Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life. Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
I usually run with a theme. A couple of weeks ago someone asked whether my city has a lot of public art or whether I sought it out. The answer is both. While I much prefer more natural surroundings I am grateful that my city has a lot of public art. I don't like all of it, I don't understand all of it, but I am grateful that it is there. I think it reduces the impersonal air that so many cities have, and adds colour and life.
As I so often say, come walk with me. Other than the early photos (which were taken on my way in) all of these were taken within a couple of blocks close to my volunteer work. I didn't photograph all the art in those few blocks either.
River Fairchild - I have long been enamored by your city and all of its endeavors. So much art displayed, and so many different types. Thank you for continuing to take us along in your walks. Hugs to you and wishing you a quiet week ahead.
ReplyDeleteRiver Fairchild: Himself is away this coming week so I will have a quiet one. Which I am looking forward to. I like my city, but it is widely classified as boring - though there is more than enough excitement for me.
DeletePor lo que he visto en otras publicaciones anteriores, tu ciudad está bien surtida de arte y mobiliario urbano de diseño, y eso nunca está demás porque es señal de que los responsables municipales se preocupan de embellecer a la misma.
ReplyDeleteOtra cosa es, que no guste o no lo que vemos, pero como dice un refrán español: "para gustos, los colores".
Un abrazo amiga, y de los que has puesto hoy, la mayoría me parecen muy bonitos y decorativos.
Manuel: Thank you. There are regular complaints about the money spent on art in my city - but I consider it money well spent. As I said, I don't like all the individual pieces but I love that it is there.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteI do love seeing all the varied art and sculpture in your city. I agree that it adds colour and life. (Our city is sadly lacking in that!) Thank you for sharing it with us.
I hope you have a happy and peaceful week
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: Thank you. A lot of them are fun aren't they? I will have a peaceful week and hope yours is the same.
DeleteWhat beautiful and interesting pieces to admire and think about. I loved seeing all the art pieces and was amazed at all the different styles. Thanks for sharing. Happy and peaceful week to you too! :) ~Jess
ReplyDeleteDMS~Jess: Thank you. There is a lot to admire in the city - without going into a shop. Which I didn't.
DeleteI think my favourite is that family one, I am always moved by such sculptures, there are ones in Dublin and Cork that always move me to tears being an emigrant. Separation speaks to me.
ReplyDeleteYou captured such interesting work here, EC.
XO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: I love that his family has his back. And the same is true of service women too. Which is more than can always be said of the government of the day.
DeleteSuch beautiful and expressive art. I also love the family hugging each other, and the magnificent wings on that bird. Thank you, dear friend, for another walk in your neighborhood. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: Thank you. There is so much art in the city that it is difficult to know what to look at next - which is a wonderful problem.
DeleteHi EC - lovely photos ... you do have amazing art works appearing in the city centre - understandable, I guess, as it's your capital. I love the look of the dingo sculpture - I'm sure the artist must be held in the records ... while Little Big Man is a delight to see. Also your skies ... ours too recently - cheers and have a good week - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: I have records myself of the woman who created the dingo sculpture but couldn't find them before I put up this post. I will track it down later. I do like that in the renovations the dingoes now wander through the seating areas...
DeleteSo much to see and enjoy...and so much you share with us, EC...thank you.
ReplyDeleteI hope Odie and Batty are doing well. All the best to you for the coming week...take good care. :)
Anonymous: Batty is still wheezing a bit, but seems to be happy. He is jumping and playing a bit more too - which is wonderful. Odie is good too.
DeleteYou take care too.
Me forgetting to check the "Anonymous" bit once again. It only seems to be happening with your blog, EC. why this is so, I have no idea. Sorry. :)
DeleteLee: It happens to me on lots of blogs, including my own sometimes.
Deleteso many beautiful murals in the street walk. Love the stroll photography
ReplyDeleteroentare: Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed the meander.
DeleteLots of great colors. I like the sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to go near the swooping birds on a regular basis I might carry a tennis racket with me.
Mike: In Spring male magpies do swoop people they think are too close to their nest. People have been significantly hurt. Cyclist often wear helmets with spikes on them, and pedestrians carry sticks.
