Saturday, March 20, 2010

Holy Hopscotch

You'll probably have to enlarge this one.

I found this chalk work in front of the David Allan Hubbard Library of the Fuller Theological Seminary as I traversed the campus yesterday.

This calls up everything from philosophical arguments to historical discussions to cheap jokes, not to mention high praise for whoever did this fine work. Don't even get me started.

Wait--yes, please do.



P.S. Don't forget the bloggers' potluck today. You're invited. Don't worry, it's not as pagan as it looks.

29 comments:

John Sandel said...

Such a thing, & on a seminary campus, no less! Looks like some philosopher’s stoned again …

Shell Sherree said...

This is completely over my head ~ back to the Twister mat for me...

Geoff said...

It's the periodic table of elements of course. I'm surprised it's at the seminary and not at Caltech.

Geoff said...

. . . with some errors, on closer inspection. :)

T Thompson said...

Periodic inspiration.

Bellis said...

How clever! Quite an advance on the hopscotch grids we used to chalk on the sidewalk. But will it get washed away in the next rainstorm?

Katie said...

You'd think that 7 years living on Holy Hill in Berkeley amongst 9 seminaries would have prepared me to get the joke here, but sadly I have no clue what all the references are. I have seen a period table of pastries. That I get. Have fun at the picnic today!

LPB said...

I think it's an art piece based upon the periodic table, the omitted elements (replaced with spirals) probably form a chemical molecule. Can't tell exactly which ones have been altered from the photo perspective.

Probably a formula for wine, the "Blood of Christ"? Do you have a straight-on shot?

ben wideman said...

For real - the Admissions office hosted a prospective student visit on Monday and all of the new students were totally confused. As we all were I guess. I should really go up to the top of the library for a photo from above.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks for the links, J & Geoff. Twister, Shell! That would indeed be painful.

Knowing a bit about Fuller I'm not surprised to see such a thing there. As my friend the Fuller grad said last night, "All truth is God's truth." I understand some at Fuller would agree while some would not, and the discussion goes on.

Bellis, another rainstorm, God willing.

Katie, please God someone brings pastries today. Last year Paula from Pensacola actually sent Oreos. We were all touched and amazed.

Laurie, I didn't have time to go inside the library and try to get upstairs for the straight-on, but I'm so glad Ben (our Fuller expert) has checked in.

I'm amazed, Ben, that the drawing was fresh on Monday. I took the picture Friday. People have obviously respected it by not walking on it; it's held up well. This is a fun one! Let us know anything you find out.

John Sandel said...

An idel Satiddy morning search turned up this site. Holy antimony!

John Sandel said...

Ooh, and this. Now I need some breakfast.

Petrea Burchard said...

Those are beautiful. Sigh. I'd love to have an element named after me.

Los Angeles Suburbia said...

What a great capture of those elements...good contrasts of tones and textures.

John Sandel said...

Bestfriendium.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi Suburbia--Thanks. It was a bright day, which washed out the pastels. I had to mess with it a little.

Bymyside.

Margaret said...

Durn. I forgot.

Bellis said...

You'd have to be Madame Curie to have an element named after you - but instead, you have a beautiful flowering vine, Petrea volubilis. It's similar to a wisteria, you lucky thing.

Petrea Burchard said...

We missed you, Margaret!

I think it's the other way around, Bellis perennis.

Dina said...

Bestfriendium, a perfect name for you when you are in your element, Petrea.

I've seens lots of periodic tables of every thing imaginable, but can't figure out this one.

A classic scene from high school chemistry class now comes to me!
One of us had written on the board a long formula of chemical compounds which combined thus:
CO2+K+... [whatever] --> DREK

Dr. Davidson, z"l, walked into class, pretended to study the chalkboard for a minute, then turned to us and asked, "Is that a reversible equation?"
LOL!!

Petrea Burchard said...

Good one, Dina. Actually, good two.

Ms M said...

You don't find sidewalk art like that here!
Love the potluck invite! Was a good time had by all?

Petrea Burchard said...

It was a blast, Ms. M.

Sherri Benes-Teale said...

Did you mean HOLLY Hopscotch perhaps? ;) (That brings back some memories, doesn't it?? Does for me.)

Very cool photo - not often you see a periodic table in chalk... let alone anywhere out in the open.

Petrea Burchard said...

Ah, Sherri, you must be thinking of Hallelujah Hopscotch. Sweet! It's still being performed around the country, believe it or not. We get notices from the publisher from time to time.

Anonymous said...

Ahhh.... See? The memory from (shudder) 45+ years ago is faulty at best. Wasn't the character called Holly for short? (Certainly might be wrong there.) I know you played the main character later, but didn't Gina have the role first? Please refresh my poor addled memory...

Petrea Burchard said...

Is that you again, Sherri? In case not, hello, appylover, welcome to the blog!
The character was Hally for short. When the play ("Hallelujah Hopscotch") was first performed in DeKalb in about 1962 there were two casts--the "short" and the "tall" cast, I think, is how they split it up. Gina Burchard played Hally in the short cast and Jessica Murray played her in the tall cast. (They were both wonderful and I must add here that Rachael Burchard, the playwright, says she kept herself out of the casting process so Gina would have the same chance the other girls did.)
I never played the role (though I would have loved to).
My mother would love it that we're talking about her play.

Sherri Benes-Teale said...

Yes, its me again, Petrea. Sorry - switched user names. I guess, being a kid when we saw the play, I thought they were saying "Holly", not "Hally".

I thought I remembered there being another production of your mom's play a few years after the first one. Am I remembering correctly?

Petrea Burchard said...

There have been hundreds, but no others in DeKalb that I remember.

Then again, my memory's not perfect either!