thegreatsurvey

[thegreatsurvey]

One drink a day from the birdman's bottle has proven to have caused some questionable side-effects.

[thegreatsurvey]

Collapse: Ruins of the Great Northern Citadel. It was just over two weeks ago when the lights of the Great Northern Citadel went out, a distant thunder swept the plains, and the water level of the Wall Dam Reservoir of Voreios mysteriously dropped by half in less than thirty minutes. While first expected to be a sensor error due to the vastness of the amount of water that would have had to escape (and no report of said flood that would have resulted), the true horror of the situation was unveiled when inspectors found a 400' wide gap in the wall. While the dam break was sudden and catastrophic, the collapse of the citadel, after some simple surveys, was revealed to have happened in multiple stages: The top of the tower fell when the initial tsunami burst forth from the gaping wound in the dam while two later collapses resulted from a second and third wave reflected off the valley walls. The unfortunate reason for the lack of reports or calls for help was the simple fact that everything up to the foothills was completely wiped out within minutes and the water itself poured into the Great Northern Break which surrounds the southern portion of the plains like a horseshoe. Though evidence is sparse, foul play is suspected due to the size of the break in the dam, its location high up in the wall and its sudden nature.

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Hillside.

Hillside came in stages but was never planned to be the behemoth that occupies almost the entirety of the west face as it does today. Originally a small clinic, research center and hostel of sorts, it was meant to serve as a rest area for those rugged enough to survey and explore the slopes in the years leading up to the tower system expansion. While state-of-the-art, the original building was small and kept to the essentials providing beds, food, a direct link to the network, research facilities and some emergency services. The port was added quickly as the terrain and wildlife provided ample opportunities for injury and illness and visitors regularly required evacuation for care, not to mention bringing simplicity and convenience to delivering supplies and transporting employees after their shift had expired, replacing an arduous week-long traverse of canyons, hills and valleys. The hangar originally housed a fleet of ambulances, rescue vehicles, and transports but quickly began allowing private ships as the region opened to politics and, eventually, tourism. As more visitors came Hillside expanded. First the hospital and research labs, then luxury accommodations and entertainment brought an influx of investment and private business opportunities. Convention centers, performance halls, atriums, gathering spaces, and living quarters followed, essentially becoming a city unto itself, nestled in the treetops of the west face.

12x12" Acrylic and pen on panel.

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The Outcrop.

Story in progress...

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The Dam was now the edge of the world for inhabitants of The Vathys Valley. Once an opening to a lush marshland that stretched from the foothills to the edge of the delta, the dam rose in the west pass seemingly overnight. Not one Valley Dweller could recall a single hammer being swung or shovelful heaved, but the dam stood nonetheless, allowing just enough water to trickle through for the Valley Dwellers needs. Apart of being an impenetrable barrier, it simply didn't impede much on everyday life... The first day after the dam appeared was near chaos, but with each passing hour it seemed less and less like whoever built the dam was even concerned with their existence, let alone interested in oppressing them. It wasn't necessarily comforting, but it seemed more like a human happened to set a rock near an anthill rather than purposefully covering it with poison. While a wary pall has been cast by its shadow, the people of the Vathys Valley have generally kept life moving as normal. An expedition to the top of the dam will be sent out eventually, but without further disruption community leaders are somewhat reluctant toward anything that might antagonize the builders. Check out the making of this drawing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFUpkCjBIXw

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The Pyramid Barge.

It's rare to find someone who's been on The Pyramid Barge but even rarer to find someone who hasn't seen it. Launched about two decades ago from unknown origins, The Pyramid Barge quickly became an icon of the Central Waterway, making trips through the busiest thoroughfares and holding its own against raging currents and the wakes of lumbering behemoths transporting ore and goods up and down the river's many ports. Some days the barge would pass by silently without signs of a single soul on board; Some days raucous music would fill the air as its paddles slapped through the chop and smoke billowed from its stacks. Occassionally you'll even see a person or a small group on deck enjoying the weather, fishing, or lounging. There's enough room on the barge for a small community, yet you'd be lucky to find anyone who plausibly claimed to have set foot in one of its many mysterious rooms. If a vessel approaches alongside, they are ignored. If anyone attempts to board, the barge has shown surprising maneuverability. One group successfully hoisted its members onto the main deck under the cover of darkness which almost immediately resulted in all lights onboard going out and each member of the invading crew promptly expelled over its sides by unknown means. Legend says that one sailor, moments from death, was plucked from the rapids after his steamship capsized and nursed back to health only to be dropped at his doorstep a month later with little to no recollection of his time aboard the barge. He tells of warmth, hospitality, and an unending menu of delectable food options, but when asked for details or elaboration, even when it comes to the structure of the barge, he simply states "it was a fine ship. One meant for the man who built her." and would constantly hazard against any attempted boarding.

