Faces of Industry

The vast and neglected rubber factory was nestled like a dark, hidden jewel amongst a relatively clean and modern neighborhood, although I'm sure most residents nearby would liken it to a rotting tooth. A prominent water tower jutted from the center of the facility, wanly brandishing the Continental logo at its crown. The day was warm, bright, and clear, yet the insides of the hulking warehouses emanated a cold and damp air despite the numerous broken windows. I was glad to have arrived during daylight hours, but disappointed as the sun plummeted downwards; with only about two hours and so many square feet, it was going to be a rush, but a very fun trip nonetheless.

The purpose of much of the equipment was quite mysterious to me, although there seemed to be many contraptions driven by hydraulics, liquids, and heat, so I imagine much of the facility was dedicated to chemical mixing or vulcanization. The insides of the plant were heavily bombed with graffiti tags, but a few pieces were thoughtfully created around the machinery and structure - many containing faces of animals, monsters and devils. I remember reading about how the eye naturally searches for human-like faces from an image, and found myself picturing masks from my own imagination covering these rusted surfaces.