Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
Korean Artworks
Korean Artworks
Korean Artworks
In September of 1997 I had a chance to go to a park in Kwangju, or Gwangju, and see the Biennale. This is an art fair, held every two years.
The art exhibits were great, and I enjoyed them. There were artists represented from all over the world. There was even a display of North Korean art, paintings in the Motel Lobby Socialist Realism style. However, I didn't take many pictures of the artworks, preferring to people-watch, instead.
These pictures were the only artworks I photographed. There was a scale model of some architectural design, a wooden-framed contraption suspended from the ceiling, and this giant metal plaque.
Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
Sketch artists and customers
As with any fair in the United States, the Biennale had a row of portrait sketchers.
Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
School kids on a field trip
School kids on a field trip
Kindergarten children on a field trip
The schoolchildren had matching uniforms. Aren't the kindergarten kids cute?
Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
Korean rock band
This rock band, made of college students, were a flop. They cleared the place in nothing flat. Note the audience in the bottom of the picture heading for the exits.
Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
Korean school orchestra
Korean school orchestra
Korean school orchestra
Korean school orchestra
At the park amphitheater. This high school student orchestra was playing a Korean tune on traditional Korean instruments. My guide was worried that I wouldn't understand the music, but I assured him that I was enjoying it.
Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
Korean drummers
Korean drummers
Korean drummers
Joining the student orchestra were these four percussionists. They had a traditional Korean drum, some small, thick cymbals, a gong, and whatever that double-headed drum is called. They kicked up quite a spirited racket, and drew some cries of appreciation from the audience. A guide sitting with me told me that these instruments had something to do with harvest time, and also something to do with opposition to the Japanese occupation of Korea.
Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
Guide
This is one of the guides at the Biennale. He joined me at the amphitheater, and explained the musical performances to me.
Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
Korea Nuns
Korean Nuns
I was on the second story breezeway of the park building when I spotted these nuns approaching. I knew that their bonnets would make a great picture, so I raced to the railing and framed the bottom shot as quickly as I could. The top picture was taken as they were walking away.
Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
Korean school boys
Korean school boys
I was mobbed by these boys, who noticed the giant foreigner. I showed them some American money from my wallet, answered a few questions, and then took their picture, as much for their entertainment as mine.
Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 1997
Flower Bed
Flower Bed
Flower Bed
I ended my stay at Biennale Park by taking some snaps of this flower bed.
Yudalsan Sculpture Park, Mok'po, South Korea, 1997
Sculpture Park
Sclupture Park
Sculpture Park
Yudalsan Sculpture Garden, Mok'po, South Korea, 1997
Sculpture Garden
Sculpture Garden
Note the figure ascending the steps, in the right side of the top photo.
Cheju Island, South Korea, 1997
Rocky islet
On Cheju Island
On Cheju Island
Views from a hotel veranda, by the shore.
Cheju Island, South Korea, 1997
Cheju Island
Cheju Island
I love these stone walls. As I mention in a similar post, they remind me of Ireland, only with black instead of white stones.
Yeomiji Botanical Gardens, Cheju Island, South Korea, 1997
Gazebo
At the gazebo in one of the outdoor gardens.
Yeomiji Botanical Gardens, Cheju Island, South Korea, 1997
Bowl
This bowl-shaped exhibit was photographed from the top of an observation tower, through a thick cloudy glass. That's why it seems a little washed-out.
French Garden?
Many of the exhibits had regional themes. I think this is the French garden. Leave me a comment if I'm wrong, thanks.
Cheju Island, South Korea, 1997
Cheju Island
Cheju Island
Cheju Island, South Korea, 1997
Cheju Island
Cheju Island
These make good wallpaper, if I do say so myself.
A surprise was these stone walls, tracing all over the landscape in this part of the island. The resemblance was to
Ireland, of all places. But the Irish walls are white, while the Korean walls are black basalt.
School teachers, Mok'po, South Korea, 1997
Teachers
At a restaurant in Mok'po.
Cemetery, Chollanamdo Province, South Korea, Chusok holiday, 1997
Chusok
Chusok
A view from a hillside cemetery, on a trip to honor ancestors.
Rooftop Views, Kwangju / Gwangju, South Korea, 1997
Rooftop Views
Rooftop Views
Black and white shots of some rooftop views, in the Yong Bong Dong neighborhood.
Rooftop Views, Kwangju / Gwangju, South Korea, 1997
Rooftop Views
Rooftop Views
Some views from a rooftop in the Yong Bong Dong neighborhood.
Rooftop views, Kwangju / Gwangju, South Korea, 1997
Rooftops
Rooftops
These are in the Yong Bong Dong neighborhood.
Operation Polaroid
Jim Hake's
Spirit of America has been doing a tremendous amount of outreach to the Iraqi citizenry these past few years. Operation Polaroid is just one of their many heartwarming projects.
Operation Polaroid.Operation Snapshot.
