JFK artwork
Tag: art
Antlantiza
Tiza means chalk in Spanish, and for several years the local Rotary Club in Atlántida has held an event called Atlantiza, where they close off a street and provide chalk and a 3 x 3 meter artist’s space. Some people use the chalk to draw; others mix it with water and paint.
With rain threatening, this year featured a significant number of no-shows. While some of the creations were nice enough, I saw nothing outstanding. I expected at least one convincing 3-D rendering, but saw only unconvincing attempts, like the one in the photo. It might have been fun to participate; I indicated interest but when I got no response decided not to pursue it.
Incidentally, if you’re curious how artists create magnificent 3-D street art illusions, here’s a clue:
The art gallery
We normally don’t spend a lot of time in art galleries.
Yesterday was an exception.
The current show features five contemporary ceramic artists,
each with a unique “voice,” as the introduction states.
The gallery has a skylight, which casts dramatic shadows.
The setting, an old building with exposed brick and very old beams, is quite lovely. Not a bad place to spend an hour when you have no choice.
And we had no choice. We were waiting for legal papers. Specifically, a power of attorney to sell some property in Mexico.
What’s that got to do with an art gallery?
All the pictures above are from the ground floor of the Mexican Embassy in Montevideo. When we arrived, the receptionist remember who we were, and why we were there. The consul was gracious and welcoming.
Now, I have nothing bad to say about the US Embassy personnel in Montevideo. They were in fact surprisingly accommodating when I recently renewed my passport.
But one can’t help but notice the contrast, even without surrendering all personal possessions and passing through several bomb-proof doors for the privilege of entering.
Construction symbolically started on July 4, 1966. US Independence day. At that time, the diplomatic pouch from Washington, DC, sometimes included fine wires that could be inserted between teeth, in order to apply an electrical charge to the gums. No, it wasn’t for oral hygiene.
Not a pleasant story, but essential reading: Uruguay, 1964 to 1970: Torture—as American as apple pie.
Giant ants
Espacio Ciencia is an interactive science museum next to the Portones shopping center in Montevideo. I had never noticed it before yesterday, when we made one of our “OK,we really need to go” trips to Montevideo. Because driving to and in Montevideo is not something I think anyone likes. But going by bus is worse.
Long ago I dreamed of making giant ants, and placing them in the trees of our property in North Carolina. Warms my heart to see someone else went through with it!
Unexpected scenery on Route 35
Drove to Soca this morning to pick up a used elliptical exerciser that I will use 9 minutes per day (burst training), but will use. About 1/3 of retail cost.
Street art, Montevideo
Misiones, near Rincón.
Bright spot in city sidewalk
Nice.
Church sculpture, Montevideo
I took this photo in Montevideo, as Tex was dying. I didn’t know it then.
Flasher frog in Parque del Plata
OK, I’m just guessing. Maybe I should say “secret agent frog.” Or maybe it’s not even a frog. When I first saw it, I thought it kind of tacky, then realized it had a constant flow of people having their photo taken with it , with the lovely river Solís Chico in the background. Good idea!
Update 20170202: “One of the most striking features of [Parque del Plata] is the monument to Sapo* Ruperto, character of children’s stories created by the Uruguayan writer Roy Berocay, who tells us from his work that his birthplace is precisely the stream Solís Chico. The person responsible for the sculpture was Nelson Capote and the monument was placed there within the framework of the 75th anniversary of Parque del Plata.” (source)
*Sapo means toad, and yes, he’s a detective.
Yee haw 2015!
Since my wife posted one of my color grids over here, I thought I’d share an animated version, which, had I more imagination, might somehow find itself linked to an inspirational message about remaining true to yourself, yet adapting in what will — according to the egg-spurts — promise to be a most interesting year.
Может вы живете в интересное время
The color grid dates back to my college days, when I slaved with Prismacolor pencils, getting a few interesting results, and a lot less so. One poorly-chosen color wrecks the overall effect. 30 years later, I created a template in FreeHand, and was able to go through hundreds of iterations in the time it would take to hand-color one grid. This is from 2006.