Walking in the woods, usually with the dog, I come across some fascinating bits of expression, which I term trail kitsch, though I haven't really found the term on Google, at least not as I mean it.
Trail kitsch is stuff deliberately placed along the trail or natural materials that are altered in their arrangement with some sort of artistic aim, albeit mocking or just nonsensical. Some of it seems to be very short-lived and I'm not sure if some people remove the objects out of distaste or if the "artists" are only loaning their art.
Below are a few examples of trail kitsch I've stumbled upon. All the photos, except the last two of Native American rock art, were taken with my iPhone 4s camera.
The Native American rock art from Arizona isn't kitsch, although I
asked a guide about that at one of the sites we visited. He said that
given the work ancient people would have had to complete just to get the
materials they needed to do this art, it was unlikely it
was casual, graffiti-like communications. Rather, it was created to signify something
import to the people who did it.
Perhaps placing Gumby and Pokey there with the other toy figures in the rock diorama denotes something important to whoever did it, but it might as well be petroglyphs to me.
 |
| Someone is always rearranging this exhibit. It used to be more natural, involving balancing rocks of various sizes and shapes to make tiny formations, but lately it's been invaded by small plastic squatters. |
 |
| No, not kitsch, but it was a lovely trunk. |
 |
| Mother Mary (I think) maybe spoke words of wisdom but she didn't last at this broken down gate. |
 |
| Maya scaring a devil head. |
 |
| Not exactly kitsch, but couldn't resist. There used to be a building around this commode. |
 |
| Heart in Sedona. |
 |
| Rock tree, Sedona, Az. |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Native American "kitsch" in Sedona, Az. |
 |
| More Native American "kitsch" in Petrified Forest National Park |
