The World in Black & White: 1.31.2010

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"Do you also say 'Froderick'?"
Durham, NC - October, 2009 (Click to embiggen)
To see more from the WBW Community of Bloggers, visit The World in Black & White

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The World in Black & White: 1.25.2010

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"Illuminati"
Durham, NC - October, 2009 (Click to embiggen)
To see more from the WBW Community of Bloggers, visit The World in Black & White

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Monochrome Weekly #69: Monument to Excess

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"Wonder what they're compensating for?"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

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Sepia Scenes #66: "Stunned to Silence"

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"This place is spooky, I don't care what you say."
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

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The World in Black & White: 1.19.2010

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"Overarching"
Durham, NC - October, 2009 (Click to embiggen)
To see more from the WBW Community of Bloggers, visit The World in Black & White

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The World in Black & White: 1.12.2010

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"Everybody Must Get Stoned"
Durham, NC - October, 2009 (Click to embiggen)
To see more from the WBW Community of Bloggers, visit The World in Black & White

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The World in Black & White: 1.2.2010

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"American Gothic"
Durham, NC - October, 2009 (Click to embiggen)
To see more from the WBW Community of Bloggers, visit The World in Black & White

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TTL #12: "Sanctuary"

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"Silent Night"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

TTL Saturdays on Why? What Have You Heard?

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Shutterday #56: Theme 148 - "Santa and/or Jesus"

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"Best Selling Author"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)
Next week's theme: "The Horror, The Horror" (Worst of 2009)

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Thematic Photographic 79: "Elsewhere" v.6.0 - Definitely Somewhere Else

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"Duke Chapel"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

 Hosted by Written Inc.

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Durham is close enough to Raleigh that it almost doesn't even qualify as "Elsewhere". But even if it were in my back yard duke Chapel would still be "somewhere else". For starters, it's big enough to be "elsewhere" all by itself. But size notwithstanding, you cannot look upon this place without being transported (okay. maybe you can, but I can't.) Maybe that qualifies it more for "Something Else" than "Somewhere Else", but I'm counting it.

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Image is Everything #12: Nave

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"Saint Somebody"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

Image Is Everything Thursdays on Why? What Have You Heard?

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Thematic Photographic 77: "Buildings" v.4.0 - Imperious and Imposing

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"Especially at Night"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

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 This image and others available for sale at my RedBubble Site!

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Also a Gothic style non-denominaitonal chapel built in the 1930's, you'll never confuse this one with The Stone Chapel featured in yesterday's post. Of all the churches, chapels, temples and other religious buildings in the Raleigh-Durham area, there is perhaps none more identifiable that Duke Chapel. Sited on the campus of Duke University, this Gothic style cathedral is one of the tallest buildings in Durham county (at 210 ft/64 m). Though nominally non-denominational (yes it's an oxymoron, what's it to ya?) the chapel has ties to the United Methodist Church (as does the university). Plans for the chapel were initially drawn in 1925, but the cornerstone wasn't laid until 1930 (no doubt taking advantage of a wealth of cheap labor left unemployed by the Great Depression). The building opened in 1932, but wasn't called completed and oficially dedicated until June 2, 1935. It was one of the last of the original buildings to be erected on Duke's West Campus, and at total project cost of $2.3 million Depression-era dollars, probably the most expensive as well. In fact, adjusted for inflation, it's probably still the most expensive building on campus. (I wonder what it cost to build Wallace Wade Stadium?)

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Two Stops Under #5: "Stone Railing"

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"Duke Chapel"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to Embiggen)

Two Stops Under Thursdays on Why? What Have You Heard?

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Two Stops Under #3: "Gothic"

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"Gotta be haunted"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to Embiggen)

Two Stops Under Thursdays on Why? What Have You Heard?

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My World Tuesday #54: "Hidden Voices"

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"Before The After"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

"She Sings Because She's Free"
Durham, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

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Hidden Voices doesn't just deal with the issue of domestic violence. The group advocates for all marginalized communities, and offers a forum for them to find their voices. Hence the name. But in October at least, they promote domestic violence awareness to the top of their hit parade, and this is where our paths cross. I've featured the group before both in words and pictures, and I'll be doing it again before October is through. Because even though I missed the majority of their last event due to circumstances not entirely under my control, they have another one scheduled for October 27th and this time I'll know how to avoid the obstacles that made me so late for the last one. But on to the photos.

The "Speaking Without Tongues" exhibit is currently housed in the historic Duke Chapel on the campus of Duke University. Much of the artwork is actually in the sanctuary itself, more of it in the vestibule. As it was explained to me, the purpose was to draw a bright shining line between the "then" and the "now". So the "before" work, depicting life as it was for these survivors, is in the sanctuary proper. The "after" shots are in the vestibule.

As you can probably tell, the chapel is an impressive -- even imposing -- venue and in my own opinion, that in itself may have actually worked against the show. When surrounded by this much grandeur, it would be easy for it to get "lost" in the background. When visitors are so awestruck by their surroundings, the work doesn't become the focal point that it should be. And it should be, because in addition to conveying a vitally important message, the work is extraordinary on its own merit. At the same time, Duke Chapel is visited by a lot of people, and many of those are very influential people. And despite the fact that Duke Chapel is (as I understand it) non-denominational, there has always been a connection between the church (with a big or a little "c") and the arts.

If you're going to be in the area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC) between now and November 14th, you could find much worse ways to spend an hour or two than a visit to the chapel and the exhibit. There is no admission charge for any of the Hidden Voices events, and the chapel is open to the general public from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. during the academic year and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the summer break. For more detailed information, visit http://www.chapel.duke.edu/visit.html. (If you need direcitons to tuesday night's event, I have a Google map and directions on this post.)

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