DeleteI like the dingos; You've shown them before. I think
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: I like them too - and you are right, I have shown them before, but not for a while.
DeleteSuch great photos of your lovely city, EC! I like the dingoes very much, and the family sculpture - a very meaningful piece. Thank you for showing all of them to us.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that Batty is doing well. I hope you are also feeling fit - enjoy your peaceful week...
Alexia: I am grateful (so very grateful) to the art that abounds in my city. I have just been having a nap - and was joined by Batty. Who is a bed hog.
DeleteThanks for sharing your city art with us. It always bring a smile on my face. I like that Little Big Man and the monument by Matthew Harding. The emotional pain of family separation of service personal is a reality that some of us are not always aware of. It is thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteOh those swooping magpies would make me carry an umbrella and a helmet. I bet they would poke holes in the umbrella. In some areas in Canada, we have Canada Geese who becomes very aggressive during nesting time and can break a person leg or arm if someone get too close to their nests so they are not to be messed with.
Napping with a sleepy cat sounds heavenly.
Enjoy the new week.
Hugs
Julia
Julia: Lots of people do wear helmets in 'magpie' season. Fortunately it only lasts a little while and there are no swooping magpies at that intersection at the moment. Matthew Harding's sculpture is definitely thought provoking and I really like the perspective it adds.
DeleteNapping with Batty would be easier if he didn't insist on lying across my throat.
That is funny and it made me break out in laughter. I can picture Batty laying across your throat. I'd like to see that in real life. lol...
DeleteJulia: It is very far from comfortable - for me anyway. Batty on the other hand is often purring loudly when he settles down on my throat.
DeleteI like almost all of the artwork. Every one has a unique quality about it that makes it interesting. I don't see this kind of art where I live. You are lucky!
ReplyDeleteColoring Outside the Lines: We are indeed lucky and I am so grateful for our public art.
DeleteSo much wonderful art! and those pretty flower boxes too. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have to go quite a distance to find art around here.
River: I really like the flower boxes that pop up all over the city. They are cared for too - which is lovely.
DeleteThe dingoes are looking hungry, hold on to your sandwiches folks!
ReplyDeleteRiver: They do look hungry and I suspect dingoes often are.
DeleteCertainly a varied selection you have EC, enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteThe dingoes, well we have Tasmanian Tigers in our mall low like your dingoes and they are going to move them because people are inclined to trip over them apparently!
Margaret D: I wonder whether the people who trip over your Tasmanian Tigers are glued to their phone? Fortunately I have heard no complaints about our dingoes.
DeleteBeware of the swooping bird! Nice pictures. It must be a nice city to have such things.
ReplyDeleteBill: I like my city, though many do not.
DeleteThese views serve to remind us of some of the reasons Canberra is recognized as one of the world's most beautiful cities, and from personal recollection I would concur with that assessment. Knowing your work with the most distressed in life, it reminds me that mental health is a worldwide issue, yet only in the United States do people slay each other with guns, routinely and with mind-numbing regularity, and mental health issues are touted as the reason for it all. What nonsense! Thoughts and prayers don't make much difference either!
ReplyDeleteDavid M Gascoigne: I am so glad that after our gun massacre at Port Author gun ownership was severely restricted. There is, of course, some violence in our city but we do not have shooting after shooting. And yes, I think my city is lovely - and very close to nature. I often see kangaroos very close to home.
DeleteAll of that was to reinforce that Canberra is also a very safe city.
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Mostly it is a safe city. For which I am grateful.
DeleteAwesome! I love your city art and wish Honolulu could do the same thing. My fave is the bronze Little Big Man.
ReplyDeletegigi-hawaii: It is wonderful to see so much art in the city isn't it?
DeleteThank you for the art tour. What amazing diversity! I chuckled at the 'swooping bird' warning sign, too; although a vengeful beak swooping in at high speed would be no joke. Is that a magpie on the sign?
ReplyDeleteDiane Henders: It is indeed a magpie. I have to cross at that spot quite often and am glad to say I was never swooped. They clatter their beaks and complain loudly as they come down and it is distinctly unnerving - and dangerous.
