PHOTO ESSAY BY AMELIA MOSERwss intern

Tropics. Beach. Sand. Sun. While these descriptions are all true of Aruba (an island 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela), they leave more than a little to be desired. Picture this: you’re on a 20 mile x 6 miles landmass, walking on a brick pathway lined with lush, green vegetation interrupted with bright flowers of varying colors and shapes. On your left is a sparkling, clear pool bordered by over-tanned people sunbathing; in front of you, palm trees shine in the midday sunlight.This is, perhaps, one of those few places that can actually be described by that one special word: paradise. TOP: The sun sets over the ocean, framed by palm trees and beach huts. These thatch-roofed

structures shade beach-goers from the tropical, midday sunlight. Unlike in Iowa, when the sun has set, temperatures noticeably drop to a more comfortable level.BOTTOM: Outlined in the blue Aruban sky, a palm tree stands tall. One of many in the area, these add to the beauty of the breathtaking natural landscape. This is one of about 3000 species of palm tree worldwide.

TOP: A forgotten sandtoy rests on the beach, waiting to be remem-bered by its owner. Couples walk-ing hand and hand attempt to not fall over the numerous sand castles built by little kids. MIDDLE: Examining pieces of let-tuce given to it by curious children, this iguana contemplates break-fast. Tourists take a break at 10 am to feed the iguanas that can be found darting along the vegeta-tion. Hint: see if you can find the other two lizards in this picture.RIGHT: A curving walkway is bor-dered by vegetation. Visitors me-ander along, enjoying the breath-taking landscape, climate and wildlife. Some of the animals, such as geckos, are seemingly not at all afraid of humans.

GOTTA LOVE THE TROPICS(IT’S mORE THAN JUST THE BEACH)

Top Right: A close up reveals the true beauty of certain wood. The light and dark shades re-veal a new side of wood... and electrical poles.Above: This fluffy baige flower lights up this spring day’s gray sky.

Left: This squirrel does not like getting its picture taken. I had to hunt this guy (his name is Herald) down for twenty minutes before he gave me a shot. I like to call him a ninja squirrel based on this poses. Herald, and many other critters were out and about on this spring day, a very good sign. Spring is coming. The flowers are blossoming, trees are sprouting leaves,

and squirrels and other creatures are finally showing after a long winter. The following photos were taken on a mid-day stroll through an Iowa City neigh-borhood. Even though the sky wasn’t bright blue, and the sun wasn’t shining, the little hints of spring’s arrival were all over the place.

Below: This unusual silver tree-bush was a rare find. It’s strange twirly branches are rather reminiscent of Harry Potter’s whomping willow. Left: These four rock were lying down on the ground, naturally stacked. A small spider can be found on the top rock.

springis

coming

PHOTO ESSAY BY BLAKE TERMINIwss intern

If you are going to go to Chicago, you must experience the three best things in the city. You will never be able to experience these things anywhere else.

Attending a Blue Man Group concert will be one of the most exhilarating things you will ever experience. It has skits, loud and amazing music, and lots and lots of paint.

The John Hancock Building allows you to go up to the 94th floor and look at the city of Chicago from above. It shows you the city from a different perspective.

The Shedd Aquarium lets you see aquatic life like never before. It basically puts you under water with sea life.

TOP 3 THINGS TO DO IN THE WINDY CITY

TOP: Trump Hotel and Tower on left and the Willis Tower on right. This photo was taken from the 94th floor of the John Hancock Obseratory. The John Hancock Building is the 16th tallest building in the world.

RIGHT: Blue Man Group does their signature paint drumming act at the Briar Street Theatre. There is not only one Blue Man Group, there are four. One in Chicago, Boston, New York, and one on Las Vegas.BOTTOM LEFT: Turtles sit at top of the water at the Shedd Aquarium. These turtles are only two of the seven in their exibit. BOTTOM RIGHT: A frogfish looks upon viewers at the Shedd Aquarium. A frogfish can eat things 25% longer than itself.

BY BRENNA DEERBERGwss internFrom simple tags to extravagant murals, graffiti is a familiar

sight to Iowa City residents. This is especially true for two West High artists, and another student who has watched them work. “I remember asking what we’d do if we got caught. All they said was ‘Run.’ I guess it was thrilling for them, but it terrified me,” said Anna*.

“I started because it seemed like a nice way to express my views and give back to the community,” said Ben*.

Another artist, who paints under the name ‘Fin’ keeps it on the down-low by tagging carefully selected locations. “Most people don’t spot somebody [tagging] and think, ‘Oh, I really need to report this.’ You’d never [tag] a church or a school […] As long as you keep it respectful, you’re fine,” said Fin.

