William Sutherland's photos

Mamaroneck and Larchmont, NY This work created from a montage of garbage and litter (Mamaroneck, NY) and Scrabble® pieces that read “Free Expression” is dedicated to best-selling author Salman Rushdie who was brutally attacked on 12 August 2022 in New York as he was about to lead a discussion as all decent people wish for and pray for his rapid recovery. He must NOT die under these circumstances! Mr. Rushdie was brazenly attacked in an evil attempt to silence his voice and suffocate the concept of “free expression,” the latter an infallible and inalienable human right. The smiling face is used to reinforce the fact that “free expression” is fundamental to human existence and essential for joy. This outrageous and barbaric attack only serves to besmirch Islam and the good Prophet Muhammad, a strong believer in forgiveness. Coincidentally, it also desecrated the Muslim sabbath when millions of pious Muslims were praying and attending services all around the world. :( The 1989 fatwa calling for Mr. Rushdie’s murder is antithetical to Islam. It is the product of an apostate who lies in a sarcophagus in Tehran and whose name is not worth mentioning so as not to give him undeserved recognition or respect. Let the following Qu’ranic verses and admonition testify to true Islam and the tragic path the fatwa's issuer followed: “…and let them pardon and overlook.” [The Light: 24:22] “Do not follow the footsteps of Satan.” [The Light: 24:21] As for the few (when all Muslims are considered worldwide) who rejoiced out of depravity, it would be wise if they familiarize themselves with the Hadith (a traditional saying traced back to the Prophet Muhammad as guidance) that declares: "Do not rejoice over the misfortune of your brother, lest Allah have mercy upon him and afflict you with trials." [Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2506]

Mamaroneck, NY God created… all from the same organic dust… [1] All souls are alike... None is superior or inferior. [2] [T]he seeds of the kingdom are planted in both female and male… [I]n the kingdom there is no difference… [3] All [are] sisters and brothers… reaching out to a common… destiny… [4] And He gave you… the diversity of your tongues and colors. What should it matter that one bowl is dark and the other pale, if each is of good design and serves its purpose well... [5] Heaven covers all without partiality; earth sustains and embraces without partiality; the sun and the moon shine upon all without partiality. [6] _____________ [1] Bahai’ism. [2] Jainism: Mahavira Vardhamana (599-527 BCE): Thus Spake Lord Mahavir: Excerpts from the Sacred Books of Jainism. Jainism Literature Center. 21 July 2013. [3] The “Luminous” Religion (practiced in China from c. 635-1399 CE before being stamped out by oppression and persecution in mid-to-late 14th century CE). [4] Cao Daoism: Emiel Van Den Boomen. Mesmerizing Vietnam – Fusion in religion. 3 July 2011. www.actoftraveling.com/2011/07/mesmerizing-about-vietnam-fusion-in-religion and Basic Catechism of Caodaism. 8 March 2012. en.nhipcautamgiao.net/news/136-basic-catechism-of-caodaism-1.html [5] North American Indian: Polingaysi Qoyawayma, Hopi. [6] Confucianism. Note: human was created from garbage and litter consisting primarily of discarded plastic from an air conditioner, broken yellow plastic pieces, red and white plastic bolts, a discarded piece of wood, copper piece, broken light bulb and piece of a discarded cardboard box. The colors and shades of black, brown, red, white, and yellow represent the races that comprise the diverse fabric of humanity. Each color is indispensable and integral without which there would be an unbridgeable loss of beauty. The pixellation represents the fragility of life and the smile face represents joy when all peoples of every ethnic background, gender and religion of the one human race live in peace and harmony.

Mamaroneck, NY "The old has passed away; behold the new has come!" [2 Corinthians 5:17]

