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!

My World: Wear Red Day

National wear red day was Feb 3, 2012. The American Heart Association wants to uncover the truth about heart disease. More women die of heart disease than the next three causes of death combined including all forms of cancer. The Red Heart Dresses were photographed when I walked to my Village to have breakfast.

Thank you to the Our World hosts.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week.

My World: My Furbabies

"What greater gift than the love of a cat."

~Charles Dickens

"Tyger! Tyger! burning bright

In the forests of the night"

~William Blake

"I believe cats to be spirits come to earth.

A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without

coming through."

~Jules Verne

"When I play with my cat, who knows if she is not

amusing herself with me more than I with her."

~Michel De Montaigne

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries 

of life: music and cats."

~Albert Schweitzer

"The smallest feline is a masterpiece."

~Leonardo Da Vinci

***

I hope you enjoyed seeing the latest photos of Teddy and little Cassie.

Teddy is a natural at posing. He's easy to photograph.

Little Cassie is a perpetual motion machine and 

when she sees me with the camera, she walks away or walks directly to me.

Very rarely do I take a photo of her that isn't blurred! 

Teddy and Cassie are my furbabies.

My companions who share my tears, my smiles, my laughs, my world. 

And I share theirs. 

Today I'm linking to My World and my thanks to the My World team for hosting.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week!

While Walking To The Post Office

While walking to the post office I saw this

Lincoln Continental.

WOW!

I went home (letter not posted),

got my camera,

walked back,

and started taking pictures.

The letter did get posted.

COOL!

AWESOME!

Sort of a self-portrait in the reflection.

Keep those cameras handy!

I'm linking to MY WORLD and

MOSAIC MONDAY!

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week!

My World: Tut

King Tut and some of his friends are coming to visit in October!

 

Be sure to see what else is going on around the world here.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week.

Our World: Cicada

I went outside to turn on the water and waiting for me at the faucet

was this little guy.

Staring right at me.

He molted recently and his shell is in the  back on the right.

Look carefully.

Can you see his three extra eyes?

(Between the two large ones.)

Did you know there are over 2500 different species of cicada?

Only the males sing.

Believe it or not, even in our horrible heat, the guys have been singing

late in the evening.

Be sure to see what else is happening in the world and visit

My World.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week.

My World: Street Art

I was walking in my Village one Sunday morning and noticed,

painted on the control box for the traffic light,

this little guy.

Think his name is Coolidge?

To see more of the world be sure to visit Show Your World.

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!

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/Winter Solstice

Be sure to visit My World to see more of our world
or to participate yourself!


To celebrate the shortest day of the year and
moving into light,
here are a few doors decorated for the season
in my neighborhood.







I love the swing with the red pillows.

This wreath smells like cinnamon.

Love the red ribbons.

Snowmen -- one of my favorite holiday *things*!

A giant Candy Cane

Happy Yule!

My World

Be sure to visit My World to see more of our world or to participate yourself!

I thought I'd show you what was blooming in Musashi's Garden
(our backyard)
on Thanksgiving Day 2009.

The rose was in full bloom for our snow last Friday.

Isn't she beautiful?
She lives in our atrium.

The tangelo had 5 fruit to be picked on Thanksgiving Day.
We stood at the door and watched a squirrel take one off the tree
and take a bite out of it!
The little rascal.
We dashed out and picked the rest of the citrus.
We are kind to our squirrels,
but the little stinker took a bite and then threw it on the ground!
Delicious!

My World - Bright Future Opening

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

Last week we were invited to a reception and dinner
to celebrate the opening of
Your Bright Future:
12 Contemporary Artists from Korea.

We started with the exhibition viewing and cocktails.

Fallen Star by Do Ho Suh
(publicity photo from Artshound.com)

From one of the videos
(also a publicity photo at artshound.com)

Christine Starkman (curator) and one of the artists posing.

Dinner:
Chicken and Coconut Milk Soup with Galangal and Shiitake Mushrooms
Grilled Sea Bass with Tomato Confit and Sorel Butter Sauce
Thai Basil and Pea Shoots
Saffron Rice Patties
Warm Chocolate Cake with Coconut Sorbet and Pepper Tuille
Not to mention the different wine with each course.

We had a lovely time and thank Christine for the invitation.
Sometimes it pays to do research for art exhibitions!

My World - Happy Thanksgiving!

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

I thought I'd take you on a walk around our neighborhood
and look at the Thanksgiving and Autumn decorations.

And, finally, Home Sweet Home!

From Twisty Lane to you,
this brings a wish for happiness-
Joy and laughter, warmth and cheer -
and peace and plenty through the year!

My World

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

Last weekend was Homecoming at Rice University.

Lots of barbecue and fun for the kids.

It was soon time for the football game.
The Owls did really well last year.
Had a 10 - 3 season and played in a bowl game that they won.
This year hasn't been near as exciting.
This is the Marching Owl Band.
Better known as the MOB.

As you can see,
the MOB is a little different from most college bands.
No uniforms.
How many marching bands have string instruments
and musicians in long dresses.
I'd hoped we got a photo of the girl with the bubble machine
on her hat, but missed it.
The sound they provide the crowd with is sensational.

Most importantly,
The Owls won their Homecoming Game
defeating Tulane 28 - 20.