Western American Rural Cathedrals: Barns, Silos and Cabins

By Marques Vickers

The mystique of the American West is illuminated by the architectural presence of historic barns, silos and cabins. This photographic survey captures the still standing structures in various states of wear, use and design. Many remain fully functioning and operational. Others have been abandoned to the inclement elements and/or remain in a state of collapse.

These structures are testaments of a slowly diminishing rural population whose lands are being steadily consolidated into larger operations. Technology and superior equipment innovations have enabled agriculture to remain lucrative on a large scale. The traditional family operated business model is becoming historic memories. Amidst these significant changes, the need for protective storage facilities remains.

Many of the more vintage structures appear marooned as islands on the plains, inaccessible by roadways constructed long after their creation. The isolation and expansive landscape of the American northwest provides an evocative comparison to contemporary confined urban and suburban environments. The continuity of these utilitarian structures remains timeless in spite of their gradual deterioration.

Less than 15% of the American populace currently resides in rural designated zones. Yet the persistence and resiliency of rural America remains an important component of contemporary society. The pragmatic constructions displayed in this edition are scattered throughout Northern Oregon, Washington, Northern Idaho and Montana. They represent a poetry and coexistence with the landscape.

The photographic work is intended to showcase a distinctively American western architecture that still commands a distinctive aesthetic. The poetic simplicity of each construction represents to the author a dignified metaphor personifying the human aging process, particularly as each structure blends harmoniously into the natural surroundings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marques Vickers
• Release date: Jul 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463824481

Marques Vickers

Visual Artist, Writer and Photographer Marques Vickers is a California native presently living in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle, Washington regions. He was born in 1957 and raised in Vallejo, California. He is a 1979 Business Administration graduate from Azusa Pacific University in the Los Angeles area. Following graduation, he became the Public Relations and ultimately Executive Director of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce between 1979-84. He subsequently became the Vice President of Sales for AsTRA Tours and Travel in Westwood between 1984-86. Following a one-year residence in Dijon, France where he studied at the University of Bourgogne, he began Marquis Enterprises in 1987. His company operations have included sports apparel exporting, travel and tour operations, wine brokering, publishing, rare book and collectibles reselling. He has established numerous e-commerce, barter exchange and art websites including MarquesV.com, ArtsInAmerica.com, InsiderSeriesBooks.com, DiscountVintages.com and WineScalper.com. Between 2005-2009, he relocated to the Languedoc region of southern France. He concentrated on his painting and sculptural work while restoring two 19th century stone village residences. His figurative painting, photography and sculptural works have been sold and exhibited internationally since 1986. He re-established his Pacific Coast residence in 2009 and has focused his creative productivity on writing and photography. His published works span a diverse variety of subjects including true crime, international travel, California wines, architecture, history, Southern France, Pacific Coast attractions, fiction, auctions, fine art marketing, poetry, fiction and photojournalism. He has two daughters, Charline and Caroline who presently reside in Europe.

Book preview

Western American Rural Barns, Silos and Cabins

Published by Marques Vickers at Smashwords

Copyright 2020 Marques Vickers

MARQUIS PUBLISHING

HERRON ISLAND, WASHINGTON

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

OREGON

Portland

Salem

Turner

Zenaa

WASHINGTON

Belfair

Chimacum

Home

Lakebay

Longbranch

Maple Valley

Mount Vernon

Olalla

Port Townsend

Ritzville

Sprague

Union

Vaughn

IDAHO

Black Bear

Burke

Gem

Mullan

MONTANA

Alberton

Avon

Belgrade

Butte

Clancy

Clearwater

Deer Lodge

Florence

Greenough

Helmville

Lincoln

Livingston

Lolo

Ovando

Potomac

Racetrack

Superior

Tarkio

Timberline Creek

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Preface

This edition is my second photographic journey into documenting the mystique of the American West illuminated in the architectural constructions of barns, silos and cabins. The intent is to capture the structures in various states of design, perspective and wear. Most buildings remain fully functioning and operational while others have become abandoned to the elements or remain in a state of collapse.

These structures are testaments of a slowly diminishing rural population whose lands are being steadily consolidated into larger operations. Technology and superior equipment innovations have enabled agriculture to remain lucrative on a large scale. The