The Hurricane and the Confederate Monuments
by Aberjhani
Title
The Hurricane and the Confederate Monuments
Artist
Aberjhani
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
One of the city of Savannah's most admired public spaces, Forsyth Park, became a devastated landscape after the edge of Hurricane Matthew swept through the city on October 7 and 8, 2016. The giant toppled tree seen in this image was one of many that transformed the normally garden-like tranquility of Forsyth Park into something more like a foreboding swamp or a war zone.
The park was the location of an important campground during the American Civil War. That historical footnote is commemorated by the tall fenced-in Confederate Monument framed by the clearing sky, and the smaller bust of Confederate Army Major General Lafayette McLaws.
The abundance of monuments documenting history considered important to Southern Whites in contrast to the paucity of such monuments acknowledging the city's large African-American population's accomplishments has long been a source of political and social contention.
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April 24th, 2017
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Viewed 2,194 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/18/2024 at 7:59 AM
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Comments (19)
Aberjhani's Official Postered Chromatic Poetics
Thanks tremendously Scott. I appreciate the visit & the kind words.
Aberjhani's Official Postered Chromatic Poetics
Thank you Harsh Malik for checking out The Hurricane and the Confederate Monuments. Glad you like it.
Aberjhani's Official Postered Chromatic Poetics
Thank you very much Shoal. That's about the way it felt when Hurricane Matthew was storming through the region and one of the reasons this photograph helped inspire the book DREAMS OF THE IMMORTAL CITY SAVANNAH.
DANNY LOWE
Sometimes there is a deeper meaning to a work that is only revealed with time. This is one of those. Great photo!
Aberjhani replied:
Thank you Danny. A friend whom I considered a mentor once said something similar about a work's deeper meaning being revealed with time. All the discussions taking place today regarding Confederate monuments in public spaces does seem to make that applicable to "The Hurricane and the Confederate Monuments."
Angeles M Pomata
Awesome composition in this gorgeous photo, Aberjhani!! The fallen tree on the foreground with the monument at the background give a taste of the Hurricane and its effects. L/F
Aberjhani replied:
Thank you very much Angeles. I'm always amazed that I had to survive Hurricane Matthew before venturing out to get this shot.
Aberjhani's Official Postered Chromatic Poetics
Now that hurricane season 2019 has gotten underway, it's a good time to revisit "The Hurricane And The Confederate Monuments" photograph. Greatly appreciate the USA PHOTOGRAPHERS & YOUR VERY PHOTOGRAPHY groups for previously featuring it. This is also one of the primary inspirations behind the book DREAMS OF THE IMMORTAL CITY SAVANNAH.
Aberjhani's Official Postered Chromatic Poetics
Thank you very much Geraldine and Ann. Your shared insights are greatly appreciated.
Aberjhani's Official Postered Chromatic Poetics
Hard to believe yet another hurricane has impacted Savannah since this photograph was taken of Hurricane Matthew's devastation in 2016 and now the city along with many others is preparing for Hurricane Michael.
Aberjhani's Official Postered Chromatic Poetics
Glad you liked it Jack. Since this was the result of a hurricane, checking the scene out in real life was scary and exciting at the same time.
Sherry Hallemeier
Beautifully executed. Love the showing of the disaster along with statues very nicely framed that are so very old. Hurricanes can really tear some things up but cannot touch others. Thank you for taking this photo and sharing! -Sherry
Aberjhani replied:
Thank you Sherry. It was a weird scene to experience in person but the kind of thing I felt important to document.
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