Rust is ugly. Rust is destructive. Rust should be sanded away, smoothed over, painted over. And if it is persistent and reappears, it should be sanded, smoothed and painted over yet again.

Rust carves out its own paths and formations. Rust burrows under its painted face, eats away the cosmetic effect, putting its own face back to the surface.

To see rust solely in this way is to miss its potential for abstract beauty, and to ignore its awesome strength.

I hope those who see these pictures can see what I’ve seen, and appreciate both the beauty and the strength of rust, along with its capacity for frightening damage.