[thegreatsurvey]

The Last Ground Tower.

The last ground tower and column barn stood in the foothills just a mile or so from the beginning of the West Pass, meant to be the highest viewpoint outside of the mountains themselves. For 75 years it stood as a lookout for the Grand Mountain Guard in expectation of eventual military action from the plains, but in practicality, with the abolishment of the Organized Plainsman just a decade after its construction, it largely operated as a lighthouse of sorts, guiding the way for travelers returning from the mountains and providing shelter from the rough mountain conditions. When The Great Foothill Fall occurred, the majority of ground structures in the region were destroyed with the tower barely escaping major damage. Despite this, increased tectonic instability drove The Guard deeper into the mountains, requiring higher and higher lookouts, leaving the ground tower essentially obsolete and unused. Over the years it has become a popular stop for those adventurous enough to brave the foothills, with a few shops and even a bar established in its lower floors. Lodging can be found throughout the complex, though officially any inhabitants or businesses are in violation of the "Foothill Abandonment Act" and the structural safety of the tower and column barn are unknown at this time. Check out the timelapse at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dfno7jvy3s&t=15s

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Lake Minnetonka.

30x40"

Acrylic, marker and pencil on canvas

SOLD

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Hank.

20x24"

Acrylic on canvas

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Col. Cricket, Father Mara, In Thee We Pray.

11x14"

Charcoal on painted panel.

[thegreatsurvey]

The Gang Saves Philly from Fat MacZilla.

11x14"

Acrylic, pencil, ink and alcohol ink on panel.

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The Pullman 600.

12x48"

Acrylic on panel.

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W113 Front End.

18x36"

Acrylic on canvas.

[thegreatsurvey]

I'd lived on the plains my entire life but had never seen the base of the tower. Besides it basically standing as a monument to the ruling structuralists, the entire idea of a tower invalidated our existence as plain-tenders, thus negating any curiosity or good will amongst the plainards it otherwise might have attracted. Providing a one-stop shop for travellers and outsiders, the commercial potential for a tower was obvious and not under dispute. The problem was that it not only stole the vast majority of commerce from the plainsmen's communities but essentially acted as a de-facto extension of the ruling state, dissolving the autonomy that had brought the plains their unique history and makeup. There's no need to cultivate the sands when the tower can provide the sustenance needed, constantly resupplied through a never-ending parade of vehicles and caravans. There's no need for a herdsman's knowledge when food is provided, slaughter-free, from one of a thousand restaurant options. There's no need for time-tested cultural tradition when the tower can import the latest and greatest technology and entertainment at a moment's notice. It's not necessarily that a tower and the Plainards couldn't co-exist, its that the structuralists don't want to and see no reason for an "old-fashioned" way of life. When a tower (or a hundred) can provide everything a population needs while also offering absolute control and oversight of the wild lands to the ruling class, there's no wonder why the tower system continues to grow or why the plainsman's reign in the region will soon come to an end. Today we travelled the last few miles to the Rift and, for the first time, glimpsed the base of the monumental structure. Our request for entry will soon be accepted and for the first and possibly last time, the Plainards will step off of solid ground.

[thegreatsurvey]

The Official Black Forest Bosch Fuel Injection Pump Shop sign.

24x24"

Acrylic on metal sign.

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Porsche Viola.

16x20"

Acrylic on canvas.

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Underwater.

Starring Kristen Stewart and Vincent Cassel. Directed by William Eubank.