Eco Collage was created from various garbage and litter consisting of broken glass, a plastic spacer ring, and a piece of a light bulb. The green colors were added to represent a vibrant, lush “Eden-like” earth when people and ecosystems live in harmony. It is disheartening that as the planet burns with scorching heat, massive wild fires and unquenchable drought, humanity remains oblivious to the existential threat that approaches. This collage also consists of various shapes and forms to represent how every nation and its peoples seamlessly fit together and thus must work together to address climate change through consistent policy and fiscal investments regardless of so-called socio-economic status – developed or third world – especially since both the former and latter share the same planet. While the development of the hydrogen economy is likely a decade or more away, there are solutions for today – nuclear energy with mini reactors (in the 21st century in the United States, 21 people have died in nuclear accidents, predominantly from falls and electrocution [1] versus the 892 from coal mining accidents [2] and the more than 1500 figure for oil and gas extraction [3] ; so regarding safety you be the judge!), the expansion of wind, solar and geothermal energy usage, the planting of trees, preservation of rainforests, the reintroduction of indigenous flora, the banning of pesticides that continue to exterminate crucial pollinators (bees and butterflies) and the shuttering of coal-fired plants that are not retrofitted to use the necessary filters for “clean coal.” At the same time hard deadlines no later than 2040 must be established for the end of fossil fuel use to promote the necessary investment and research and development for 100% clean energy use. Bottom line: If the world continues to dither, then the prophesy of the 1500 CE triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights by Dutch master painter Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450-1516) will come true and we will be left with a scorched, charred planet. :( smarthistory.org/garden-bosch If people come together and work together, then we will continue to have a green planet with ecosystems that thrive and humanity will be spared. :) [1] Zakaria Hsain, Alissa Johnson, Erin K. Reagan. Nuclear Energy Meets Climate Change. Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. 5 October 2021. kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/nuclear-energy-meets-climate-change [2] The U.S. Department of Labor – arlweb.msha.gov/stats/centurystats/coalstats.asp and Statistica – www.statista.com/statistics/541314/mining-fatalities-in-the-united-states [3] Fareed Zakaria. In tackling climate change, don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good. The Washington Post. 21 July 2022. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/21/practical-steps-fighting-climate-change-heat-wave-nuclear-gas-coal

New Rochelle, NY This mural was painted by Spanish Urban Artist Lula Goce (b. 1976 in Galicia, Spain) to celebrate the "special connection that exists between New Rochelle, NY and the Long Island Sound." It was inaugurated on 2 November 2019 as part of #NRNYMURALS. It was curated and produced by Street Art for Mankind. streetartmankind.org/artists/lula-goce

Mamaroneck, NY

Governor Mario M Cuomo / "New" Tappan Zee Bridge , Tarrytown, NY Construction: Began in 2013. Cost: $3.9 Billion Opened: 2017 Note: I photographed a section of the construction scene to depict the various linear patterns created by the bridge's cables and numerous scaffolding and cranes as well as the fencing.

New York, NY Note: Iconic sculpture created by Robert Indiana (1928-2018). Located on the corner of 55th Street and 6th Avenue. First displayed in New York City in 1970.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Note: Created from two photos taken in downtown Toronto.

Central Park, New York, NY

New York, NY

Rockefeller Center, New York, NY [A] ll gold is but a little sand in her sight… [S] he is a breath of the power of God… unpolluted… loving… steadfast… all-powerful… a reflection of eternal light… [S] he renews all things... is more beautiful than the sun… and… against [her] evil does not prevail. [Wisdom 7:9, 22, 25-27, 29-30] For the LORD gives wisdom ; from [H] is mouth come knowledge … [Proverbs 2:6] How much better to get wisdom than gold! [Proverbs 16:16] So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom … [Psalm 90:12] Do not be conformed… be transformed… that… you may discern what is… good and acceptable and perfect. [Psalm 90:12] Note: The bottom right image was mirrored to be consistent with the top image and layout reasons.

Rye, NY A negative image created from two photos taken and super imposed on each other to resemble indescribable desolation and ineffable "ice age-like" cold. The hole in the ice represents the eternal emptiness that results from loss, the footprints the indelible mark each life leaves during our existence on this Earth and the prominent naked tree represents lifelessness as the anguished and inconsolable world represented by the bent and broken reeds, is left to grieve. The tiny orbs of luminescence by the naked trees in the top left corner represent distant, departed souls that live in eternity while the reflection of the tree trunk on the thin ice represents lasting memories. May Marie-claire Gallet rest in peace and enjoy eternal life as she encounters a new spring of renewal in heaven. Your presence will be missed forever. www.ipernity.com/home/1724986

Rockefeller Center, New York, NY Created by Lee Lawrie. Installed 1937.

New York, NY View from Rockefeller Center Observatory

St. Patricks Cathedral, New York, NY And on the first of the week, about the third hour of the night, the sun was seen such as it had never at any time shone, and all the heaven was lighted up. [A] n innumerable multitude of angels cr [ied] out… saying: “Glory in the highest to God, and on earth peace, among [people] of goodwill…” [A] t their voice all the mountains and hills were shaken, and the rocks were burst asunder… [a] nd there were seen… [the] dead raised up… And all the multitude walked about, and sang praises… saying: “The Lord our God that has risen from the dead has brought to life all the dead…” [The Report of Pontius Pilate (c. 33-40 CE)] “When he was buried, they set guards upon him – yet while my soldiers watched him, he rose again on the third day… The soldiers… did not remain silent about what had happened. They testified that they saw him arisen.” [Paul Winter. A Letter from Pontius Pilate. Novum Testamentum. Vol. 7. Fasc. 1. (March 1964). 38.] “He appeared to them… restored to life.” [Flavius Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. Book 18, Chapter 3,3. (c. 71 CE)]

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Mamaroneck, NY