More Art In The Park

More Art In The Park 

Celebrating the Centennial of Hermann Park.

Wind Waves, made in 2009, is by Mexican artist, Yvonne Domenge (1946).

She was on hand to supervise its placement near the Museum of Natural Science.

From a distance, this Ferrari red orb looks as if it is floating in air.

Wind Waves is thirteen feet in diameter and weighs close to 6 tons.

Demenge draws on organic curvilinear forms for her sculptures.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

A big thank you to the Our World Hosts.

Art In The Park

Hermann Park is celebrating its centennial with Public Art.
I've already shared the twig maze.

Today I'm sharing the Spider.

A giant arachnid descended on the Jones Reflection pool where it appears to float on the water's surface. It is part of Hermann Park Conservancy's year-long Art In The Park series celebrating the historic green space's centennial.

Spider was created by the late internationally acclaimed artist Louise Bourgeois.

The newest addition to Hermann Park comes from an anonymous private collector in Houston who offered the loan specifically for 

Art In The Park.

The Spider weighs about 2,000 pounds.

Measurements: About 11 feet tall and 21 feet wide.

Even at those dimensions, the Spider exhibits a strength in metal work yet with a spindly, even intricate, appearance.*

Wishing You well and much joy!

A big thank you to the hosts of Our World.

*information for this post from various media releases for Art In The Park

My World: Hermann Park Centennial

Hermann Park is undergoing a transformation.

A giant maze constructed from saplings can be seen sprouting out of the ground

near the Japanese Garden. Constructed with over 1000 volunteer hours, it is the first of nine works of art that will grace Hermann Park as part of the park's centennial celebration.The maze was designed and created by artist, Patrick Dougherty.

Fun!  

I'd like to thank the wonderful hosts of My World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Good Morning!

 This is what Autumn looks like in Houston!

Japanese Garden, Hermann Park, Houston

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

~Lao Tzu

Nature Never Goes Out of Style

Last Friday I went to Hermann Park.
It was a cool morning and I got there early so that I could find a good parking place.
I also had the Japanese Garden to myself along with the birds and the squirrels.
An early celebration of Earth Day.

The garden is so lush this time of year.

So different from my last visit.

See the new little pine tree?

Lots of work going on because of the drought.

So quiet.

Hard to believe that the Texas Medical Center is just a hop over the fence.

I missed the azaleas blooming, but the iris were lovely.

A real pop of color.

The crape myrtles will be next.

Peaceful

I took over 200 images on Friday.

The ones you see here are straight out of the camera.

You'll be seeing more.

Zoo photos to come!

Would you believe I'm listening to Christmas music?

I'm trying to make my way through all of the CD collection and this one just happened to be on top.

Instrumental of *old* music.

It's a keeper.

Thank you to Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Healing After Loss

Reflections: Japanese Garden, Hermann Park

"Grief turns out to be a place none of us know until we reach it."

~Joan Didion: THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING

My World: Circle of Animals

Back to Hermann Park and Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals.

You might remember from last week that Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads
is Ai Weiwei's re-creation on an oversized scale of the traditional zodiac sculptures
that once adorned the fabled fountain at Yuanming Yuan outside Beijing.


Designed by two European Jesuits in the 18th century the original animal heads surrounding the fountain-clock of Yuanming Yuan spouted water every two hours. In 1860, French and British troops raided Yuanming Yuan, and the heads were looted. To date only seven of the legendary 12 heads have been recovered; the location of the remaining five is still unknown.

The Circle of Animals overlooks McGovern Lake in Hermann Park.

Each head, without the pedestal, measures at least 4 feet in length.

The Horse

The Goat, The Monkey, The Pig and The Dog

The Rooster

You might remember Ai Weiwei, Chinese artist, architect and social activist,

 from the 2008 Olympics in China.

He designed the famous Bird's Nest. 

Because he is a critic of censorship and human rights violations, he has been in prison, tortured and is currently on a heavily restricted travel visa.

That made siting this exhibition difficult.

Google maps helped save the day!

The exhibition will move on to Princeton University 

and then to the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C.

Thank you to the Our World hosts.

Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled week. 

(P.S. I'm having back problems. Not nice since I had back surgery in 2003. Sitting at the computer is difficult. I'll see you when I can.)

My World: A Public Sculpture Exhibition

East meets the West with the first major public exhibition of sculpture by the internationally renowned Chinese Contemporary artist Ai Weiwei titled Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads. It is presently on view outdoors overlooking McGovern Lake in Hermann Park.

Comprised of 12 monumental bronze animal heads, each weighing 800 pounds and standing roughly 10 feet high, Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads is Ai Weiwei's re-creation on an oversized scale of the traditional zodiac sculptures that once adorned the fabled fountain at Yuanming Yuan outside Beijing. Erected in the 18th century, the original animal heads surrounding the fountain spouted water at two-hour intervals until 1860, when French and British troops raided the palace and looted the heads. To date only seven of the legendary 12 heads have been recovered around the world; the location of the remaining five is still unknown.

I really like the location overlooking McGovern Lake in Hermann Park.

The Rat ... the first of the Zodiac Animals.

The Ox, Tiger, Rabbit and Snake.

The Dragon.

Six this week and six more next week!

Thank you to the Our World hosts.

Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled week!

The Great White

The Great Egret (Ardea alba), 

also known as Great White Egret, 

Common Egret, or Great White Heron.

 Photographed in the Japanese Garden, Hermann Park, Houston.

I'm joining Misty for Camera Critters.

Wishing you WELL, JOY and a CRITTER filled weekend!

Yes, They Do Whistle!

One of the joys of walking in Hermann Park is watching the ducks,

especially my favorites, the Black Bellied Whistling Ducks.

