Genesee Flats/Olbiston Lecture

[fiona]

some of the back of the building showing the fire escapes.

[fiona]

part of an old set of steps in the yard with original gas pipe hand rails. I think these steps are all that is left of the steam plant.

[fiona]

Remains of the old horse barns or old garages

[fiona]

Some interesting grafitti. Wonder what that thing is on the window sill?

[fiona]

Next, let's go around to the front and take a look at some of the carvings and architectural details.

[fiona]

This collage shows the beautiful Roman arch at the front entrance. the residents of the Olbiston deserved nothing less than to enter their home in the nobelest of style.

[fiona]

s.orry about the axis of the photos. I can only do so much with PhotoBucket. Anyway, this beautiful sandstone canopy extends out somewhat over the main entrance. Note the egg and dart work. All hand done and expertly so

[fiona]

These two images are at the top of the main steps as you enter the building. They look like ancient figures and it is interesting to note that they both face North. I believe it is a man and a woman, I call them Dante and Beatrice. Dante wears a laurel wreath, he is clearly victorious, Beatrice, a simple band of beads. Facing away from each other for all time. They speak to us, the passers by, of mortality. Life is fleeting. Time flies. The mills of the God's grind slowly, yet they grind increasingly fine.

[Dave]

Nice details, Fiona!

[fiona]

Thanks Dave for viewing and commenting. I have more interesting stuff to put up. I think that when a person looks at an old building, especially if it's run down, all they see is the total mass of the structure. I looked at these details a million times over the years and never thought about them. They were just part of the scenery. With the camera, I can focus in and become more intimate with the small aspects of the building. I often think of all the living things that reside there, besides humans I mean. I am not saying it is right or wrong, but all these living things depend on the building for their safety and security - think about it - all the living creatures that have colonized the building - from the smallest insect, to all the birds and their hidden nests, pigeons who have roosted only in the air shafts for over a hundred years- generations of cats, hawks on the roof, bats, mice, the list just goes on. And it's like this in every old building - there is has a hidden life - when I lived on 7 I used to hear someone playing the piano- a tune I could never identify- then often I heard the sounds of people talking, laughter, of silverware and glasses clinking - this always happened coming out of sleep in the morning - that's what I mean also about secrets ... I felt the building was speaking to me... asking me to tell it's story. Well, I am trying... it's a really long haul.

[fiona]

Let's take another look at some more detail. This is a somewhat fuzzy view of the left side of the main staircase. Each side is decorated by a square pillar that has identical carvings on all four sides. I know that these carvings have meanings, but I remain unsure about them. Perhaps over time others viewing will be able to enlighten us as to their story. There on the left base you can just see the side of the above carved lozeng poking out.

[fiona]

Double winged Griffins carved out of the living rock.

[fiona]

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Double suns or sun and moon? Perhaps nothing of the kind. What ever. You decide and let me know. Notice how the profiles rather resemble the carvings of Beatrice and Dante? Now, above that it starts to get a little more interesting. I believe this is an image of corn, from the Masonic "Corn,oil and wine."

[fiona]

Now here we can see the whole "ear of corn", some carved roses and what I call " The goblet" for the wine or oil above the corn.

[fiona]

Now here's an image I find compelling: the head of a bull, or a cow, with birds pecking out the eyes. Are these doves? Note that they are perched on a type of styalized flower. It appears that there is liquid flowing from the bull's mouth. Could it be wine...or oil... mabye it's just a flower... whoever did these carvings was a master craftsman, the power in the work lives on.