Asphalt art

If you live in the north like I do, then this should be a very familiar sight to you: cracked asphalt. Basically, when moisture enters a pavement crack, it slowly works its way down to erode the base. Add to that the freeze/thaw cycle of our tough winters, and you get fissures in the asphalt, typically on large surfaces such as parking lots in strip malls. These cracks then need to be sealed with a hot rubberized crack sealant which is a flexible material that extends the life of the surface, for maybe another year or so. Now, let’s go back to the title of my post: asphalt art.

I took these photos in a parking lot while picking up some breakfast on my way to Boston for a day trip. I was amazed by the painterly quality of these seemingly random strips of asphalt sealant. We know natural cracks can be very fascinating, probably due to the the mechanics of surface tension and material composition. But I sense quite a conscious effort here, some involuntary artistic sensibility from whomever applied the sealant to these random series of cracks.

Just take a look and see if you agree with me. The one on the left is my favorite. Notice the lighter “brush strokes” that support the stronger lines? So deliberate. And doesn’t the one on the right remind you of an abstract figure?

I know you’re thinking I’m nuts, but hey, if you’ve read this far…