Sunday Selections, brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, is an ongoing theme where participants post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
Anyone can join in, just post your photos under the Sunday Selections title, link back to Kim, then add your name to her Linky list at Frogpondsrock.
As usual I am running with a theme. The Chief Minister before our current one was obsessed with public art. New installations were commissioned left, right and centre and have popped up all over town. From time to time there is a lot of mostly negative noise about it ...'waste of money, rah, rah, rah...'.
I don't like all of it by any means, but I love it being there. I went into town last week for my usual Lifeline shift and took the camera with me. And now I have enough street art for several weeks - from just one part of town. Some of these have been here for a long time, and others are more recent installations.
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| Three Australian poets and a taste of their work. |
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| While not a commissioned art work the colours of this tree brightened my day. |
Have I whetted your appetites?
Public art certainly can be wonderful or dire can't it? I really like the dogs and cushion.
ReplyDeleteWe are spoiled in Melbourne with spectacular public art - I'm thinking of Bruce Armstrong, Callum Morton and Deborah Halpern in particular, but there are many others.
librarygirl: You are right about the wonderful or dire bit, but I really like turning a corner and finding something unexpected in the landscape. I haven't been to Melbourne in years. I may have to consider another trip.
DeleteDo - we could have lunch!
DeleteHow nice of you. I think it will be August or so (after the smaller portion's next operation). Something to look forward to.
DeleteI shall have to put those on the list if and when I get down your way. Brisbane has it's own art but not as much as down South it appears!
ReplyDeleteThe first one has me intrigued though! :D
carmen: There are a whole heap more of them. As I said, some I like a whole lot more than others, but they all add life.
DeleteSo interesting! Here our public art runs mostly to carvings made from old trees that have to be taken down. The roots and about 15 feet are left to be carved and the subject is chosen based on historical figures, sports teams, cultural topics, etc.
ReplyDeletejenny_o: Your public art sounds truly amazing. Recycling at its best.
DeleteWhy do I like those poet statues so much? One deeply hopes one gets the same treatment some day, and that said treatment is never met with recycling.
ReplyDeleteJohn Wiswell: Something to aspire to.
DeleteAn interesting group - I like the dogs (or are they perhaps dingoes?). And the tree!
ReplyDeleteI agree about the Melbourne street art; I saw some great pieces there.
Alexia: I suspect that the dogs are dingoes, but I also like them. And that tree was a blaze of glory.
DeleteI obviously do need to take that trip to Melbourne.
Bonza photos, i especially like the three australian poets which reminded of the three wise monkey's which i really don't know why. The running/stalking dogs and mother natures colourful tree ya just can't beat her :-).
ReplyDeleteWindsmoke: The poets are a relatively recent addition. They just popped up one week. I like the dogs/dingoes and that tree quite a bit myself.
DeleteI do like public art! Great shots.
ReplyDeleteladyfi: Thank you.
DeleteI love street art! Just the other day, in Nerja, Andalucia, I saw a bronze dog, cocking his leg against a wall.
ReplyDeletedinahmow: Modelling from life no doubt. And yes, street art which provokes a smile is always welcome.
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ReplyDeleteI love public art, although I have seen some that is questionable. Is that a silver cushion? We have coloured cushions in our Mall for Kids to play on, when jumped on they play childrens voices talking and laughing. The dogs and people are my favourites.
ReplyDeleteJude
Jude: Welcome. It is a silver cushion. Unlike yours it is completely inanimate - and not welcoming. The dogs/dingos and the poets seem to have the vote this week.
DeleteThe poets are rather staid with their angular plinths but the animals running down the street, especially the dingoes.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate this post, where are they to be found??
Arija: They are in Canberra - all of them within a block and a half from Garema Square in Civic. I have a weakness for the sheep as well, but the movement captured in the dingoes is sublime.
DeleteOne of the things I love most about visiting Melbourne is the abundance of Art. everywhere you look there is something arty. thank you for taking these photos
ReplyDeleteKim: You are the third person to tell me that Melbourne's public art is wonderful. My resolution to go back is getting stronger by the minute.
DeleteWill have to check them out when I next visit the ACT. I hope to get back there some time in the next year or two. Thanks so much for sharing. xxx
ReplyDeleteKakka: They (and others) are worth a look. Let me know when you are coming this way. xxx.
