Art: Hollow Mountain by Caitlin Carter
THE HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION ACT
“Beauty Belongs to All The People”—
Lyndon & Lady Bird Johnson
Highway Beautification Act, 1965
Shady: (v.) beyond logic, bias of older, established trees
i.
Trucks pass, the first of that species, gouged air,
a city gullet shivers the rest of those who do not flee.
Maple, Ginko Biloba: leaves pick up the swell. With God’s help I am able.
To the elongated crumpled edges between Exit 9-a and Jones Beach Loopway
spotty, a stroke in the blanket of legislation, the whiff of smog.
Vagrants drop between goldenrod in temporary puddles.
The black-throated green warbler scratchy— shadowless, overcast landscape
a painter’s tree siphons the continual breeze, meadow from brook,
ii.
darting zees in private ziplines that copter from Fire Island, to vacationland,
past erased islands, setting the bright compass to well past Rikers.
Joints are joisted, we do not live in passing, the slow flapping of wings,
By the exit sign, a faint clammy day, we stay and small rarities, linger.
The bud has pushed into the crown and flittering gnatcatchers pillow the clean white,
born into a chrysalis of leaves beneath a world of sky;
in between, shaded flowers are naked, protected in the womb of sun.
This chance for insects they cherished the opportunity
having undaunted access won, and without the return of winter
the basket of leaves will catch the other ones.
iii.
Brittled by the elements: air, sea, rain, an Exodus crackled by acorns,
wicked like shell-horns, which crept along at mercy, elemental, pandered their impartial light.
When I am alone, I fight, the flittering that catapults me out, into levity.
But I am not a leaf falling. I am not a seed. I have no made my back into the tree.
I’m from way out in shade.
By the shimmy of injustice – jumping between shadows for eternity.
About the author:
Art: Hollow Mountain by Caitlin Carter
In the artist’s words:
I am currently working on obtaining a Master of Design degree at the Basel School of Design. My undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Visual Communications Design from Purdue University. While studying, I developed strong problem solving skills through a curriculums structured around design theory and that have fostered my ability to think conceptually in the areas of typography, visual identity, and composition. Through my work experience, I have developed my practical design skills. In my most recent position as a freelance designer, I worked as the Head of Design for the start-up, S4FE. I developed the brand identity from the initial beginning stage, including the logo. I carried out the concept through the creation of the White Paper and Corporate Identity Guidelines. I also lead the design team by delegating the ways to incorporate the brand identity to the web designers. Previously to freelancing, I worked as an Online Flash Advertising Designer with Trailer Park Inc., where I earned production experience working within an in-house advertising agency that created full-scale digital campaigns for entertainment industry clients such as Disney, Sony Pictures Animation, TNT, LOGO, and SHO. I also created flash banners for Toshiba and Keystone online ad campaigns, as well as After Effects X-Men banners. Prior to working at Trailer Park, I was employed as a Graphic Designer with Discovery Communications, where I created print and digital media design work for Discovery’s family of brands, including TLC, ID, and Science. When I was given the project of creating the 2012 One Sheets for Domestic Distribution, I was recognized for my creativity, attention to detail, and ability to create strong page-layouts. Before working at Discovery, I was employed as a Digital Media Designer with Gannett Company Inc., where I fine-tuned my skills in the Adobe Creative Suite. My day to day job requirements included Flash and InDesign online advertisements. I have also completed an internship at MTV Networks, which gave me the opportunity to work with a team of talented designers to create content for MTVIggy.com. My Visual Communications Design studies, professional background as a graphic designer in the entertainment industry, self-initiated conceptual art projects and photography make me an ideal candidate to feature in your publication. Being a featured artist would enhance my future, and more importantly would foster my growth as an independent artist seeking the truth.