More water art!

These waterfalls are up and running to be seen through October 13, 2008 in the city of New York. They are found around the edges of New York city and are part of a public art fund that promotes public installations for over 30 years.

The installation at the Brooklyn Bridge is turning out to be one of the more popular. For a quick video, click here.

I need time and money to visit all of these wonderful places!

2008 Zaragoza Expo

This is a giant sculpture found in Zaragoza, Spain for their 2008 Expo. This event runs through September 14, 2008 and focuses on the timely themes of water and sustainable development.

There are over 3,400 performances by 350 international troupes and talents ranging from Cirque de Soleil to Bob Dylan to Daniel Barenbosim. (Who?) 

But the signature edifice is the Water Tower. It houses two sculptures and has a cafe at the top of the 250 foot building. This image is of a splash of water is sculpture form. 

This sure makes me want to go visit and to climb the alphabet and the tower!

Weird Fruit

What do you do with a horn melon? Good question. What an odd looking fruit. I guess it is, since it has seeds.

Anyway, apparently it tastes like cucumber with hints of line and melon. Just look at it to see that that makes sense. Once you cut it, you scoop out the translucent green jelly-like flesh. It is ideal for sauces and vinaigrettes. 

A Garden View Like No Other!

Now here is a garden view that one has to be there to appreciate. This amazing structure is found in London at the Kew Gardens. It is 59 feet tall and 656 feet in length. 

It was designed by Marks Barfield Architects to show how the treetop walkway enables visitors to enter the canopy of sweet chestnuts, limes and deciduous oaks to see birds, insects, lichens and fungi rely upon them.

As well as getting close to the trees, the structure promises a bird's-eye view of the site and the London skyline, including the Gherkin building and Wembly Stadium. That is when the weather and leaves agree to share their views.

Kew Gardens, which covers some 326 acres of meticulously manicured lawns, flower beds, green house, and forest, attracts more than one million visitors a year. At $25.50 (American) that's quite a bountiful harvest!

Who Wants Chicken Feet? I do!

And just what are these? They look like chicken feet. Well, indeed they are. But they have another purpose too. 

They are candlesticks! If only I could afford them.... They are $395 for a pair.

I guess, there will be no chicken feet candlesticks in my vegetarian home.

More Latte art

Click on this link and watch a printer create an image in the foam of a latte. It takes about two minutes, but the end result is kind of fun!

Ann Arbor Summer Festival

It's that time of the year again! 

Ann Arbor comes alive at night for the 25th season of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival! 

Free music! Free movies! The outdoor festival begins June 13 th and ends on July 6th. The trend each year is to introduce free family friendly outdoor entertainment. This year Dream Engine is coming to enchant us all! They will be preforming outdoors June 25th through the 28th at evening performances. There are two shows one called Conedancers and the other is Heliosphere. It is sure to be a favorite among kids of all ages! 

Other options include bands and movies at dusk on the giant inflatable movie screen. There is also various performing artists playing in the Power Center which is adjacent to the festival location. The following link will connect you to all kinds of free and some paid options. Check it out!

And don't forget to support your local folks by purchasing food and beverages while at the festival. Don't forget that it is a"free" event, but it won't stay that way if you don't make donations and purchases. So, go have fun and keep this Ann Arbor treasure free!

Discovering Tin Tin!

I know it is difficult to see this painting well, but look close. It is a painting of one of my favorite childhood heroes... Tin Tin! His faithful dog, Snowy is prominently shown in the middle surrounded by other characters from the series. 

Tin Tin was created by Belgian artist, Herge. He developed the comic strip into a series of graphic novels long before the term was well known. Tin Tin is a young crime solver who went on wild adventures! He was a favorite of mine in sixth grade.

This painting is in a Mexican restaurant on Boston University's campus. When I asked why a Mexican restaurant had a Tin Tin picture, I was told it was left over from when it was a French restaurant. It was an oddity to discover and unfortunately (in my eyes), not well known (Tin Tin, not the restaurant which was mediocre at best). 

Boston's Food Project

On a recent trip to Boston, I visited the Food Project. It is an organization that teaches kids about making the connection of where food comes from and how it is grown and prepared. Kids who want to participate apply for the opportunity to learn how to plant and cultivate a garden. The photo here was taken in the heart of Boston. Each season 60 kids learn gardening techniques, leadership roles and teamwork skills. But it doesn't end at harvest. They also learn how to prepare the food and then offer it to the less fortunate and some of it is sold at the marketplace shown here. This is a highly competitive program that has been incredibly successful and rewarding. To learn more or to donate to the organization, click here.

Canstruction

These sculptures are part of an art competition that is held yearly and regionally called Canstruction. It was started as a foundation by the Society for Design Administration. 

The participants use canned food items to produce each sculpture. Once the judging and viewing are complete, the cans are donated to local food banks. Thus far this organization has donated over 10 million pounds of food to needy food banks that distribute the food to the emergency feeding programs, soup kitchens, the elderly and day care centers. 

This coming year there are around 100 different competitions scheduled in North America. Keep you eyes open for opportunities to compete and support this wonderful cause!

Green Roofs

Green roofs are all the rage currently. They promise to reduce your heating and cooling costs as well as prevent stormwater run off by using the water rather than putting it into the sewer systems. 

This picture is not the ideal image, but I liked the location of the roof. One could turn it into a vegetable or a flower garden. How convenient to access your roof for your dinner?! Or if it where a flower garden with tall plants what a view from the terrace below.

This use promises to be seen more and more as time goes by. I encourage all to view one for themselves if they have an opportunity!

The ever morphing rock sculpture

These rock and concrete sculptures are ever changing. Why? Because there is a war between the builder and the destroyer. 

They are just outside my office door and the builder recreates them after the destroyer tears them down. 

What on earth does the destroyer get out of this transaction? What does it say about a person who takes pleasure in demolishing the work of another? Sad commentary to be sure.

I'm keeping my eyes open to see who both of these folks are. A mystery to be solved! Stay tuned....