“Inside a barn is a whole universe, with its own time zone and climate and ecosystem, a shadowy world of swirling dust illuminated in tiger stripes by light shining through the cracks between the boards. Old leather tack, lengths of chain, rope, and baling twine dangled from nails and rafters and draped over stall railings. Generations of pocketknives lay lost in the layers of detritus on the floor.”
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I always say barns as a place of mysticism and mystery. I wanted to write a book about the barn cats who dance at night in the rafters of the barn, who fly from one dusty window to another, and who turn themselves into barn swallows at the first sign of danger and fly away.
My editor said nobody would buy a book like that, and he is pretty smart. But every time I pass a beautiful old barn and take a picture of one, I still have the itch. I still think barn cats are dancing in there and chasing after spirits through the night.
“What was the barn like before it was photographed?’ he said. ‘What did it look like, how was it different from other barns, how was it similar to other barns? We can’t answer these questions because we’ve read the signs, seen the people snapping the pictures. We can’t get outside the aura. We’re part of the aura. We’re here, we’re now.”
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I love old barns also. Many years ago I bought an oil painting of the V Corners Barn that was standing in Burnt Hills New York. It was painted by a local artist, Marjorie Hobday. It was a small structure, and was in rough shape when the artist rendered her painting of it. I remember driving past it numerous times and felt fortunate that I had that wonderful painting of the local landmark. In time it disappeared. I don’t recall if it collapsed on it’s own or was demolished. All I know now is some convenience store or gas station now occupies that space. Sad but a fact in so many instances. I have many wonderful pieces of art in my home, many painted by family and friends. Even though I have long moved away from my Charlton home and settled in the Boston area, that painting still speaks to me of a more rural and simple time that is disappearing all too quickly. I simply really love that painting. There is an artist in Vermont, Lisa Curry Mair who has travelled around her home in Vermont painting old barns that are still standing. Keep finding old barns Jon!! So many of us just love to see them. Thank you!
I think you should revisit the dancing barn cats. I could see that as a marvelous children’s book full of imagery, imagination and mindfulness.
Thanks, it’s a lovely idea but I’m done with publishing…the blog is my only book now..
I don’t remember if it was you or one of your readers that said barns aren’t torn down but just left to fall. That certainly is the case around here.
that was me…it’s the case around here too..
I like the barn cats idea. Maybe you could do it as part of your blog.
It is already…