DeleteWhat a wonderful city. It feels so peaceful - is that a strange word for a city. And thanks for the owl oncce again.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): It is a peaceful city - even in its heart. Which I think is lovely.
DeleteBEAUTY EC. WRITTEN BY ART FROM.
ReplyDeletebob: We can never have too much beauty can we?
DeleteYou are right, it does make the city look more personable. I like that it's not all of one type, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the quick tour of a small part of your world.
My selections are over here.
messymimi: Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed your Sunday Selections (as I always do): The variety of the art work is a big plus for me too.
DeleteI wish art was as important here as it is in Australia. I don’t always understand it either, but I love the focus and challenge it provides for the citizens.
ReplyDeleteMarie Smith: I love it too - and think a lot of it is beautiful.
DeleteCertainly a lot to see ...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing the different pieces of art and sculpture.
My favourite is 'The Little Big Man'.
Wishing you a good week ahead.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. That is a few of you that like Little Big Man best. Over the coming weeks I will try and capture some of the other pieces in the city.
DeleteVery nice, some of them. I like the dingos probably the best, maybe because I know what they are. And the swooping bird sign. We go get those aggressive nest minders here. I don't know if we have public art in this town where I live or not. I've never seen any but I don't frequent the tiny downtown area, where it might be if there is some.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: I don't blame the magpies for protecting their young - but hate to be on the receiving end when they are swooping. I am very fond of the dingoes and love that they are there.
DeleteSuch wonderful art. Little Big Man is a curious piece. I like him!
ReplyDeleteThe dingo installation would be cool to come across.
Bea: Almost everywhere you look in the city there is art to be seen. Which I think is brilliant.
DeleteYour city is so rich in public art! All of them are brilliant but loved the dingoes and the big little man especially. Longitude reminded me of an Iraqi sculptor's art displayed in Bahrain Museum grounds, it's called the Pearl Diver and one part depicts the diver of the previous centuries when they would leave for the season and the other is the family left behind on shore, waiting for him to come back, not knowing if he would make it back. The same poignancy. Separation is always difficult, more so for service personnel - my FIL was in the navy so that sculpture resonates. Thank you for posting it.
ReplyDeleteNilanjana Bose: Those left behind often ache don't they? And carry on. The not knowing, which is less common now, must have made things so much harder.
DeleteOh how I wish we had more public art here. The schools have done some murals downtown, but the majority of our art is historical monuments. It comes with being 400 years old I guess, which, for this country is pretty darn old.
ReplyDeleteJuli: We have some statues of dignitaries (almost all of them men) but they are mostly in the parliamentary triangle rather than the city. 400 years old in our country is very old, but there are wall paintings (a few) by some of our indigenous artists that are older. I haven't seen them and wish I could.
DeleteIt's fascinating to look at all that artwork and imagine the process each artist went through to create it... I've been on a thoughtful little journey about each of your photographs
ReplyDeleteKim: It is. I am so grateful (as I say often) that we have a lot of public art.
DeleteYour city does a great job with public art. Thanks for sharing what you can of it and I wish you a great week.
ReplyDeletee: In the coming weeks I might show some other pieces too. I hope that you and Lukas have a happy and healthy week.
DeleteLove all the sculptures and street art,
ReplyDeleteHena Taybeb: Thank you. I love that it is there.
DeleteThe dingoes are my favourite but the family is probably more important in terms of commentary.
ReplyDeleteIs the pretty planter box part of Floriade? No, it's surely too early for that
kylie: There are planter boxes all over town, all year round. Which delight me. There will be a few more for Floriade (and you are right it is too early for them) but these will remain.
DeleteI really enjoyed seeing that collection of public artwork, though the "swooping bird" sign really caught my eye too.
ReplyDeleteJohn "By Stargoose And Hanglands": If you were here in the right (or wrong) season the swooping bird would assuredly make its presence felt, though hopefully leave your eye alone.
DeleteThey don't swoop here - they just prop at the back door and beg.
ReplyDeleteJ Cosmo Newbery: That is because your magpies know you. Our locals don't swoop me either. I am not sure I would be safe from the ones in the city.
