Goodbye, USA

Being an outsider here in Savannah for three years, now it's time for me to leave. With all the bitter and sweet memories, I am gonna start my new life back in Taiwan. To those who helped or taught me, I appreciate it; to those who adored or loved me, I am sorry. I always feel that I don't belong to this place, although I already started to miss it and feel nostalgia about it. The city, the people, the River, the Spanish moss, the squares, the buildings... every scene or every event, whether taken by me or not, will be carefully collected and protected in a place of my mind. I don't know how to describe my feelings about the living and learning experience here in this country, but it definitely changed me. I am now a sponge fully loaded with the water of knowledge and will able to share it with the people of my origin. I am now a cup of well-brewed coffee ready to tease anyone with my taste. I am now a freshly baked bread ready to feed any hungry stomach. All of this, I owe it to the atmosphere that the country has provided and nurtured me. If anyone asks me where to go for study, I would say anywhere if it fits you. Because a person whoever comes will have a totally different learning experience even in the same department of the school. To me, I consider SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, a good art school to attend. Despite its commercial approach, one can still find a lot of fine art direction to follow. I admit that there ain't much resources to utilize, but it's always good to find out what the place can offer you. I've been learning a lot of the facts and legends of this historic city and have been attempting to transfer these to my source of creation. It finally became the topic of my thesis. I researched how and why this tourist city are visually presented to its visitors, and I call them the “Visible Signs,” as they are used to represent the city, like the Statue of Liberty to New York City. By photographing the city all the time, I am able to take along a full baggage of digital images, the visible signs of the place. Thus, I can browse through this image collection and recall all the memories of it. I will add more articles about these signs afterwards. Right now, let me get ready to soar, and as usual, say goodbye to this charming city and the huge and diverse country.

Farewell, my lady Savannah.

委身為外地人三年，我終於要離開這個國家，回到我所屬的台灣展開新生活了。雖然總是感覺格格不入，但我仍感謝那些曾經幫助或教導過我的人，對於那些珍視或愛惜我的人，我感覺別離的惆悵和抱歉。諷刺的是，對於這個生活了三年的地方的一切，我竟已經感覺鄉愁。這個有許多軼聞的歷史古城，我從中汲取許多，轉化成為我學業的結論。如果你問我沙凡納藝術設計學院值不值得來念，我會說看你的需求，畢竟每個人的學習經驗與過程都不一樣。這裡的確沒有太多藝術資源，但是校外有許多歷史，有許多傳說，都有可能轉化為創作的源頭。這個喬治亞州第一座城市，有太多墾拓與戰爭的痕跡與軼聞，也有許多獨步全美的特色，應用在視覺傳達上，我叫它城市的視覺符號，用圖像代表某個地方，就像是自由女神之於紐約市一樣。由於這是我一直以來的興趣與攝影主題之一，這些特色，日後我會一一介紹（其實上一篇的沙凡納水岸已經開始了）。現在，且讓我好整以暇，整理好我的翅翼，如候鳥，回歸我的家鄉。

再見，如淑女般自持且優雅的沙凡納，我將於夢裡尋妳。

*I am leaving on 8/20. | 我將於8/20搭機返台，我們台灣見。

*Photo taken December 2003 on Liberty Island, NYC.

Savannah Riverfront | 沙凡納水岸

The Riverfront corridor is now the most popular tourist spot in the city. Originally composed of factor’s wharves and warehouses to serve the port, it is now filled with curious souvenir and antique shops, pubs, restaurants and cozy historic inns. No matter day or night, the Riverfront is always crowded with visitors, venders, artists and local residents. It represents leisure and vitality.

水岸走廊是目前沙凡納城最受歡迎的觀光景點。在十九世紀初，這裡原來是進出口商埠碼頭與倉庫，轉運當時盛極一時的棉花、米、煙草和航海用品等等，如今轉身一變，成為古意盎然的紀念品店、古董店、酒吧、各式餐廳和旅館。無論日夜，沙凡納水岸都擠滿了觀光客、小販、當地居民和街頭藝人，在這裡享受悠閒的時光。它代表的，就是沙凡納市休閒和活力的一面。












Savannah Riverfront viewed from Hutchinson Island | 從對岸看沙凡納水岸風情












Marine cargo is the major business activity of the port located behind the Talmadge Bridge | 海運是Talmadge斜張橋後方現代商港的主要活動












The city Hall Stands on the bluff overlooking the Savannah River | 右方圓頂建築即是市政府，是當初建城的起點，立於高於水面十幾公尺的懸崖之上

























Weekend hustle-n-bustle on River Street, cars passing old trolley rails. | 週末，曾是電車軌道的River Street上也擠滿了車輛。



















































Scenes from the First Saturday Crafts and Arts Festival, which happens once every month. | 每個月第一個週六，河邊都會舉辦藝品節，有點像附近藝術家的大趕集，甚是有趣。販售的大多是這些藝術家們原創的作品，有許多也已經申請專利，蠻適合週末渡假的人們來悠閒地逛逛。