Look at the bones!

[eclectic_boy]

Walking in the woods in northern Massachusetts. What's that colorful shape in the distance?





As you get closer you can make out a little more detail.





Get closer. Click this bottom photo for the full-size version. (That's Susan Ruff providing the scale)



Yes, it really is.... a gigantic mural ossuary. Thirty feet high. In vibrant red, blue, and green. Hidden somewhere in the woods, complete with this motto in the upper left: "Take the knowledge that you will someday be these bones, and enjoy now all that is precious. ...Ichabod..YME.2001"


Someone, probably a local who hung out in these woods, has gone and made a buried folkart treasure that's, if not at the level of the Watts towers, is still stunning and beautiful. Especially considering how difficult it must have been to spraypaint this on a vertical rockface--I doubt the artist built scaffolding; presumably they lowered themself from a rope! Next time I'm in Boston I may lead an expedition to it -- email me if you're interested.

Comments

[crystalpyramid]

Whoa! Nifty!

If I'm ever in Boston (unlikely) at the same time you're in Boston (probably pretty likely, if the first part is true), you must show me!

[skalja.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, that's amazing.

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

Heh. I have very mixed feelings about that choice of media. Hallo to SR too, though!

[fiorebrilliante.livejournal.com]

Hello. This is Kelly, Will's girlfriend. I see that you haven't posted in months, but I am adding you anyway. Please tell me if you'd like to be removed from my friends list.

[justletmesleep.livejournal.com]

hey,
i live in a fairly boring suburban area of northeastern massachusetts, and am always looking for adventures to escape the monotony of my town. when i saw this rock featured in "weird new england," i was determined to find it. i searched the "take the knowledge..." quote on google, and it linked me right to your journal! i can't find anything about this location anywhere else. do you, by any chance, have any more information about where you were when you found this rock? were you, by any chance, in lynn? i'd appreciate any help whatsoever on this little search of mine, hehe. thanks!

[(Anonymous)]

its located somewhere in the woods of lynn mass. i also found this by googling the quote. i cant wait to find this. ICHABOD is the MAN!

"Though other sections of Lynn Woods south of Walden Pond are covered in XC trails and fire roads, the massive "Boneyard" mural best sums up the granite-filled battle zone to the north. Painted on the side of a cliff, the mural depicts hundreds of skulls and bones and carries the message: "Take the knowledge that you will someday be these bones and enjoy now all that is precious." The Lynn Woods Reservation—precious, indeed."

[eclectic-boy.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Anonymous! Thanks to you I was also able to find a couple of more recent photos of it, here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/coollibrarian/1800915650/).

[eclectic-boy.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I don't even know where we were -- it was part of a research trip my friend took me on for the 2nd edition of the climbing guide _Boston_Rocks_. That edition wound up including an offhand mention of the mural in it, so if you can find a copy and read through it, you can learn where it is... sorry, that's the best I can do.