Kwangju, Chollanamdo province, South Korea, 1997
Two views of the city of Kwangju, on the way up the mountains to Songgwang-sa Temple.
Songgwang-sa Buddhist temple, Chollanamdo province, South Korea, 1997
Monuments to the temple's illustrious monks and abbots of the past.
Songgwang-sa Buddhist temple, Chollanamdo province, South Korea, 1997
Two views of the compound. Note the monk carrying scrolls.
Songgwang-sa Buddhist temple, Chollanamdo province, South Korea 1997
Porch ceiling
Porch ceiling
These are overhead views of the ceilings of some temple buildings' porches. I love the angular clash of shapes in these images. Try them out as wallpaper. Or, get your friends to guess what they are!
Songgwang-sa Buddhist temple, Chollanamdo province, South Korea 1997
Four enormous statues. If you know who these figures represent, please leave us a comment.
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Living tableau
ARVN veterans
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
JROTC
I took a lot of photos of JROTC units, but for this one I zeroed in on their banners. Wallpaper alert!
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Airborne 
Airborne
If I'm wrong and these aren't Airborne Rangers, feel free to correct me. I'm not military, so you'll won't hurt my feelings, and you'll be doing everyone a favor.
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association
Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association
This organization, the
Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association, strives to improve the image of the veterans of that war. Or rather, to dispel the media cliche of Vietnam War veterans as alienated, ramshackle druggies. Note the crisp business suits.
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Hayride
Bagpiper
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Special forces operator?
Sniper in ghillie suit?
Soldier with missile launcher?
I put question marks here, because I don't know if these are real soldiers, or Vietnam War re-enactors, or both. Leave me a comment if you know, thanks.
I highly recommend clicking on these, for the big versions. These were some of my better shots, and the details are great, especially in the ghillie suit.
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Kiddie corps
Bikers
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Lots of classic cars at this parade.
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
WAVES
WWII Veterans
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
United States Volunteers--Joint Services Command
United States Volunteers--Joint Services Command
I was puzzled by this contingent. The South Vietnamese ARVN units had already passed by, so who were these Vietnamese, garbed in U.S. Army dress greens? I googled their organization's name, and found
this introduction to the USV-JSC. But why the southeastern region is staffed with Vietnamese & Vietnamese-Americans? I have no idea, though there's doubtless an interesting story behind it.
God bless 'em for their service, anyway.
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Shriners clown
Civil War Re-enactors, Union
Nationalist Chinese veterans
I've seen South Vietnamese veterans march in the parade in years past, but this is the first time I've seen ex-members of Chiang Kai-shek's army.
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia 2005
JROTC
JROTC
JROTC
JROTC
More JROTC units. The third photo is of the one from Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, I think.
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
World War II Veterans
World War II Veterans
World War II Veterans
There's fewer and fewer of them every year... Appreciate them now, while you have the chance!
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Avondale High School Air Force JROTC
One of many, many JROTC units in the parade. What with all the news about falling enlistment, it was good to see all these kids in the parade.
Bagpipes
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
British veteran
World War II Veterans
From the hood ornament, it looks like these are former USAAF Flying Fortress crewmen.
Peachtree-DeKalb airport used to host shows of restored WWII aircraft, I don't know if they still do.
Navy Band
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, as I didn't take notes while I was shooting.
Veterans Day Parade, Atlanta Georgia, 2005
Color Guard
Marines
Army band
This is from the beginning of the parade. I was near the end of the route. A number of chairmen, marshalls, presidents and such of various organizations had gone by in Corvette convertibles earlier, but the Marines were the first actual soldiers to come into view. As they marched past, the crowd stared at them in quiet. Then I started applauding, and others joined in.
Memorial Day, mid-1990s, Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta Georgia
Unknown soldier
Looking east
Looking south
I attend the Memorial Day services each year at beautiful Marietta National Cemetery. These are from about 1995 or thereabouts. The furball in the middle picture is me, then. I miss that beard and hair mountain, sometimes...
Memorial Day, mid-1990s, Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta Georgia
Civil War re-enactors
Civil War re-enactors
Civil War re-enactors
The bottom picture was taken at the end of the service. I saw the man furling the flag, and immediately knew it would make a good picture. So I hurried down the hill and snapped this photo. I would have liked to have had more time to balance the shot better, or have more of the banner hanging out, but it's a good picture anyway, IIDSSM.
Memorial Day, mid-1990s, Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta Georgia
A couple of veterans and a grandkid share a smile.
Memorial Day, mid-1990s, Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta Georgia
The public
A lot of photohounds among the crowd, just like me. All came to pay honor to the fallen, though.
Honor guard
These soldiers would fire the salute, when the time came.
Memorial Day, mid-1990s, Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta Georgia
Sniper, back
Sniper, front
This Vietnam veteran was happy to let me take a picture of him & his decorated fatigues. Click on the images, and you can make out most of the embroidered text.
