Patterns and Tones: Destination: Pine Mountain Club

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Destination: Pine Mountain Club

"Destination: Pine Mountain Club No. 1" 2018

Last November we took a trip up the Grapevine during a storm and ended up seeing the most dazzling display of nature in the San Emigdio Mountain community of Pine Mountain Club. I have driven past the small towns dotting the sides of the road through the Tejon Pass a million times but have rarely stopped except for gas. It was time to take a closer look, so we chose a town deep in the woods to explore.

On our way to our local destination, I imagined that the local population was like other mountain communities, close knit and hard working with the punctuation of vistiors occasionally being seen in town. I quickly felt as though we had driven to another state. Nature ruled and the effects of humanity were less apparent. The curling smoke from a chimney could be seen in the depths of the pine valley and the road was the only guide that lead us deeper into Bear country.

This series of photographs were taken directly from my passenger seat. The intermittent rain made for a lovely textured screen that separated me from the elements and refracted the mountain town we were driving through. I was intrigued by the somber winter colors of dark rust and deep emerald greens. These images are a hush or a melancholy poem. They speak to me about the power of nature and moments of reflection during the darkest hours of winter.

Julie Green
March 16, 2019