Bhimasena commented on the rust discussion with:
“When I visited Audarya they were building a very nice temple structure. Considering their substantial focus on the aesthetics, I was surprised to see that they were using a tin roof. The lead builder explained that the rusty tin look could be stylish as well as good long term roofing option. I imagine that the type of tin used on the barn is not the same as they were using.”
To which I replied:
“I have spent my whole life fighting rust in farm equipment, tools, fence wire and buildings. At one show Vidya does, the lady who set up next to her sells rusty metal and it goes like hot cakes.
“Boggles my mind the weird stuff city people find attractive. Of course, she is selling cutouts of animals and a lot of creative shapes but still — she DELIBERATELY oxidizes the pieces with acids to get the rusty look.
“So apparently it is stylish but I am hopelessly out of touch with trends.
“Another consideration is that in drier climes, the rust cycle is a long drawn out one and not as damaging.
“Here, is a wetter climate with acid rain, rust is much deadlier. I suspect the tin is the same but the environment is much different. California is much much drier.”
New Vrindaban is in the Rust Belt, which got its name for the high rate of oxidation that occurs here.
After I wrote this I clicked through on the link to the metal they used and see it probably really is a different metal.
Funny how rust, an manifestation of poverty in my mind, has become stylish. The irony of well to do people paying for something poor people have to endure is ironic. Work hard to buy rust, a means of inevitable destruction, Shiva in action.
“So we want to be attracted by Krsna. Just like a magnetic force and iron. Unless iron is rusty, it is automatically attracted by the magnetic force. Similarly, we are contaminated by material coverings. So we are trying to make it rustless so that immediately we shall be attracted. This is the program. Krsna is all-attractive. That is a fact. And we are attracted. But being covered with this rust, we are, instead of being attracted by Krsna, we are being attracted by maya.”
Room Conversation With Allen Ginsberg — May 12, 1969, Columbus, Ohio
To follow up on yesterday’s post, the rhino would be to spell out Hare Krishna on the roof at the barn in solar panels. That would be really cool.
October 24, 2007 at 5:13 pm
looking for marken’s college address. If you have can you please email it to me.
thank you
madhu
October 24, 2007 at 5:18 pm
I don’t have it. I will get it from Tulasi and send later.
October 25, 2007 at 8:12 pm
thank you
October 26, 2007 at 5:35 am
Good morning,
After talking to Bob about this, the roofing metal is actually locally purchased sheet steel, not aluminum. (therefore the rust). The coating recently applied is aluminum BASED roof coating. Perhaps an oil-based paint (such as Rustoleum) should be considered instead of latex, and with this type of roof coating, it should be recoated every 3 to 5 years as well, especially if (this time) the rust was not removed by first sanding, washing, and coating with a rust-inhibiting primer.
Just a thought, and some info.
Have a great weekend!