Image from December 2019, in the Before Time. Had been documenting the blossoming collection of Marx Toys space plastics when it struck me that the above might "work" as a makeshift Christmas Tree image. I've always been down with the makeshift tree thing, born from the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree concept of a shriveled and unloved forlorn gnarly little tree becoming a beacon of hope in an otherwise gloomy and stupid world. Never been more so then these days & remembering the spark of warmth the image had created decided to purposefully approach the concept this year.
Had some real-world inspiration to do so as well; Out of town family decided to stay put this season and without his granddaughter to have a Christmas Tree for my dad decided to make one in his woodshed which we'd likely use for the duration of time remaining for us to reside in the house. Made me think about the tradition of makeshift trees during trying times, and how they are gestures of humanity done in defiance of mishap.
The basic structure of what I'll call the Nyland Tree. Central trunk form gathered in the back yard, steel rods repurposed from some sort of shelving system and the carved pieces cut on his circular saw.
The maestro working the lights, held in place by twist ties. No other ornamentation. An exercise in unstated minimalism.
Yeah that works. Nice job!
And my version, using a soft glow filter effect.
Further inspiration. Gotta give credit where due; I like how we are looking over the shoulders of the other characters as they are looking at the Bumble.
The original 2021 design. All plastics by Marx Toys from 1962 & 1963, with the aliens as sort of the Christmas elves jabbering around like Jawas. But when looking back to the original 2019 take it struck me as too baroque. Too much to see, needs editing.
After removing the 1962 "Moon Base" aliens & sitting astronauts. What follows are various views or angles which passed the sort/toss of pix taken during the session. I take a lot of pix.
I like this one. Got the idea to try using a flashlight for more dynamic light watching them Rudolph puppetoons. "Christmas at Fra Mauro Station" is referencing the 1971 landing site of Apollo 14 and mission commander Alan B. Shepard, America's first man in space on Mercury-Redstone "Freedom 7" in 1961. Shepard also won an eternal place of respect in my affections by bringing a golf club to the moon on his Apollo flight and hitting two balls, one which sailed for "Miles and miles and miles ..."
This one best captured what I'd wanted to see, which the painted stars serving as snowflakes falling from a canopy of the box sides. But I miss the flashlight beam.
Not bad either but I don't like the glare on the back wall.
"Everybody belongs."
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