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the individuals.

IN PLAIN SIGHT (RIGHT): B a r g o e r s stumble around this whimsical treasure, pay-ing little notice. After searching the depths of Iowa City alley-ways, this figure is surprisingly visible from the main street. It’s graffiti like this that begs the question, “Just how did some-one paint this without being noticed?”

WORK ZONE (ABOVE): After scouring the alleys of downtown Iowa City, this nearly illegible swatch of paint is an unexpected delight. The white letters grace a wall adjacent to a wheelbarrow of wet cement, the sound of construction machinery drifting over from nearby. It’s art like this that makes the pathways deep within the alleys worth exploring.LOUD AND INAPPROPRIATE (LEFT): A lone skateboard provides a light whir-ring noise along the concrete at the Iowa City Skate Park, breaking the early morning silence. The bowls here are littered with paint in an array of artwork ranging from the most simple to the most elaborate. Though this location is nestled up next to City Park, it’s safe to say that some of the graffiti is not for the kiddies.

ANONYMOUS ARTISTS

ANNUALLY ALTERED (ABOVE): Though it’s visible from the window of Rosa-zza Lesson Studios, this colorful creation can only be fully appreciated after a hazardous trek down a litter-infested slope. According to Dave Rosazza, this mural is changed annually by an un-known artist. “Every year I’ll look out the window and, ‘Woah! It’s different!’”TASTE THE RAINBOW (LEFT): Thumping bass and techno overtones add life to this fun mural. Painted in the ally along Studio13, the crazy collage adds a fun splash of color to this Iowa City bar.

Hawaii, a tropical place full of royal palms, and hibiscus flowers. Beautiful flowers and lush green grasses and trees. On some of the Hawaiin islands this is true but on the Big Island the majority of the landscape is lava rock. Because the Big Island contains three valconoess one of which has been unactive for a while. The land has lot’s of lava fields that cover the whole island, it looks like chunky brownie batter mix and has hardened into peaks and tubulars. It’s not pretty but it’s not ugly it holds a mystery of a danger that has long since ceased. The real beauty comes from the flowers and the pants that grow from the lava. they force there way up through the very hot and thick lava. But the plants become strudy and low to the ground, they can survive alot of heat and once they are budding they have a high chance of surving because there is not alot of animals that eat them.

Growing Through the Lava

the hibcus is a very large flower that can be found on most hawaiian island

A lava site of an active volcanoe with bushs blowing

Puprle floswers are really good gorund covers and they can be found everywhere.

Sponge Plants grow out of the lava under the sade of bushes

The dragon flower is a spikey flower that is found everywhere.

PHOTO ESSAY BY Jessica Car-wss intern

Above: exciting doesnt describe what Jessica Carrillo `13 felt when she stepped into the mall that cold fisrts Sunday of Spring Break. Mall of America the biggest mall in Amaerica was Carrillo’s destination. this mall has an amusment park and aquarium. “ I just can not wait to shop at all the different stores and buy a lot of shoes.” said Carrillo’s mother Diony Carrillo.

LEFT: Trying not to spit out hot tea that Jessica Carrillo `13 had just tryed. for the first time in the 17 years that Carrillo had been on this planet she tryed tea from Java House. “ Oh I forgot to tell you that the tea was still Hot.” said John Wen `12

ABOVE: In the two yars that Jessica Carrillo had been living here in Iowa she had never been downtown. but on Fridaty march 18, 2011 she made her fisrt trip downtown with her two frieds John Wen `12 Teraysa Lenhertz `14 and her sister Nicole Carrillo `16. “I can not beliave she had never been downtown” said Lenhertz.

Fisrts. I have been living here in Iowa for almost two years and I have never ever been downtown. but over spring brak I grew up and began my quest. I went outside my circle and embraced the fact that I had to go to Java House and try some tea I had to go downtown and look around. This was my mission this was what I had to do before I died and I was prepared to do this

Spring of Firsts

RIGHT: Over spring break i had the opportunity to stay in the Presidential suit in the Hilton hotel in Minneapolis Minnesota for the first time and probable the last time. I was so excited! “I just cant wait to tell all of my friends” said Nicole Carrillo `16.

PHOTO ESSAY BY KATIE MONSwss intern

The dusty sand and lush green grass cover the wide softball field. Four white bases become brown at the end of the game from several girls playing the game they love. Hot, metal bleachers rest behind home plate for cheering friends and family to sit on. Since softball season is approaching, here are some pictures to get ready for the season.

