Story Info
Story Info
Lisa McCall and Autumn Van Ord
Wyman Park Dell, Hampden, MD
2023
Type of Wounded Place
Story & Experience
Each year we have returned to this location, we have seen improvements. This year, the area felt more cared for than ever. Hardly any trash was strewn over the land and rocks in the stream. The water looked clear, however there was definitely an industrial smell lingering in the air. We also saw how the kudzu that used was vining all over the trees had been hacked down. We could see the actual trees, not just their outline. We took time to contemplate and came back to share. Autumn noticed the large bridge that juts between the tree line and thought about how it looked like a huge dinosaur. This brought up the idea that if humans died off and anyone came back, they would see this monstrous remnant of the past breaking down. Lisa saw the rippling reflections of the water on the vegetation on the bank. It felt like nature’s disco – a cascading light show with the babbling water as music. Both were glad to see how the beauty of the area is continuing to be enhanced. The most amazing gift came as we left the park as we came upon a deer with fuzzy antlers nibbling along the asphalt path. It wasn’t phased by us at all. He took his time, grazing on park area, urban forest on one side and a sidewalk and roadway on the other.
Each year we have returned to this location, we have seen improvements. This year, the area felt more cared for than ever. Hardly any trash was strewn over the land and rocks in the stream. The water looked clear, however there was definitely an industrial smell lingering in the air. We also saw how the kudzu that used was vining all over the trees had been hacked down. We could see the actual trees, not just their outline. We took time to contemplate and came back to share. Autumn noticed the large bridge that juts between the tree line and thought about how it looked like a huge dinosaur. This brought up the idea that if humans died off and anyone came back, they would see this monstrous remnant of the past breaking down. Lisa saw the rippling reflections of the water on the vegetation on the bank. It felt like nature’s disco – a cascading light show with the babbling water as music. Both were glad to see how the beauty of the area is continuing to be enhanced. The most amazing gift came as we left the park as we came upon a deer with fuzzy antlers nibbling along the asphalt path. It wasn’t phased by us at all. He took his time, grazing on park area, urban forest on one side and a sidewalk and roadway on the other.
Why this Place?
Wyman Park Dell, Hampden, MD
Autumn and I have been holding the Global Exchange here over many years. It is an urban park with pollution, garbage, and large tree debris build up in the stream.
Act of Beauty
Say more about your actions and activity
Autumn and Lisa gathered materials to create the RadJoy bird – yes, there was less trash, but unfortunately some was easily found. A liquor bottle and plastic bag became the body and was combined with plant material like plantains and clover for the tail, leaves for the wings, and rocks for the head. The eye was an old bottle cap and a cord was wrapped around the rocks to set off the head. The beak was a small surveyor’s flag.
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