A Visit to Manitoga
Regal and inspiring were my initial reactions when I entered Manitoga, the paradise created by Russell Wright, one of the most influential industrial designers of the 20th century. The elegant structural landscape he meticulously planned and planted is a living painting where a visitor can "step into" to complete the whole picture. Upon arriving back home, I wrote the following two poems, "The Gem in the Quarry"and "Where I Stood" both inspired by the visit and photos. Russell Wright's Home and Studio built on top of the quarry The beautiful view looking out from kitchen. The Gem in the Quarry by Joan Bellofatto Reid Manitoga, a great spirit oversees days, seasons, years. Here it stays teeming with life, light, longevity. Fauna, foliage, ferns, burst at the edges of trails. Beds of moss green, soft and lush kiss the grounds. Rambling, rough pebbles, rocks, and boulders together transform a once abando