DeleteI'm quite a fan of public art. I find the sculpture of mother and kids very moving!
ReplyDeleteDUTA: I am a big fan of public art and love that there is so much of it here.
DeleteWe have a lot of murals going up on public buildings right now. They look like they are painted but they are so realistic. I love to come across sculptures when I'm out and about walking. Traffic is taking over our area making walks less pleasant these days (the city took a ban off of building a couple of years back and people have gone crazy, tearing down every block of trees to be found to put up apartment complexes and houses), but I still sometimes go. My little city that I loved has me longing to move though... to some place far less busy.
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: I am sorry to hear about your building boom. I suspect I would be itching to move too. There is quite a lot of building here too - but fortunately the art remains.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteRajani Rehani: Thank you. I will visit your blog in a bit.
DeleteOutstanding examples of how an urban area can make a visit downtown more pleasant! Thank you, EC, for sharing these works of art.
ReplyDeleteThe day is a good beginning to a new week for us. Gini and I hope you are well.
Wally Jones: In my eyes the city needs incentives to make visits more pleasant. Art is a good start. Enjoy your week in nature. As I am sure you will.
DeleteI like all the art your city has. We have some here in vegas but I don't get out much to see it.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: I understand that getting out is difficult for you. I am glad that when I go into the city (which I do as little as possible) I have art to brighten my trip.
DeleteIn my eyes art gives a place so much more personality and also tells that people care about this place. I find the art you show us here very interesting - I love the dingoes. Matthew Harding seems to be a very versatile artist, I wouldn't have guessed that "Longitude" and "Ebb and Flow" were created by the same artist.
ReplyDeleteCarola Bartz: I agree with you. On all counts. I was also surprised that the same artist was responsible for Longitude and Ebb and Flow - and prefer the first.
DeleteYour city is amazing and I love your week wishes.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Sandra Cox: The art makes the city look a LOT better doesn't it? Hugs to you too.
DeleteIt would be amazing to walk around and see all these sights. Thank you so much for sharing them and I wish you the same color, beauty and life, sweet sentiment :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: There are so many artworks in the city - and it does delight me to see them. Thank you.
DeleteLots of color and lots of beauty. I loved some of these like Longitude and Little Big Man. Ebb and Flow reminded me of bullets Sorry. I have a vivid imagination. I also like the flower boxes. Just lovely.
ReplyDeleteHow are YOU? Are YOU doing OK? And of course, how are Batty and Odie? Inquiring minds want to know and hopefully all is well.
Bleubeard and Elizabeth: Thank you. My family always told me I had too much imagination so you are not alone. I didn't see bullets in Ebb and Flow though.
DeleteI am ok(ish). Odie is good. Sadly Batty is still struggling a bit. Yet another vet trip early next week I fear.
I love the photos. I hope you are having a good week. All the best to Odie and Batty, My Morticia has suddenly wanted to be very close to me. She stretches out on the top of my PC chair and stays there while I work. Luckily I can swivel the chair and get up and down and it does not disturb her. She even falls asleep there and when I turn to look at her she bats my head. LOL
ReplyDeleteRasmaSandra: I am home alone at the moment and both Batty and Odie want to be close to me - and neither share well.
DeleteHave a great week.
Amazing!! I love these. Our city has been adding more art in the downtown area and I love it!
ReplyDeleteJemi Fraser: Art is a wonderful addition to a city centre isn't it?
DeleteWow what a nice city with very colorful art and sculptures. Life must be colorful and nice there.
ReplyDeletebread&salt: Thank you. I like my city - though many do not.
DeleteThank you for taking me along on your most interesting walk. Always a pleasure, but today even more so. Such cool things to observe. And just today, I came across the instagram account of Dean Bowen, creator of the Big Little Man. Small world. And.....I aint askeered of no swooping birds!!.. xo
ReplyDeleteJ C: What an amazing co-incidence. Sometimes the internet shrinks the world to a miniscule size - while broadening my horizons. I am not scared of our swooping magpies - but certainly wary. People have been hurt by their protective ways.
Delete