The Liz Kent Experience

As part of my course work, we are to explore the surrounding area (Aberdeen) and take pictures and do some type of fieldwork every Wednesday. It doesn’t matter what it is, we are just supposed to do something. Well, I got ahead of the curve and went out on Thursday during the day. I had passed some amazing street murals on my way to the Central Library. I knew that is what I wanted to go and take pictures of when we were assigned this particular assignment. So, I went. And am I glad I did!

I met some wonderful people that were interested in me and I was interested in what they had to tell me about the murals. They are homeless here in Aberdeen and they were waiting for space to open up in a nearby shelter for them. We talked about what I was doing in Aberdeen and what exactly I was doing in the Union Terrace Gardens. So I explained I had seen the murals from the street a few weeks ago and had wanted to come and take pictures of them. They were fascinated with that and thought it was a wonderful idea. They then each started telling me about which of the murals were their favorites and which murals took the longest to paint. This group of people were there when each of the murals were being painted and they spoke with the artists.

Talking to these people are hearing these stories are all part of Folklore. Take a second and think about where you live and think about the things around you that you are taking for granted. In whatever city you live, have you taken time to go to your local museum? Have you taken the time to actually read the placards of memorials? Have you taken time to appreciate the quaint little nuances of your city? These concepts, these ideas, these physical things are all part of our inherent folklore. Too many times we think folklore only refer to fairy tales or to the things that go ‘bump in the night’ but really, folklore is truly what make us, us. It is woven into our beings.

Take a chance to look around and appreciate everything around you, even the buildings because you never know how long something will last.