013-03-06 6:00

Hi Rosemary
this is an amazing place and so original artistically. This shot shows the talent and uniqueness of this artist and I love the way have chosen the POV and controlled the light. The green glass against the blue sky is so striking and the overall effect so intriguing. Fascinating and original imagery!

Regards - Brian.

mayjayne (2792) 2013-03-06 7:07

Dear Rosemary,

Truly a 'little Mecca' of its own, filled with wonderful colours. Living in Malaysia I can imagine that some of the Muslims would not be too enthusiastic over the use of the beer and wine bottles for sure!

TFS,
May

delpeoples (45717) 2013-03-06 21:20

Hi dear Rosemary

Yes I remember your previous photos on this talented lady's artwork. Love the title to this and also the marvellous light management. There is a really mysitcal play of light and shade in the photo and despite the hugely differening extremes of light inside and the strong sunlight outside, you've evened it up perfectly. A great shot, and very artistic.

Hugs
Lisa

sevy (13373) 2013-03-07 4:02

Hello Rosemary,

Good you provided a detailed note to explain what we are looking, for sure it is changing what we could think at the end.
An original artwork.
I like the colors and light filtering through the colored glasses.

Yves.

annjackman (13463) 2013-03-07 5:35

Hello Rosemary,
I remember the other shots very well. I loved those and indeed this one. A wonderful range of luminous colours here, with the near symmetry showing us what a super work of art this is.
Beautifully taken and a joy to view.
Best wishes, Ann

ChrisJ (87654) 2013-03-08 0:13

Hello Rosemary

An eccentric construction for sure. Good backlighting through both the beer and wine bottles that gives a nice glowing translucence. Can't imagine a cathedral constructed from the same building materials as depicted here but purely as a photographic subject this works well. Tfs!

abmdsudi (27118) 2013-03-09 3:19

Hi Rosemary
Wow, the patterns and repetitive shapes are great with a fab range of colours. The light has nicely brightened the outer parts giving a very nice effect.enhancing the rich tones and it's super against the blue sky. Intriguing shot as this makes a refreshing change, beautiful with immaculate detail.
Well done TFS
Warm regards

P/s: Looking at this reminds me of the interior of a yurd i spent two nights with Kazakh family in Tianchi Mountain, Northern Xinjiang.

adores (28552) 2013-03-15 18:56

Hi Rosemary!
I remember the other works you have shown! This one seems also unusual and that's probably what makes her works so special. I like the colours and specially the sun light on the bottles. Good composition!

rbassin (11381) 2013-03-16 2:19

Hello Rosemary,
une très très belle photo, j'aime les couleurs et la lumière d'en haut avec ses ombres, le coin de ciel bleu.
Bon W-E
Roland

Wanda1 (14018) 2013-04-14 5:18

Hi Rosemary,
Strangely enough just two days ago I was talking to a friend of mine about the Owl house in New Bethesda, and what a strangely unique and bizarre and wonderfully creative place it is. Your image shows off well how the bottles and glass light up and let all that wonderful colour through shining on her ideas and creativity.
Regards
Wanda

Photo Information

Copyright: Rosemary Walden (SnapRJW) (19188)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-09-13
Categories: Artwork
Exposure: f/14.0, 1/50 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Your Favorites, Outsider Artist Miss Helen Martins [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2013-03-05 11:38
Favorites: 1 [view]