Beauty of the Ballpark

BOTTOM: Resting in a field of fresh spring grass, a softball waits to be picked up. As softball season approaches, girls start practicing and get-ting ready for the sea-son. Depending on what league it is, a different sized softball is used. Younger girls use 12” sized softballs and older girls use 13”.

BELOW: At home plate, a bat lies there in the after-noon sun. While throwing and catching is important, girls work on batting skills all the time. Any bat can be used, as long as it’s ASA approved.

RIGHT: Field 4 of Na-polean Softball Park waits for players to take the field. Every year, hundreds of girls use these fields for both rec and competitve league games. There are eight fields at the park, and there are times when they are all in use.

ABOVE: Three softball bags hold equipment for a few players. Players leave their bags in the dugout during games, or out if they need it for practice. Bags are quite handy for transporting any equipment back and forth.

PHOTO ESSAY BY LEELA SATHYAPUTRIwss intern

The Journey Here:A Scramble of Memories

Memories make me who I am. Curiously, I remember ones from when I was very young the most. I was lonely when my parents were busy, happy when I played with my best friend, a boy who lived in my apartment complex. The smell of hot tea with milk and cardimum still reminds me of him, just like how the feel of rain-soaked wind under cloud-cover carries the memory of my mother holding me, hand large

enough to cover two of mine. These things stay with me. If West

High tends to constantly trigger these memories, well.

I’m not saying anything.

~Special thanks to Caitlin and Nathaniel

Wibowo, who modeled as a younger me and my best friend, and their parents: Sarah and Rio.

LEFT: I’ve gone to seven schools in all—eight including West High. I like to look back on all the precious memories, remembering who I am, how I got here. I still carry the weight of the small child I once was with me everywhere, and I have to say; it’s at West High that that memory feels most free.

ABOVE: This is where my story starts. I spent half a decade of my childhood in a quiet house in Muscatine, rooms thick with orange sunrises and the smell of old books.

RIGHT: In the third grade, my family moved to a condo in Iowa City, where I attended Grant Wood E lemen tary and traveled the city by bus with my mother every weekend.

ABOVE: Over the years I’ve attended many schools, and as a result did not have many lasting friendships. I did, however, have one best friend who lived in my neighborhood, and he stayed with me for two years—just us, playing every day, as if removed from the world; and we were happy.

ABOVE: I am an only child. As a result, I was frequently left alone while my parents socialized, dreaming about people, stories and the curious bugs on the wall. Here I learned to be happy appreciating silence.

PHOTO ESSAY BY MICHAELA RECKERwss intern

LEFT: Lauren Larson ’13 holds a handful of seashells found underwater in the ocean’s sand bar at Orange Beach.

The soft, white sand rises inbetween each of your toes. The sun’s heat rays beat down on your bare back as your face feels a cool breeze. You hear the ocean’s waves crashing against the shore and childrens’ laughter as they splash through the water. Your eyes wander across the beach balls and towels and you watch a seagull take off in flight. The smell of hamburgers being grilled take a liking to your nose and you can nearly taste the salt from the ocean on your tongue and lips. paradise? No, Orange Beach.

RIGHT: A tall psalm tree stands out of the Pheonix X, shading the tourists’ walkway.

LEFT: A seagull takes off in flight away from the crowd of children chas-ing him on the shore of Orange Beach.

ABOVE: A parasailer begins to ascend into the sky as Gulf Shores Wa-terworks pulls across Orange Beach one evening.

BELOW: Light begins to slowly shine over the water as the sun rises on the east coast of the beach.

Beach Talk

Right: Another day comes to a end as the sun sets over the pavil-lion. The pavillion is located on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean and was just a short walk-ing distance from one of the hotels we stayed at. “It is a nice place to watch the sunset.” My mom Barb stated.

On March 11, 2011 we began our trip driving on the highway heading to South Carolina. We had a great time in the car telling jokes and stories.We stopped at two hotels while on our way there. We did many activites while in South Carolina, we ate southern food,went to the beach, saw marshes, and car ferries. We stayed at one hotel We also went over huge bridges while on our way home from South Carolina

Above: The suspention bridge connects Charelston and Mt. Pleasent South Car-olina. The bridge lies over the Atlantic Ocean. It was built to cut down travel time between the two cities. I had never seen a bridge that big before.

This picture was taken looking at all the flowers down the fenceline. The garden is located be-hind the Biltmore Estate and is home to over 200 kinds of flowers. The best time to go is when all the flowers are blooming.

