An artistic impression of the forest groves which once stood at the west end of Baltusrol Avenue in Springfield, New Jersey in the Fifties and Sixties. The pen & ink drawing is 3" in diameter on artist's stock.
An improvisation based upon childhood memories of playing with my cousins Sharon and Kerry in Springfield, New Jersey at the western edge of Baltusrol Avenue where once there was a large forest with rocks, a stream and a stone bridge. Although my family did not live in Springfield, we often visited there allowing Sharon and Kerry to show me so many of the local attractions and scenery. I once stayed at my aunt and uncle"s house for a week affording plenty of time to explore the forested area adjacent to the neighborhood. My dad and I helped to extend Sharon and Kerry's house toward the back with a new kitchen and renovated dining room. So we were there for many weekends both working and relaxing. My cousins invited me to attend the Strawberry Festival in the springtime, held at Jonathon Dayton High School. We also saw the fireworks display in July and attended birthday parties, anniversaries and outdoor picnics at the Baltusrol Avenue address. In the years from 1955 to 1965 I came to love the forested area, the rock formations and the lyrical stream which meandered through the forest realms just a short walk from my relative's home. Sometime around the late 1960's or early 1970's this area changed drastically with the introduction of a new highway system which obliterated the forest and permanently altered the landscape which we as children had so dearly loved. This music is dedicated to my cousins Sharon and Kerry and to my Aunt Lill and Uncle Del for their warmth, hospitality and generosity of spirit in sharing their home and neighborhood with me. It is an improvisation which celebrates the innocence of children and the playfulness of the creative mind. This music reflects upon the pageantry of outdoor activities, the dance of one's inner spirit, and the breathless beauty of taking delight in four changing seasons.
Both the artwork and the video recording above are reflections based upon my memories of a now vanished forest which once stood near the home of my aunt, uncle and cousins. The present views of this area are captured via Google Earth and show the relative development of highways, neighborhoods, asphalt streets and concrete bridges, all expected elements of urban modernization (or "progress"). You would not ever know today what once was there if you had never seen the forest which enveloped this area back in the 1950's and 1960's. Perhaps this kind of development is symptomatic of many areas due to population density and the necessity of arterial roadways to alleviate traffic congestion. But it is a sad loss to those of us who love the green belt areas and hold fond memories of this particularly lovely woodland retreat. On my You Tube channel I have posted a series of accordion improvisations entitled "Baltusrol Impressions" which further explores my memories and reflections of this now vanished forest.
Both the artwork and the video recording above are reflections based upon my memories of a now vanished forest which once stood near the home of my aunt, uncle and cousins. The present views of this area are captured via Google Earth and show the relative development of highways, neighborhoods, asphalt streets and concrete bridges, all expected elements of urban modernization (or "progress"). You would not ever know today what once was there if you had never seen the forest which enveloped this area back in the 1950's and 1960's. Perhaps this kind of development is symptomatic of many areas due to population density and the necessity of arterial roadways to alleviate traffic congestion. But it is a sad loss to those of us who love the green belt areas and hold fond memories of this particularly lovely woodland retreat. On my You Tube channel I have posted a series of accordion improvisations entitled "Baltusrol Impressions" which further explores my memories and reflections of this now vanished forest.
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