An Architectural Field Trip in Oakland, California.
Architecture
I’ve been wanting to visit this church in Oakland, California, for some time. I studied architecture my freshman year of college (before majoring in film), and draw a lot of inspiration from the use of space. I went in the afternoon with my camera and explored the building. It was interesting to me how sci-fi and futuristic it looked, since it represents a religion with a history as old as Catholicism’s.
A place for peace.
Being there got me thinking – how nice it is that places of worship exist, so people have a place to go when they would like to feel peace. Lately, I’ve been struggling with feelings of being addicted to my phone, and being there helped me to feel more present and shift my perspective a bit.
What do you believe in?
Then I thought, what I would like right now, is not to go on Instagram and like a bunch of photos (although I find that fun). What I really wanted was to connect with the things I believe in. Not my “religion” per se, but what makes me tick as an artist and person. Which I guess in some ways, is my religion. Here’s my list:
I believe…
- …that kids’ spirits guide the way to what we adults have forgotten.
- …in imagination.
- …in creating stuff; I feel the power of the human spirit when I use my hands to make a poem, or a photograph, or smoothie.
- …that the act of making something is miraculous.
- …in bringing something into existence that wasn’t there before.
- …that creating makes me feel strong.
- …in taking care of oneself, at the risk of appearing “selfish.”
- …in getting caught up in fun and silliness and creative flow, rolling with it.
- …in honing my craft and looking constantly for new inspiration.
- …in learning ways of creating that little “click” into place of an idea I’ve been wanting to find expression for.
- …in cherishing life through images, reflecting, looking back to make sense of how things happened.
- …in finding reasons to rejoice and give thanks.
- …in expressing love and being good to those I care about.
- …that no matter what life throws at me, I must find a way to stay awake and open and willing to contribute –
to be a vessel for ideas that might not otherwise be.
Make a list.
I don’t know where this little exercise came from, but it was helpful for me. It made me feel centered — as opposed to “scattered,” which is how I often feel after spending too much time on my phone. If you can take a minute, why don’t you write down what you believe in?
Like these photos? You might want to check out some of my other architectural posts like this one at the Seattle Central Library, this one in Downtown Cleveland, or this one at the Salk Institute in San Diego.
Come say hi, if the “What do you believe in” exercise resonated with you.
Photos shot on my Fuji X-T10. All images © Sarah Sloboda 2018; do not copy or use without written permission.
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