Road Trip to South CarolinaPHOTO ESSAY BY NATHAN PETERSON

Left: Biltmore Estate is the largest tour-ist attraction in South Carolina. It is also America’s largest house. There is specula-tion that the house could be haunted.Above: A large baseball bat leans against the Lousiville Slugger Museum and is located in Lousiville, Kentucky. The mu-seum has been home to bats since the early 1990’s. “It has was cool to see the bat mak-ing process,” said my brother Will.

Behind Closed Doors The Forgotten Alleys of Iowa City

PUBLIC PROPERTY: A dumpster sits forsaken at the backdoor of an Iowa City apartment, containing what appears to be several weeks of refuse in it. The waste generated by the rollicking St. Patrick’s day crowd is truly remarkable. So many people drink the day away and never think twice about whose doorstep their waste ends up on.

Vandalism, graffiti, unfettered decay. These things are not only found in the heart of a bustling metropolis, they are also lurking in the seldom seen alleys of our own small city.

The tidy, well cared for appearance of Iowa City jars violently after but a few small steps off the beaten path. The secret and seldom traveled alleys behind all the downtown storefronts are a sea of refuse and vandalism.

Many shop owners have noticed customers with skewed perceptions of downtown from scenes such as this.

These hidden walls see little care from Iowa City government, and if they did, it would likely do little to stop determined vandals. But perhaps this side of our city is as important as any other, and the bare bricks and cracked concrete are as much a part of the city-scape as the pedestrians and restaurants. Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, however, it looks like these small pieces of urban decay are going to remain a part of our town for years to come.

ABOVE: The artist who will hop a barbed-wire fence atop a roof is very dedicated to his or her craft. The irony of the placement of the word “Freed” is remarkable; at times such as this, it seems a shame that the dedication and ingenuity of graffiti artists like this one are forced by the law to express themselves only in the forgotten alleys of our city.

BELOW: Beneath the staircase to a bust-windowed apartment, this statement is found amidst the decay. Perhaps it is directed to the dead squirrel beneath my feet, or maybe to the drunken couplings that are sure to happen here after a night of college debauchery. Whoever the intended audience is, this small sentiment certainly catches the eye of anyone daring enough to find it.

BY OLIVE CARROLLHACH WSS Intern

RIGHT: In the Alley behind the Englert, there are many things to see and do. Parking is not among them. This sign seems oddly placed, as few people or cars venture through this hidden part of Iowa City perhaps due to it’s inner-city feel of filth, grime and neglect.LEFT: The glow emenating from within this loft window off of Debuque street casts an eerie red light on the bricks below. Two men (unpictured) stand oppo-site this scene in work clothes, cigarettes dangling limply from their fingers. Both smile bash-fully when sighted, and drop their hands behind their backs, embarrassed to be found.

PHOTO ESSAY BY QUENTIN MISIAGwss intern

(ABOVE)TRASHED AND RUINED: Vacant, unutilized lots are all too common throughout Clinton. This one, on the once bustling 5th Ave. South is now only home to empty liquor bottles, grafitti, over-grown weeds and trash. (BELOW) PLAGUED BY POVERTY: This boarded up, detereoating home in the South Clinton district is just one example of the hard times that have hit Clinton in recent years. Within blocks of the sprawling Archer Daniel Midland Corn Processs-ing Plant, this area was once home to well-kept, subtle homes. Now, it is if it is purely a ghost town.

Many say that beauty can be measured in many ways big and small and is not skin deep alone. No finer example is the historic Mississippi River town than Clinton, Iowa. It’s latest claim to fame may be the opening of Flava Flav’s Chicken Shack, but Clinton is far and above greater than that. It was once a jewel on the river with unrivaled beauty and power. In recent decades however, the city has suffered tremendously from a lack amenities and jobs. It has been outshined by neighboring cities like a fall from grace. However, Clinton’s crumbling downtown is still filled with towering brick buildings with ornate detail and hidden charm. Capturing the city’s past with photography and through abandoned downtown buildings brought forward hidden life. Some can call it old, decrepit blight. Others will see it merely as opportunity for better things to come and reminiscing of past life.

Aband oned but Not Forgotten

BOARDED UP BYGONEs: Fading apartment buildings with shattered windows, rusting pipes and crumbling facades are now considered the new “norm” in downtown Clinton.

SEEING THROUGH THE LINES: Once a bustling center for education, the former Lyons High School near downtown is now merely an afterthought. Inside the building is being eaten away with vermon, dust and mold and it’s decline is seemingly endless.

