Lens-Artists Challenge #249 – Art in the Park
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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 art is built on the biographical passion of one artist for another.”
Jim Dine
“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
Travels and Trifles 
Reblogged this on UNIVERSE.
Dear Tina
If one says art is everywhere and in everything that’s to relativistic for us. This cliche is the end of art. On one hand art is what is seen as art and this has to do with where and how it is presented. Andy Warhol’s Campbell can is perceived as art because you see it in a museum. Structurally seen art is self-referential. If one reads in a poem it’s raining it doesn’t matter if it raining outside it matters how it creates a rhyme or a rhythm f.e. And for us art has to change, at least a little bit, how we perceive our surroundings and ourselves.
We enjoyed your gallery. Thank you very much for sharing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