Lens-Artists Challenge #249 – Art in the Park

statue, building art, parade horse, ceiling art
European Art

“When one travels around the world, one notices to what an extraordinary degree human nature is the same, whether in India, or America, in Europe or Australia.”

Jiddu Krishnamurti

This week John has asked us to post about public art – in the park or anywhere else for that matter. Now that is no small task, especially when one considers the amazing examples of all kinds of art around the world. As such, I’ve elected to take a wide view of what constitutes “art” and have included a variety of things I consider art from our travels around the world. I’ve opened with some of my favorites from Europe, each of which is identified at the end of my post (as are all the rest of my images) for those who are interested. Below, some art from our travels in South America.

music, art, statue, wall art, LaBoca
Samples from South America

“It is through art that we will prevail and we will endure. It lives on after us and defines us as people.“

Rita Moreno

The thing about art is that it is literally everywhere. Music, painting, street art, statuary, sculpted gardens, architecture, literature, films, and of course, photography. The growth of wall art has been especially amazing as we now see it everywhere. Buskers too can be seen most anywhere that crowds gather, and the evolution of architecture from stately mansions to the contemporary work of today’s masters leaves one wondering what tomorrow will bring.

Israel, art, ballet, statues, church
Wonders of Israel

“Art happens when what is seen becomes mixed with the inside of the person who is seeing it.”

Chaim Potok

Another thing that strikes me about art is that it is universal. Whether in Israel (as above) or China (below), or any of the countries I’ve included in today’s post (or haven’t for that matter), nothing stops the creation and enjoyment of art. You may love music, or painting, or photography or the work of the great masters, or perhaps you’re one who seeks and admires street art – but one way or the other there will be a form of art that resonates with most anyone the world over.

china, art, dragon, warrior, Buddha
Chosen from China

“I like the fact that in ancient Chinese art the great painters always included a deliberate flaw in their work: human creation is never perfect.”

Madelene L’Engle

As an American I have also been fortunate to have traveled throughout the country from coast to coast. It seems only right that I should close with a sampling of some of the art I’ve experienced here in the U.S. Following then, from both eastern and western USA.

western US, Chihuly, sneaker tree, hummingbird, wall art
The Wild Wild U.S. West

“Western art is built on the biographical passion of one artist for another.”

Jim Dine
Art, Eastern US
Home Sweet Home – Eastern USA

“What constitutes American painting?… things may be in America, but it’s what is in the artist that counts.

Arthur Dove

I couldn’t begin to count the art treasures I’ve enjoyed throughout our years of travel. I’ve left out the incredible architecture of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, or that of the Great Wall of China or the Sagrada Familia of Barcelona. I’ve omitted amazing treasures like those housed in Paris’s beautiful Louvre or New York’s glorious Guggenheim – both masterpieces in their own rights. I’ve neglected the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. But art doesn’t have to be famous to be wonderful, its beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as well as that of its creator. At the end of the day, that’s what art is all about. As well it should be and ever it shall be.

Sincere thanks to John for the opportunity to focus on much of the world’s beauty. Be sure to visit and link to his wonderful post here, and to include the Lens-Artists Tag to appear in our reader. Thanks also to those of you who joined us for last week’s Mood challenge. Your responses covered a wide range of emotions and ways to express them through photography. Finally, Amy will lead us next week so be sure to check out her Share and Connect site next Saturday at noon EST. Until then, as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy the journey.

Interested in joining the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here for more information.

Collage Locations – Left to Right

Europe Top: Budapest park statue, Vienna high rise, Boulbon France parade / Bottom: Provence-Chateau La Coste, Prague- Leather cowboy chair, Budapest Solarium Ceiling

South America (all in Buenos Aires) Top: La Boca Musician, Silver Flower, La Boca’s Colorful Houses / Bottom: Subway entrance (also today’s header), Wall Art, La Boca Upper Window Installation

Israel Top: Jaffa antiquity statues, Acra Mosque, Tel Aviv wall art / Bottom: Tel Aviv Dancing Shoes art installation, Church of the Annunciation windows

China Top: Dali Garden, Longsheng Buddha, Beijing Advertisement / Bottom: Beijing Dragon, Beijing Rooftop Warrior Statue

U.S. West Top: Seattle, Chihuly Glass (first and second images),Utah Roadside Restaurant / Bottom: Utah Sneaker Tree, Oregon horse statues, California Wall Art

Eastern U.S. Top: Ghent NY Church Window, Charleston SC wall/performance art, Taconic NY state park welcome center / Middle: Ashville NC Pigs Strolling, Charleston SC Pineapple Welcome Statue, NYC wall art / Bottom: NY Culinary Institute welcome fountain, Charleston Magnolia Gardens statue, Saratoga NY Jockey statuettes

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94 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge #249 – Art in the Park”

  1. Pingback: Lens-ArtistPC-249-Public-Art – WoollyMuses

  3. Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge #249 – Art in the Park - My web page

  5. WOW…where to begin…the diversity n colors are just spectacular….just love everyone of these !! Thank U Tina for the trip around the world!!!🥂

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  7. Pingback: Lens-ArtistPC-249-Park-Art – WoollyMuses

  12. There is so much public art out there it’s hard to choose. I love that you’ve selected lesser known public art that expresses each country’s culture. I also appreciate what a huge amount of work it would be to go through your photos to find all of these – wonderful to look at!

