The Philosophy that is Classic-Beauties
Our interest in graveyard cars is a natural
outgrowth of a nearly lifelong fascination with
old automobiles, and the metal that dresses them.
We are intrigued by those transformations that
occur when metal slips into rust. So, it was
profoundly exciting when, on a peaceful drive
through the rolling hills of North Carolina's
Piedmont, we discovered a unique version of
America's auto graveyard. Standing before us was
American Graffiti in its final resting place --
metallic history, in the form of pre-1970s cars.
Through such abandoned and neglected cars, a new
perspective on nature's work reveals itself; rust
merging with layers of paint peeling away under
the discords of weather and time. Something
magical seems to occur in the slow, disintegrative
reaction caused by elements in the air, and the
heat and radiation of the sun, when they polarize
decaying metal into unpredictable patterns.
What captures our imagination is how nature is
able to blend colors and forms through a process
most describe as "decay." Yet, what we observe is
the transformation of these vehicles into a new
form of life; a metamorphosis that possesses both
significance and beauty. Indeed, the photographs,
whether of fenders, doors, or metal strips, become
a way to recall the stories of people's pasts.
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