Lion's Gate Bridge: Statue and River (Part 1)

"What comes to mind when you look at this statue," Dr. Redick asked the class, as I gazed up at the monumental structure. We sat on the grass at the Lion's Gate Bridge near the Mariner's Museum to examine this architecture:

(Note: same statue)

I don't know, I thought.

Initially, I didn't know how to interpret the statue, but after perusing it and listening to the class discuss it, my understanding was clear. The man attempting to tame the wild horse represents humans exerting control over their lives and animals (some animals need discipline, like us). The statue was an object, in my view, I experienced for two reasons: 1) A fence encircling it prevented human touch, and 2) I felt no connection with it for it didn't intrigue me enough to contemplate on it (only when we discussed about it in class).


"Why do you think a wild horse is preferable than a tame one?" Dr. Redick posed.
"Because a wild horse requires more energy, commitment, and stamina to tame it, allowing one to grow mentally," a student answered.


The wild horse, I conclude, requires patience, perseverance, and persistence (qualities that can be developed in time) to control its behavior, whereas a tame one is already docile, with little energy required. This statue symbolizes human superiority of wildness.



As the plaque suggests, we are to "conquer the wild"-overcome life difficulties in reaching our short and long term goals. I see the horse as representing hardships with the jockey standing for the average citizen.

After studying the horse statue, we moved toward the river to listen to the waves.  "...it is largely through the marvel of seeing that Dillard sustains the via positiva project of making nature sacred," observes John Gatta in Making Nature Sacred.  The waves were still and serene as the sun radiated its light onto the river.  Overlooking the river allowed me to use my hearing and sight to "consume" the river as the waves rolled.  Coupled with the waves, the wind provided a pleasant blanket to soothe my anxieties about school.
Though I was walking with the class on the Nolan Trail, I didn't feel like I was encountering nature, but experiencing it, partly because I was more focused on listening to Dr. Redick tell us about the trees and other life forms we met.  This feeling of disconnect, despite being on the trail, matches what Martin Buber states, “Those who experience do not participate in the world.  For the experience is ‘in them’ and not between them and the world.  The world does not participate in experience.  It allows itself to be experienced, but it is not concerned, for it contributes nothing, and nothing happens to it.” (56) Despite this, I did, at least, get to go outside and enjoy the warm weather that day.