DeleteAs much as I like the sculptures (especially the dogs), nothing beats the beauty of nature.
ReplyDeleteStarting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: That tree (and a couple of others I photographed) was blazing with colour. Even a grey day couldn't diminish that colour.
DeleteThe art work is nice enough, but those red trees are stunning!
ReplyDeleteRiver: As far as I concerned the trees are an art work.
DeleteSome splendid art work here. I would really like to have seen it in in situ. Thanks for showing it.
ReplyDeleteDave King: Thank you - more to come next week.
DeleteI love the ram sitting in the chair (I think that's what it is.) And I love the poet leaning dreamily on her hand. Thanks for sharing those photos - all wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLynn: I am sorry. Somehow I neglected to reply to your comment. The ram in the shearing chair is a favourite of mine.
DeleteYou have certainly wetted my appetite. Some beautiful art there and the colour of those trees is stunning. I tend to agree with SOACM: nature makes the most beautiful artwork of it all ;-)
ReplyDeleteCarolina: You will certainly get no arguments from me about the beauty of the trees - just glorious.
DeleteThose dogs look almost real and are even a bit scary in the pictures. And I keep forgetting that you are Down Under until I see things like those trees in full scarlet bloom! Your comments on my blog are always so positive and sweet, and I smile every time I see one. I hope you feel similarly about mine! :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: Thank you - I always love to see your comments. The dingoes are quite realistic and in half light could certainly look threatening.
DeleteI like the pack of dogs. Or are they dingos?
ReplyDeleteStrayer: Dingoes I think - but they are certainly a breed of dogs and breed quite successfully with other dogs.
DeleteThose are some interesting pieces...I especially like the dogs.
ReplyDeletemybabyjohn/Delores. I like them myself. It was the dogs/dingoes which reminded me that I should take my camera to town.
Deletethe mummy dogs are delicious! and like you, i don't always like public art, but i LOVE that it's there! makes me fee like i'm somewhere special...
ReplyDeletedaisyfae: I don't understand the people who complain (loud and long) about public art.
DeleteLike you, I don't like all the art pieces scattered about our town, but love that they're there (and really adore many of them!)
ReplyDeleteI must say, that silver cushion is intriguing. Pretty - and blingy -but it would have been nice if it had been practical, too! I love the poets, I think those are my favorites. The dingoes are fun too, though they look a bit like bronzed dingo mummies! LOL
I'm still trying to figure out the sheep who seems to be reclining in the chair. I swear I think I see some jockeys draped over the chair arm... wild night in the Outback, I presume? :-)
Laloofah: I have seen children perched on the cushion before but it wouldn't be a particularly comfortable seat.
DeleteThe ram is about to be shorn I think and the clothing draped about belongs to the shearer - a notoriously wild bunch of heavy drinkers.
EC- Beauty! All of it! There's no such thing as too much art, either man- or nature-made. Though I'm partial to the dingoes and sheep. :)
ReplyDeleteAustan: Thank you. I am with you. The more art the better.
DeleteThat is much better than the few awful sculptures we have here. I'm all for a bigger investment in public art - good art, mind you.
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: Some of the art that has been put up around the city has me scratching my head. Others I have loved immediately. Head scratchers or not, I am really glad that some risks were taken and it isn't all conventional statues.
DeleteThese are terrific. Took me a while to figure out what that first one was though.
ReplyDeleteKaren: Thank you - it is an unlikely spot for a giant silver cushion. It reminds me a little of the innards of cask wine, consumed while I was a student and never since.
DeleteThes-e are great. It is ages since I have been in that part of Canberra and marvellous to see these now. Always there has to be a sheep! Thankyou for sharing.
ReplyDeleteChristine: Of course there has to be a sheep or two. And the dogs, which I had assumed to be dingos, could also be farmers' working dogs.
DeleteFabulous shots, e.
ReplyDeleteI love the Australian Poets <3 Xxxx
My Inner Chick: Thank you.
DeleteHi EC! For some reason, I didn't know you had a blog. But now that I know (thanks to Delores at the Feathered Nest)... I shall be popping in. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the photos you took... you've got some interesting art in town. Those dogs could be a bit frightening on a dark, drunken night!
CarrieBoo: Welcome. The dingoes/dogs are not far from a bar, and I have no doubt that they have disturbed a person or two.
