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Save the Cathedral of Junk

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 Posted in Personal

Ciao Everybody!!!

I tend not to post much stuff not related to wedding photography, but in this case I think it’s worth using my public soapbox for a special reason: cultural preservation.

It doesn’t take much time in this fair city before you will be introduced to the Cathedral of Junk. Located in South Austin, between South Congress and 1st Street, this massive edifice of folk art stands tall amongst the early 20th century homes it is surrounded by. Started in 1989 as just a bit of fence decoration, it didn’t take long for the Cathedral to begin to take shape. Now over 20 years later it is a massive testament to the unique cultural diversity of Austin. It is built of just about everything, from bikes to refrigerators; from dolls to stereo equipment. Here is the Roadside America article if you are interested.

Now this wonderful work of art is in danger. Earlier this month a visitor complained to the Austin building inspectors and from there the issue escalated. Vince was given until the end of the month to bring the work up to current building codes and now time is running out.

This is a gargantuan task and I personally (despite my short time in this city) feel a need to help out in trying to preserve this cultural icon for those to come. It is not enough that I have seen it and hung out in it; climbed to the top and spent hours studying the intricate details of the Cathedral. I want everyone to be able to experience it. Young and old, alive or a future earthling; everyone should get a chance to see what Vince has created in his backyard.

This is where you come in. Vince needs your help. He needs your hands, your muscle, your sweat and your dedication. With just a few days left in March, time is running out and without the help of a generous and concerned community, we will all lose this great work of art to a bulldozer. So if you have a bit of time, go help him. If you have tools to lend, go lend them. If you feel like making a donation, make it. Take some gloves and goggles and be part of something!!! Dancing with the stars can wait on your DVR. Vince, and for that matter all of us concerned about keeping Austin fun, exciting, unique, and WEIRD can not.

Please visit the website that has been set up and see how you can help keep this piece of Americana. Do it now! www.SaveTheJunk.org It will be by the hearts and hands of Austin that we get to keep this for all to see and experience for years to come. I hate to say it, but pictures really do not do it justice.

Today, I went down to document the Cathedral again just in case it will be my last opportunity. For the next several days, when I am not working, I will be helping Vince and Austin keep the Cathedral alive. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

by Eric

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March 25, 2010 - 2:40 pm Monica - These are fantastic photos. I'm a huge fan of the Cathedral - would you consider selling prints of these and donating some of the proceeds to helping to keep it open? I would buy them!!

March 25, 2010 - 2:57 pm Eric - Hey Monica, that is a wonderful idea and thanks for suggesting it. I'll get a gallery up soon to do direct orders. Ciao!

March 25, 2010 - 9:58 pm Monica - great! can't wait to frame some of them for my own wall! :)

April 17, 2010 - 7:22 am Cyndi Miller - I wrote this poem, "Tower Power, Ode to the Hannemann Cathedral of Junk". Here it is, to help raise funds along with the prints, to save the Cathedral: ----------- Tower Power Ode to the Hannemann Cathedral of Junk - Cyndi Miller, © 2010 Moment to moment, piece by piece, hour-to-hour, we release too much treasure into waste; seldom aware, we toss in haste. Too soon we rush right out the door, searching, spending, shopping for things to fill an empty spirit; coming close, seldom near it, always far from truth and knowing what we feel while we’re growing. We can be fooled ‘bout what is real, why we hurt, how we heal. Looking back at what we’ve had; loved it new, worn it bad, didn’t make the status quo, feared it wasn’t good to show. Years gone by, not seen it since. To view it now, check with Vince. He’s put it out for public view, adroitly stacked crown to shoe. He’s got a lot, by no means all. There’s room for more! Just give a call. He’ll gladly take what others toss. His art is claiming something lost; bringing to a welcome home things forlorn, left alone. So much now has come to pass. Multi-layers have amassed into spans and bridges-strong, walls-wrapping, steps and domes above the heads of all who talk of wondrous parts along this walk, through densities of tiers and treasure, immensities too huge to measure! Bygone stuff is herein shown. Sit amongst it in a throne of what it was that used to be and now, still is because of he who found a truth about its being, profoundly seeing, finding meaning. There for those with stresses torturing; calming, meditative, nurturing, lifting up, oft times ethereal. We know it as the “Hannemann Cathedral”. It has become an amazing Tower. To find it is to know the Power!

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