Observing public outdoor sculpture

Jón Gunnar Árnason's Sólfar: Sun Voyager, 1990, inspires in Rekjavik, Iceland.

Public sculpture contributes to the uniqueness of a city or town. While the public art of larger cities may be world famous there are some intriguing examples to be found even in small centres. Here are a few of my favourites from my travels over the last few years. 

Jeff Koons' floral Puppy, 1992, draws both adults & children at Spain's Guggenheim Bilbao Museum. 

Talus Dome by Ball-Nogues Studio, 2011, graces river valley in Edmonton, Alberta. 

Goddess of Flight, 2010, by Fiona Sutherland greets passengers at Nelson Airport in New Zealand.

Some whimsical outdoor sculptures can be found in the city of Enschede in The Netherlands.

In Canmore, Alberta, Canada. 

In Benalmadena, Andalusia, Spain.

Two views of the human head: from Canada and Spain. 





Below is a recent find on the main street of the small Alberta town of Sylvan Lake.

Peace & Harmony by Darcy Fullerton & Mary Grace, 2002, invites us to come together as friends.

Treasuring the autumn leaves

In September and October I can think of no better place to be than Canada where the leaves of deciduous trees change from green to shades of gold, orange, bronze, red and even purple. 

When we returned to Canada in 2006 after living 9 years in the United Arab Emirates, it was a great pleasure to experience autumn again and I have treasured it ever since. 

Autumn delights in the city as well as the country.

Elm lined street in Edmonton.

Hamilton, Ontario in the autumn.

Maple leaves in Montreal.

The bright leaves are especially lovely under a blue sky.

On the ground the leaves dry out and give a satisfying crunch underfoot. 

Farewell to summer. Autumn is here with cooler temperatures and shorter hours of daylight. Soon we will see only the bare branches of winter. 

If you live where the leaves change colour, be sure to take a walk while there is still time to enjoy the shades of autumn.

Admiring Art Deco

Art Deco is a style of architecture, furnishing and décor that has captivated me. Wherever I travel I keep my eyes open for examples.

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

Arras, France.

Belgian made Art Deco dance organ 

in Museum Speelklok, Utrecht, Netherlands.

One of the best places in the world for Art Deco architecture is the New Zealand city of Napier which I have been fortunate to visit several times, most recently in February 2015. Timing this visit to coincide with the city's annual Art Deco Days, I was well rewarded.

2015 Art Deco Days parade in Napier, New Zealand.

Many people dressed in 1920s & 30s styles.

On a walking tour of the city centre I learned about the Art Deco heritage of Napier.

Napier has so many Art Deco buildings because it was rebuilt after a devastating 1931 earthquake.

Taradale Town Hall.

McDonald's in former hotel.

Two notable Art Deco buildings in the Napier suburb of Taradale are the old town hall and McDonald's in a former hotel. 

Art Deco detail can be found in many places in Napier including McDonald's.

Focusing on flowers

Wherever I am I stop to see and smell the flowers. Here are a few blooms I have kept to enjoy later.

Flower stall in Utrecht, Netherlands. 

Wildflowers have been a source of pleasure from childhood when I learned their names from my mother. 

Marsh marigolds are spring wildflowers in Alberta.

Flower gardens have been important to my mother, grandmother and many other family members.

  

Delphiniums and lilacs were in my grandmother's garden.

I have had my own flower gardens in many locations.

My Edmonton container garden.

Fragrant frangipanis grew in my garden in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. 

 Jacaranda.

Since retiring I have been fortunate to spend at least part of each Canadian winter some place warm, where each day I could see and smell flowers outdoors.

Water lilies.

Edmonton's Muttart
Conservatory.

While still living and working full time in Canada, I took many flower photographs in the summer to make a slideshow for my computer during the winter months. Occasionally in winter I would seek a mental health break in a conservatory or a garden centre that stayed open all year.

Rotorua, New Zealand

Elaborate gardens

One of Mum's roses

Spectacular Hydrangeas 

Single blooms

Temperate

Australian bottle brush. 

Tropical






Indoors and outdoors

Underground garden
Arras, France

Planters in Orleans, France. 

Cultivated flowers, native flowers and even flowering weeds.

Brilliant blue morning glories take over abandoned Melbourne house.

I love them all and believe that flowers contribute greatly to our emotional well-being.

Azaleas at Bargany Gardens, Ayrshire, Scotland.