They are so un-ducklike!

They have long legs.

And, they whistle.

Really.

They are so much fun to listen to ... especially when they are eating.

They make me smile and it's hard to beat a smile!

This fella took off just as I clicked.

I'm joining Misty for Camera Critters

And Mary for Mosaic Monday.

Wishing YOU WELL and JOY!

Mosaic Monday: Japanese Garden

The hostess for Mosaic Monday is the lovely Mary at the Little Red House. Be sure to visit to see the other mosaics.

I'm also linking to My World Tuesday where you can travel around the world without leaving home!

Here are some more photos from the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.

Designed by world-renowned Japanese landscape architect Ken Nakajima, the garden was built to symbolize the friendship between Japan and the United States, and to recognize Houston’s thriving Japanese community.

It was a beautiful day in this island of serenity just steps from the Texas Medical Center.

You could hear the water gently falling and the leaves in the trees -- talking to us in the gentle breeze.

Joy to You!

Camera Critters

Each Saturday Misty hosts Camera Critters. Be sure you visit! It's a wonderful place for critter lovers.

Back to the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.

We rounded a corner to view the Tea House and found this little guy.

We kept looking and found his friend.

By the time we walked all the way around the lake near the Tea House we had found seven Black-crowned Night Herons ... all little statues ... standing very still, quiet, beautiful.

Last week there was an article in our little neighborhood newspaper about Black-crowned Night Herons and Yellow-crowned Night Herons nesting in a neighborhood near Hermann Park where the Japanese Garden is located. I think Mr. Dragon and I will go heron hunting this weekend!

More critters in the Japanese Garden next week!

Camera Critters

Camera Critters is hosted every Saturday by the lovely Misty. Be sure you visit!

Last week Mr. Dragon and I decided to visit the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.

It was a beautiful afternoon. Little humidity.

On the way to the Japanese Garden we saw a few feathered critters.

A couple of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with friend.

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

I have a story for you about the Whistlers. Last year Mom Whistler made her nest in the sculpture garden at the Museum of Fine Arts -- several very long blocks from this lake. When her eggs hatched, several birders at the museum kept an eye on the youngsters and one day were able to capture them and take them to the lake at Hermann Park. They figured Mom could and would fly over, but the youngsters would never make it across the streets to water. I'd like to think that the Whistlers we saw are those same babes all grown up.

Inside the gates of the Japanese Garden we found this little guy.

He has a white tail ... cotton tail perhaps.

This little bunny was smaller than the first. A little family.

More critters in the Japanese Garden next week!

Happy Critter Day!

Mosaic Monday/My World

Today you are getting a two for one (or is that a one for two)?!!!

Mosaic Monday's hostess is the lovely Mary at The Little Red House. Be sure to visit.

It's also time for My World where you can travel around the world without leaving home.

The weather finally cooperated last week and on Friday we went to Hermann Park. It wasn't raining, it wasn't too cold, but the sun wasn't shining. Too bad! French artist Bernar Venet transformed Hermann Park from a green space into an outdoor gallery with the exhibit "The Monumental Sculpture of Bernar Venet" and we wanted to see them.

As you can tell, the sculptures are enormous. Some tower 30 feet and weigh 12 tons. Venet's sculptures have been called "monumental linear improvisations." The beams are bent into arcs and curves. Venet allows each beam's unique reaction to extreme heat and pressure to play a role in the final form. The works are simple, inviting, playful. We watched several small children walk up to them in awe, look around as if to see if anyone was watching, and walk/climb through. One of the sculptures had a sign to please not touch -- as if everyone could resist! We called our favorite "the blooming onion"!

The exhibition, sponsored by the Texan French Alliance for the Arts (TFAA), opened in January and will remain on display for nine months.

I had to throw in some of the *regulars* found in Hermann Park: the train, Mr. Hermann himself, and the wonderful, well fed, top-knot duck!

Happy Monday!

My World

Visit My World to see more of our world or to participate yourself!

Last week we walked around the Museum District in Houston a little more and this week I thought we'd return to Hermann Park and walk a little there.
Hermann Park is nestled between the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, and
the Museum District.

This is the reflection pool. It is 740 feet long and 80 feet wide.
We are looking toward the Pioneer Monument (obelisk 50 feet tall) and
the Miller Outdoor Theatre.

There is a jogging trail that winds it's way through the park --
about 2 miles long.
You can sit along the way and relax under the old live oak trees.

How about some Tai Chi?

If you are tired of walking, you can always take the train!

Or sit and share your lunch with a friend.

(Click to enlarge photos.)

Click here to view all the participants of My World Tuesday.

Thanks for visiting.

Joy to You!

My World

Go visit the My World site to see more of our world or to participate yourself!

The museum district in Houston is on the northern edge of Hermann Park.
This is the original building of the Museum of Fine, Arts.
It opened in 1924.

This was the original entrance.
This entrance is no longer used.
If we could go in this door, we would enter the new Arts of India Gallery.

As you walk around the building to the *new* front door
you see this lovely surprise.

Looks like a horse made of driftwood.
It is actually bronze.
The artist (Butterfield) is a horse lover.

Keep walking and you'll reach the entrance to the Law Building.
(The backside of the original building that has had many additions over the years.)
The photo was taken from across the street, outside of the sculpture garden.
This is the part of the museum designed by Mies VanderRohe.

The sculptures outside the building were from the Red Hot exhibition
that featured modern art from China.

We like reflections!

The dinosaur was also part of the Red Hot exhibition.
It's cage is the same size as one of the containers you see on container ships.

Enjoy your day and I hope you visit My World for a trip around the world.