Secret garden
by Jeff Burgess
Title
Secret garden
Artist
Jeff Burgess
Medium
Photograph - Giclee Of Fusion Photography
Description
A 'fusion photography' work from elements taken from a region around Hood's Canal, Washington State, USA and Vancouver, Canada. I've always been fascinated by secrecy and hidden treasures and this image reflects this interest. There are many 'secret' gardens in and around the Pacific Northwest. Some are absolutely amazing. There are also many books that are titled with 'secret garden' including a mnovel written by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was initially published in serial format starting in the autumn of 1910, and was first published in its entirety in 1911. It is now one of Burnett's most popular novels, and is considered to be a classic of English children's literature. Several stage and film adaptations have been produced. And there are many, many images associated with the 'secret garden'. In this book, the primary character, a young girl named Mary becoimes friends with Ben Weatherstaff the gardener and also a friendly robin redbreast to whom she attaches human qualities. In my image the bird is a cardinal but still has the red breast. This is a charming story and an allegory. The secret garden at Misselthwaite Manor is the site of both the near-destruction and the subsequent regeneration of a family. Using the garden motif, Burnett, the author, explores the healing power inherent in living things. It should be pointed out the a similar concept is presented in H. G. Wells's short story 'The Door in the Wall' which depicts a similar transforming effect of a 'secret garden'. I suppose this 'theme' is why I like 'secret gardens' and why I present this image.
Further, the story constitutes a struggle between common sense and the accepted wisdom of the day, in which common sense wins. A grand idea in this day and age of automatic rifles and magazines that carry 100 bullets to kill all manner of things.
Uploaded
April 5th, 2013
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