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  14. Maybe Part 2 for the ones that were neglected to be part of this post, Tina. This is just like looking at a candy store feasting my eyes on the intricacies of art.

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  15. Tina, this collection is so reflective of your love of travel and and your intent on finding what speak to you. The color, the intricacies, the culture, the contrast of the east vs. west, and it goes on. The dancing shoes art is a gem, and I love the buddha tucked into the garden. And I agree, when we travel we realize how much we are the same. Fantastic gallery, and I imagine when you organized your art, the photos took you back to the best of memories.

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  18. This is wonderful, Tina. I like you organise your beautiful, inspiring galleries by place. So much to look at and enjoy. Your quotes are brilliant too. I enjoyed your world tour 🙂

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    • Many thanks Sofia – there is so much marvelous art in the world I thought the collages were one way to feature more of it than I might normally include in a post. It was more work than usual so I very much appreciate your comment on it!

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  20. What a great idea to compile these collages of art around the world – fabulous work! And thank you for including details of where each was taken, which enabled me to identify my favourites: the sculpture at Chateau La Coste, the Silver Flower and the hummingbird mural in CA ❤

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    • Many thanks Sarah – I’m happy several commented on the details at the end because it was quite a bit of extra work! Also as I was looking for the name of the Silver Flower I learned that it opens and closes with daylight and night time. So I learned something for my efforts😊

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  23. Oh, wow, Tina! Where to start? A huge subject, indeed, and having just come back from Rome I should perhaps have linked today’s walk to John, but hindsight is a wonderful thing, and you know I like to ramble on! Have a great week, darlin!

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  24. What a fabulous collection, Tina! You are so well-traveled and have such a keen eye. It’s so true what you wrote–art doesn’t have to be famous to be wonderful. I love the universal appeal of street art. It touches so many people.

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  25. Great collection and a wonderful post. You are right; you could take several of these examples from any of your galleries and put them in another gallery, and we wouldn’t be able to tell. Indeed, art can be universal.

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  26. Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #249: Art in Public Spaces – Calling-all-RushBabes

  28. Amazing post Tina! You’ve shown us beautiful art from all over the world and some of them are similar to that in other countries. And, thanks for the bibliography at the end.

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  32. Your post would have been a mile long had you included all your art pieces, Tina! I like how you sorted your galleries then mentioned them toward the end–nicely done. I really like the Saratoga jockeys! You have a gorgeous mix of sculptures and wall art, and some live ones! Hope you are enjoying a nice Mother’s Day!

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  33. Your groupings of the photos shows the feel of each location so well. I loved seeing the Buenos Aires photos, of course. The city has so many great public works of art.

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  38. I agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Tina. You’ve amassed a great collection of beautifully photographed public art. I love that you included the street singer with his guitar. I guess beauty can be in the ear of the beholder too.

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  39. Lovely collection Tina and most interestingly – your thoughts and quotes resonate completely with my thoughts 😀, which you’ll notice when you visit my post.

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    • Thanks Cee – I had to shrink the image to fit in the collage. There were actually 6 or 7 of them. I thought they were terrific. And one cannot argue with the beauty of Chihuly!!

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  41. Wow, that’s really much to discover, Tina. But the Chinese corner attracts me most. Maybe, because it’s the most uncommon here 👍👍👍👍

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    • Thanks Andre. I could really have done the entire post on China’s. I think their culture over the centuries has prized art in all forms. And as you say, it is so unusual vs what we in the western world are used to, making it that much more fascinating.

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    • You know the old saying Laurel – if you want to take more interesting photos put yourself in more interesting places 😊. It always amazes me how much there is to see in this wide world. We’re fortunate to have seen more than our fair share I think.

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  45. So many great pieces of art! and so colorful too. You’ve outdone yourself! But, as a fellow art lover, I truly enjoyed the. Hard to pick a favorite but that Silver flower is just stunning. Love that Chihuly too! I’ve been in love with Chihuly since seeing his wonderful ceiling at the Bellagio in Las Vegas years ago. We also have a wonderful Chihuly piece at the Minneapolis Institute of Art called Sunburst. I never tire of seeing it.

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    • Thanks very much Toby – interestingly I wanted the name of the Silver Flower piece and when I looked it up I learned that it opens and closes with day vs night. I had no idea! I to am a huge Chihuly fan. My neighbor’s son studied with him and she has some amazing pieces.

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  46. Thank you so much for sharing these, you have a way of capturing the art in a way that makes the photo art in and of itself, which is much appreciated. I really like these, and the works of art you photographed are great. Thank you wholeheartedly for sharing, would not have seen these without you, you made my day. 🙂

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  47. Wow! A person might think that you like to take photos of artwork… >grin< What a varied collection. I envy your travels to see so many works in person and to be allowed to share your compositions as a reflection of the originals.

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    • Thanks John – enjoyed the opportunity to share some of these which I’d not done before. I laughed at an earlier comment because in fact my percentage of art photos is quite small. Which should give you an idea of how tedious it is to look through my archives which despite my best efforts are not keyworded well enough 😫

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  48. Wow, Tina! These are all both lovely and amazing. So many of these are works could easily fit in anywhere in the world. I have a soft spot, though, for the NC pigs and for those ballet legs/tutus.

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