DeleteThese sculptures are so beautiful...yes the tree brightens any day
ReplyDeleteKim @ Stuff: I do love to see them, and I don't begrude the money spent of public art either.
DeleteThe crazy pillow was strange, but I loved the poets, the dogs, and the sheep in a chair!
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: The pillow is not one of my favourites either, but it is still most excellent that it is there.
DeleteI thin this street art makes cities so much prettier!
ReplyDeleteAnnmarie Pippa: I agree wholeheartedly.
DeleteI too enjoy artistic pieces spread through out a town. Especially if they are interesting and eye pleasing like yours, EC.
ReplyDeleteBe well and Happy
~:)
Pam: Thank you.
DeleteYes! These are all terrific public works of art. Can't say the same about where we're currently living.
ReplyDeleteKath: Sadly there was yet another letter to the paper yesterday complaining about 'wasted money on works of dubious artistic worth'. Sigh.
DeleteAh!Ha! The "Goon Bag" in Garema Place, Civic, Canberra City,
ReplyDeleteaka 'The Pillow'.
See - http://toktokplace.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/tuesday-and-i-learn-something-new.html
JohnD: Welcome. I really love your avatar. Eastern rosellas visit us here and are always welcome. I had seen the resemblance to the cask wine bladder, but hadn't thought of the 'meet you at the goon bag' usage. Naive of me.
DeleteThe dogs raced to the flaming red tree :>)
ReplyDeleteSorry I could help myself from expressing a bit of whimsy :)
Hope all is well with you and SP.
Pam: You are more than welcome to whimsy all you like over here. And yes, those dogs/dingoes do look purposeful.
DeleteNew York tries to incorporate more and more art into their environment (streets, parks, etc.) but somehow, the meaning of it seems to be lost with many of the work that I've seen. These are really great! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteDeb: Thank you. There are more to come.
DeleteDear EC, . . . yes! you certainly have whetted my appetite. Show us more and more. I clicked on the photo of the woman poet so as to read her poem, but unfortunately was unable to. What a wonderful way to celebrate writers. And dingoes, and sheep and plushy pillows.
ReplyDeleteI eagerly await more.
Peace.
Dee: Thank you. I noticed that the poems were unclear after I clicked on them. The poet is Judith Wright and the poem The Flame Tree. I am sure captain google has it.
DeleteWonderful post! I truly love public art, even graffiti, as long as its artful and imaginative. While the artwork may not always be my particular taste, I can fully appreciate the emotions, thought process and effort that went into each work.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of public art here in Portland, Oregon. I enjoy browsing around the city, marveling at all the fabulous creativity. I'm often inspired to get back to my studio and create something new. :)
Super Earthling: I agree with you. I love to see it, and it often makes me review the way I think about things. Part two of the public art in the city does include some graffit - because I thought it was quirky and beautiful.
DeleteWe don't have much public art here, but I take pictures like crazy when I travel to places with some. Love your pics!
ReplyDeleteCrack You Whip: Thank you. Oh yes, many, many photos. Quite early on a chilly morning.
Deletethese photos are great! If im let loose with a camera, i do the exact same as you, hahah :-)
ReplyDeleteCatherine, ex oh mwah!: Thank you. It is a big thing in digital camera's favour that we can take many, many photos - and then delete most of them.
DeleteMy thanks for stopping by for a glimpse of the wandering Ibis.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well and happy at your abode, EC.
~:)
Pam: Looking at your ibis was my pleasure. Thanks for your good wishes.
DeleteAh, the street art. A wondrous journey captured with your passion for art and photographic flare. I thank you.
ReplyDeleteI also thank you for your very kind comments on my blog. I am truly thankful. May you and your loved ones have a peaceful, positive weekend.
In kindness and respect, Gary
klahanie: Thank you so much.
DeleteI love the metal figures the most. I think because I can touch them,shine them, dress them and have mor one on one than the impressionistic works. Thanks for the tour. I know it's hard to explain spending money for art when there may be potholes in the street, but I still love that it's there to ponder. Can't wait to see more pondering.
ReplyDeletebarbfroman: More pondering coming your way tomorrow.
DeleteI missed these last week. What an interesting collection. The mummy dog pack especially... glad that they weren't zombie dogs. The sheep shearing was also fascinating. Love the plaid jacket at the heart of the matter...
ReplyDeleteCindi: I am glad that you liked them. You have me a little confused though - what plaid jacket?
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