(BELOW) SECRET SEGREGATION The River City Brewing Company building still stands today, slowly detererating, in the historically “All Black” area of South 4th Street. Despite mainstream racial acceptance, this area is still predominently made up of African Americans with little integration.

EVERYWHERE ARTwss intern

HAT’S OFF above: Irving B. We-ber raises a hat off to Downtown Iowa City. Located on Iowa Ave., this statue was made by Steve Mason and Doris Stark. Taking pictures while holding Irving’s hand is a favorite of many Iowans. A WISE MAN left: Imprinted on the sidewalk, a man stands solemly with wise words run-ning down his body. The paved piece of art is one of the many in Gregg LeFerve’s collection called Literary Walk. LeFene’s collec-tion can be seen on Iowa Ave. The words read,“We’re all of us sentenced to solitary confinement inside our own skin’s for life!”.

If you’re looking for local art, look no further than Iowa City downtown. Every direction you look there is something great to see. Directed by the Iowa City Publis Art Program, local sculptors and artists are featured on sidewalks, walls, and at the Pedestrian Mall. This program helps make Iowa City more attractive to writers, artists, and students.

YOUR KICKER SHOULD BE BOLD AND ALL CAPS: This is the font you need to use for your cutlines. Tw Cen MT 8 pt. Be sure to justify (with last line aligned left) your text.

ANOTHER WORLD Left: A man walks causally with a cup of cof-fee in hand. Behind him is the mu-ral titled Untitled by Anne Ullerich, found on the corner of Dubuque St. and Iowa Ave. The mural gives the illustion that it is a passage into another world, one that can’t be defined by just one name. THE THINGS THEY DO below: Frozen in time, a father bends down to help his son in tieing his shoe. This statue, The Ties that Bind by June DeDecker, was placed by the local library’s playground. It represents the beauty we can find in all the simple things that parents do for their kids.

PHOTO ESSAY BY SHIRLEY WANG

BALANCE right: The sun shines brightly through the green glass of the statue. Balance, by Christoph Spath, is seen among a collection of statues in the downtown pe-destrian mall. This is only one of the stat-ues Spath created for the ped. mall area.

PHOTO ESSAY BY TYLER VOSSwss intern

ABOVE: This sculpture stands by the park in front of the Iowa City Public Library while young children run around enjoying the warmth of the day. This sculp-ture , sculpted by Jane DeDeck-er, is called The Ties That Bind.

LEFT: This head sits in the stairwell of the Iowa City Public Library as college students study and search the grounds for their favorite book. The cast bronze sculpture is The Head of Phillip. It was a gift from Webster and Gloria Gelman.

ABOVE: Young couples sit on the benches around here as the warm breeze blows through the air. This sculptor is called Jazz. It was sculpted by Gary Alsum of the National Sculptors Guild in 2002.

LEFT: The wind blows the dried plants as the cars drive around behind me. College students wan-der the streets of downtown. Irving B. Weber stands proud in this sculpture. He lived from 1900-1997. He was a historian, humanitarian, and a gentleman, which was printed on his sculpture.

The littlest things can be beautifully captured in a photo. The sculptures around downtown Iowa City, Iowa, are often forgotten, about how beautiful they really are. These four sculptures were spread out around downtown waiting for people to notice them. When you look closely at these photos, you realize they each tell a story.

Sculptures Come Alive

A New ABOVE: Pausing her belly rub, Quin-cy sits up to look at the camera. She was the first animal to greet us. TO THE LEFT: Looking up from the window, an orange cat meets the camera’s flash. I nicknamed him “Shy Guy,” since he was out of his cage and I didn’t see the real name. Shy Guy has blue claws.

TO THE LEFT: Black domestic short-hair Lucy and gray and white domestic short-hair breed Barry are woken from their nap. Both kittens are free of injuries/bruises and seem content, but still need individual love. ABOVE: Excited, Babs paws at the camera, trying to block the flash. Babs is a brown tabby female, who meowed many times and looked generally happy. Babs was one of the many cats who stuck their paws out of their cages in order to greet me.

Once at the Animal Care and Adoption Center—which was located at 4852 Sand Rd., Iowa City, unlike the one I’d been to before—my mom and I were greeted by Quincy, a sweet dog, and two smiling faces be-hind the counter. There was another lady who helped us out, giving the names and details of the animals and helping pose Quincy for the cam-era. To sign up for volunteering, you must fill out an application there; once done, the Animal Care Center will call you. For more informa-tion, call 319-356-5295, or visit the website www.icanimalcenter.org.

PHOTO ESSAY BY TZIONA PERRYwss intern

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