Hobbiton, a place of fantasy and dreams, a place where home is carefree, simple, where one belongs. In Tolkien’s world, his fantasy was a rich garden scene of everyday people doing everyday things. Too, his fantasy world talks of elves, kings, wizards and a small hobbit with the responsibility of carrying great power, the ring.

The movie set of Hobbiton is actually a rebuild of the set from The Lord of the Ring trilogy. The first sets were constructed for their impermanence and to fulfill contract obligations with the landowner. When the decision was made to film the Hobbit, a new contract was drafted with the intent of keeping the movie set in tact and provide opportunities for the public to visit. With the upcoming release of the second film, people from all around the world are visiting this quaint little vale. Collectively and individually we remember parts of the book or movies that remains on the landscape.

Using similarities from Tolkien’s tales, a creative or artful life is also an adventure. We dream of pleasant summer days and a simple life, yet other forces lead us to places where often our heart is scared to go. With or with out a ring and companions lead by a king, we navigate our own demons, make friends and comrades with elves, dwarfs and royalty. One of the scenes in the Hobbit movie has the small group questioning Bilbo about why he is on this quest. He has a home and people who love him. What does the worries of other’s strife concern him. His response echo’s what all of us feel, “everyone deserves a home”.

All of us are on an adventure. Whether our feet see many foreign soils or the garden in our back yards, we sometimes need to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. And sometimes these adventures are difficult and seem more than our hearts can manage. So we dream of a simple vale where the grass is green, clothes flap in the wind while hanging on a clothesline, ducks swimming in the pond, and there is sign to the local watering hole, the Green Dragon.

The photo gallery follows.

Sunyata