Monday's Blog; Gold Rush 2017

This presidential regime has made a statement. There is a golden glow everywhere. A curious fashion statement has been decreed by a rush executive order quickly signed (as soon after his inauguration as possible.) The fashion world will adopt the true color of 2017. Gold. Indeed the GOLD RUSH of 2017 is raging on. The color choice is decidedly not a surprise. We have seen gold leaf, gold nuggets, gold lame, gold dust, gold furniture, gold decor, gold domes, gold paint, gold spray, gold gold gold everywhere. Indeed in Trump tower, Mar Largo, Trump Hotels and everywhere that Mr Trump has laid his goldfinger hands--there is gold.

Now, The White House is going gold. The oval office is rid of the Crimson red drapes of the Obama years hanging behind the presidential desk, for the sake of gold. New bright golden drapes are now in place, most likely ordered for quick completion on the night of Nov 8th after the polls turned. The Trump mark has been made. Often, the white house decor changes quickly upon the residency of the new arrivals but done with forethought, style and pizzazz. Think of the changes made by Jacqueline Kennedy, Pat Nixon, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Laura Bush, Michele Obama and so many other first ladies.

I am sure there are more changes to come or in progress at this moment. But the oval office, where so many world leaders, world celebrities meet with the president. where so many treaties, executive orders, letters of condolence, letters of congratulations are issued, where so many photographs are made recording history in progress. I m not against the color gold. But wonder at the wisdom of the choice of gold.

Being a long time photographer, my eyes were blasted with the golden glow reflected by these gold hanging draperies. The faces are washed in a gold glowing cast, the effect becomes more sculptural than depicting living and breathing subjects. The room is awash in a golden glow as well, the presidential desktop radiating a strange cast and the edges of the desk a frame of golden glow. The resulting images look more painted than real. I empathize with the White House photographers shooting in these reflected tones and colors. But so be it, the gold rush will run on and on. Hopefully, the global gold mines of infamous fame will not cause further torture and hardships for the overworked, underpaid gold miners unearthing the golden nuggets.

(an aside--being of the gray-haired club, I have self declared that I cannot wear gold. beige or brown toned clothing, jewelry and such but choose clothing in tones of white, black, gray, red, orange, jade, turquoise, blue or purple so as not to clash with the yellows and golds that are off my color wheel. we all have our own personal color wheels to live by if we so choose).

For more info on changes to the white house see
Vhttp://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/white-house-trump-oval-office-makeover-44940453