Gallery Critiques

Student 36 Spring 2000

River Walk Write-Up

Have you ever taken the River Walk? I just did this week and it was amazing! The River Walk is "a journey toward the future of the south's Rivers. The creators of the Walk stress that their main goal in making the River Walk was to emphasize the importance of learning about Southern rivers and maintaining their natural beauty. "We must become educated and get involved." The River Walk tells the basic history of Southern rivers; they once served the Native Americans as a source of food, transportation, and inspiration. Sadly, almost all of us have forgotten their importance. We know pass by a river or stream without even noticing its beauty.

In 1972 the United States Congress passed the National Clean Water Act which had two major goals: 1) Eliminate pollutants discharging into the waters; and 2) Achieve quality water levels which are swimmable and fishable. However, according to the writer of the River Walk, Jennifer Greer, "People are realizing that govrnment can't save the rivers--it's up to the individual communities. Both the photographer, Beth Maynor Young, and the writer, Greer, hope that these photographs will not turn into history of what once were beautiful places, but that they will remind us of our natural duty to take care of our land.

Even though they were not intended to be pieces of art, I believe that the photographs of Young truly are magnificent artwork. She is able to capture the life of the Southern land through a camera. The River Walk made me think of our very first class "But is it Art?" As Norman Rockwell is quoted, "Art is a lie which helps us preceive the truth." This was here goal in taking the pictures, to preceive the truth of nature. Beth Maynor Young is a naturalist/realist. I was surprised that an exhibit on Rivers could relate to our art class.

Young has an incredible collection of photographs however the ones I found to be the most interesting were Seven Foot Falls, Chattooga River, South Carolina and Long Creek Falls, Chattooga River because I been to both of these sites and I felt like I was there again just by looking at a picture. Though I've never actually been to this one I though that Moonrise Over Horn Island, Mississippi was the prettiest photograph simple because Young caputres the light. I really enjoyed taking the River Walk, it was incredible! If you weren't able to go to the exhibit there was a pamphlet available which gives the Six Stemps to River Walking: 1) Take a canoe Trip, 2) Know your watershed, 3) Live river-friendly, 4) See the big picutre, 5) Conserve precious water, and 6) Share what you learn. I enjoyed mine, I hope you enjoy your River Walk!

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