It’s Bike to Work Day!
ASSOCIATE COUNTY COURT JUDGE FRED BRUNS ON HIS DAILY BIKE RIDE TO THE SEWARD COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 05/1972
How often do you bike to work?
Moms - aren’t they great? Happy Mother’s Day!
Comfort for a small mishap at Lincoln Park… 04/1973
Paul Sequeira, Photographer. From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA Project.
It’s National Train Day!
EXCITING MOMENT FOR THESE YOUNGSTERS IS A PICTURE TAKING SESSION ON THE STEAM POWERED ENGINE OF THE CUYAHOGA VALLEY LINE … 10/1975
Frank J. Aleksandrowicz, Photographer. From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA series
May 9 is National Bike to School Day
SCHOOL CHILDREN, WERE FORCED TO USE THEIR BICYCLES ON FIELD TRIPS DURING THE FUEL CRISIS IN THE WINTER OF 1974… 02/1974
David Falconer, photographer. From the EPA Series: DOCUMERICA
Did you ever bike to school? Do you remember what kind of bike you rode?
“Resident of Roxbury, Vermont, draws off the finished syrup from a homemade evaporator. Instead of working in a sugar house he sets up a makeshift rig in a new spot each year to use fallen timber and loose brush to fire the sawed-off oil drum, 05/1974.”
Jane Cooper, Photographer. From the EPA Series: DOCUMERICA
Even this resourceful Vermonter would have a hard time making any worthwhile maple syrup this year when an unseasonably warm spring ended the sugaring season prematurely.
More about DOCUMERICA: Snapshots of Crisis and Cure in the 1970s »
Did you Pitch in on Earth Day?
Since it first started in 1970, Earth Day has been a way to bring awareness and show appreciation for the earth’s natural beauty and resources. It is no coincidence that the DOCUMERICA collection from the 1970s, now held at the National Archives, provides a glimpse into the environmental scene of the times.
If you took these “Clean up” photos to heart on Earth Day, share your photos with the EPA’s State of the Environment Flickr group to participate in the Environment in a Day project. (via NARAtions » Pitch In on Earth Day!)
What did you do to Pitch in on Earth Day?
Environment in a Day from the EPA
PHOTOGRAPHY IN ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, IN THE HEART OF THE REDROCK COUNTRY OF SOUTHEASTERN UTAH.
David Hiser, Photographer
The National Archives and the Environmental Protection Agency have been working together to bring awareness to the 1970s DOCUMERICA photo collection. The EPA’s State of the Environment project on Flickr asks people to upload their environmental photos to a group as a Documerica for the current generation.
Share your best photo of the day for Earth Day. Take a photo any time during the twenty-four hour period of April 22 where you are, then upload it to your Flickr account to share it with the State of the Environment group »
Spread the word. Get outside. Have some fun and capture the moment where humankind celebrates our planet Earth. (via NARAtions » Environment in a Day from the EPA)
How are you observing Earth Day?
100 Years of Girl Scouting!
So besides the cookies, what are your memories of Girl Scouts?
Happy Statehood Day, Vermont!
Vermont was admitted as a state on March 4, 1791, which happens to fall conveniently near the start of the traditional maple sugaring season.
“This dairy farmer near Randolph Center, Vermont, averages about 400 gallons of maple syrup each spring. Thirty to 40 gallons of sap are needed to make one gallon of syrup.”
Series: DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, 1972 - 1977
Announced earlier this month, this piece “iRevolution” by Anna L. is the Grand Prize winner in the Documerica-inspired Document Your Environment contest!
Judge Michael Philip Manheim, one of the original Documerica photographers, evaluated artwork in the Graphic Art category. Anna’s piece, from the 18+ student group, was chosen by Michael as “his favorite of all, contemporary and inclusive, executed in a striking format that dramatically compels attention.”
“We are taught that we matter and our opinions matter. In recent times, people in this society have been speaking out about injustices that they see and that they want changed. The method of promoting this movement has taken advantage of the availability of technology that we have today. We carry cell phones with us at all times that connect us to the interwoven Internet that allows us to be connected with friends and strangers alike. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have become the norm of how information gets shared and distributed to the masses. We live in a world where people really do speak their minds and we are shown that we, the people, can make a difference.”
Anna was inspired by a Documerica photo by Jim Olive: Children in Fort Smith Are Learning That Protecting the Environment Will Take More Than Awareness 06/1972
The Grand Prize Winner was chosen by the Archivist of the United States, David Ferriero, as the recipient of $500, courtesy of the Foundation for the National Archives. The Archivist chose iRevolution as the winner because Anna’s “perspective prompted me to reflect on the relationship between technology and citizens of today’s world, activism and revolution, and the role of communication, documentary evidence, and the historical record. ”
“Save the Bees” by Ishani G. was chosen as the finalist for the Graphic Art age 13-15 category in the Documerica-inspired Document Your Environment Contest.
Judge Michael Philip Manheim, one of the original Documerica photographers, evaluated artwork in the Graphic Art category. Michael chose Ishani’s piece because of its strong message:
“The honey bees on which we depend upon for ‘honey, fruits and flowers’ are disappearing at a fast rate. Our attention is focused on the larger wild cats and animals and these bees have been neglected. It is time we put our hands together to save the honey bees.”
Ishani chose this photo by Marc St. Gil as her inspiration: Milk Wort and Butterfly in the Texas Countryside, near San Antonio, 06/1973
This piece “Some things haven’t changed” by Diane G. was chosen as the finalist for the Graphic Art age 16-18 category in the Documerica-inspired Document Your Environment Contest.
Judge Michael Philip Manheim, one of the original Documerica photographers, evaluated artwork in the Graphic Art category.
“For this entry I used the pictures that I took when making my video.The idea is the same in both; that it is important that some things in our environment be left alone so that they may influence future generations.”
Michael chose this entry because he “liked the concept of retaining what is important, emphasized by mirroring the original photograph.” The original Documerica photo by Frank Aleksandrowicz is titled “Corn and Pumpkins on Farmland Near the Cuyahoga River…09/1975.”
This clip “The beauty of My Backyard” by Desiree T. is the sole finalist in the Video category for the Documerica-inspired Document Your Environment contest, announced earlier this month.
The Video category was judged by Cokie Roberts, author and news analyst for National Public Radio and ABC News.
Desiree’s video, The beauty of My Backyard, contains photos that she took herself, and drew inspiration from Marc St. Gil’s popular Milk Wort and Butterfly photo:
Cokie chose Desiree’s video because:
“The student took a simple photograph of a moth lighting on a thistle and turned it into a series of scenes showing the beauties of untouched nature. She clearly spent time and effort on the photography; some of the shots are very well composed and some are truly clever. I especially like the horse nosing the cat in almost a parody of the moth and the thistle. Including that photograph at the end of the video is also effective.”
The winners announced earlier this month in the Documerica-inspired Document Your Environment contest, sponsored by the National Archives and the EPA.
First up is the Poetry Category, judged by Sandra Alcosser, the first Poet Laureate of Montana and professor of poetry at San Diego State University.
- The first poem, “Scratches in the Sand” by Marianne J. was chosen as the finalist in the Poetry 18+ category and drew inspiration from Dave Hiser’s photo of a lizard.
- The 16-18 year old finalist in the Poetry category is Juliet B. for her poem, “Not Always So.”
“This poem is about the urbanization of nature inspired by a picture of the Chattahoochee River.”
Juliet’s poem was inspired by Chuck Rogers’ Documerica photo, “Chattahoochee River, Atlanta 05/1972.”
- The final Poetry finalist is Shannon S. in the age 13-15 category. Shannon Strong for her poem called “TIME.”
“This poem describes the beauty of the quiet meadow in the picture I selected. It talks about the oddity of such a place in the modern world and near the end, questions its longevity.”
Shannon was inspired by a Documerica photo by Belinda Rain: Meadow, 05/1972.
Judge Sandra reflected on the three finalists;
“We draw close to places where life thrives. Each of the three poets selected (“Time,” “Not Always So,” and “Scratches in the Sand”) celebrates a presence worthy of protection. As Nobel prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda once wrote: When earth blooms, the people breathe freedom, the poets sing and show the way. We honor their voices and their hope for our shared planet.”
Happy 100th Birthday Arizona!
The Grand Canyon State became the 48th state on February 14, 1912!
Have you ever visited Arizona?
