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Archive for the ‘public art’ Category

Sculpture in the Dell

Posted in Art, art and environment, creativity, Falls of the Ohio, Green, nature, public art, recycled art, sculpture, tagged , , , , , on May 21, 2009| 2 Comments »

Falls of the Ohio Scarecrow, 5/09

Delivered my piece today for Yew Dell Gardens 2nd Annual “Sculpture in the Dell” invitational.  I was honored to be asked even though my work doesn’t fit the standard of what garden art generally looks like.  I asked if there was a garden on the grounds that could use a scarecrow and as it happens…a new kitchen garden was being installed.  I recycled an earlier spring project and turned it into this work the “Falls of the Ohio Scarecrow”.  I changed the arms and added a few new elements.  Should be fun to watch as this work grows with the garden over the next two months.  The show’s dates are May 30 – August 2, 2009.

Yew Dell's stone castle, 5/09

Yew Dell Gardens is in Crestwood, KY and originally was a private home, garden, and arboretum of the late nurseryman Theodore Klein.  The 33-acre garden has been restored and is now a not for profit organization.  There are many wonderful structures on the property and the best known is the Stone Castle, originally conceived as a pool house.  It’s a marvel of fieldstone construction.  You can learn more about Yew Dell by visiting their website:  www.yewdellgarden.org 

Don Lawler sculpture, Yew Dell, 5/09

Here’s a nice work by my friend Don Lawler on Yew Dells’  property.  This giant hand is carved from a block of limestone and commands the setting it is in.  This sculpture was a part of last year’s show.

Matt Weir, installing at Yew Dell, 5/09

Here’s sculptor Matt Weir installing his work for the show.  He is one of many friends participating in this outdoor exhibition.  I will post more from Yew Dell Gardens during the run of the invitational.

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Black Robe and Beaver

Posted in art and environment, birding, creativity, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, public art, recycled art, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged , , , , on May 20, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Black Robe, 5/09

Had a few hours to play around and so I constructed this small figure fairly quickly.  It’s just a reminder that among the first Europeans to venture down the Ohio River were French missionaries who called these waters La Belle Riviere…..the Beautiful River.  This piece is constructed from Styrofoam, sticks, acorns, plastic, and what appears to be a rubber-like material (neoprene?)…that’s the material that makes up the robe.

mallard eggs, 5/09

I was walking by a hollow log and a female mallard duck burst out and scared the “heck” out of me!  I wondered what this duck was doing a few hunderd yards away from the water and when I poked my head inside I found her nest with eggs.  I took this quick photo and retreated.  I think we both gave each other a good fright!

beaver skull, 5/09

Even with the incissors gone, I identified this as a beaver skull.  It’s a fairly heavy and dense assemblage of bone.  The rest of the skeleton is nearby, but it still has some decomposing to do.  I photographed a beaver sitting on its tail during high waters last year.  I think of this animal as being one of my collaboraters because I love to use beaver-chewed willow sticks in my art.  As they nibble the bark off, their teeth leave marks in the wood that add a subtle pattern.  The beaver are making enough of a comeback here that in places they are considered a nuisance.

Beaver, Spring 2008

Here’s the beaver photo from last year.  He was drying his fur on the bank when he heard my camera and dashed for the water.  Sitting on its tail, it seems almost contemplative.  I like that the French word for river and reverie sound similar.  Here’s one last image of “Black Robe”. 

Black robe, 5/09

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1st Photos of Falls Brush Fowl!!

Posted in Art, art and environment, birding, creativity, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, public art, recycled art, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged , , , , on May 19, 2009| 2 Comments »

Falls Brush Fowl, 5/09

Ornithological history was made today as the first photographic images of the rare and elusive Falls Brush Fowl were made public.  Seldom seen and rarely heard this bird was photographed by the park’s unofficial artist in residence.  The Falls of the Ohio is the same area where the legendary John James Audubon began his drawings for his monumental undertaking, “The Birds of America”.  Audubon, however, never recorded seeing this bird.

Falls Brush Fowl, 5/09

The specimen appears to be a male in full courtship display.  This bird was not particularly wary as it strutted it’s stuff on several prominant logs and branches often in bright sunlight.  The Falls Brush Fowl is known for the fan it creates from its tail feathers, much in the manner of grouse.  Dancing gingerly it trills its song into the deep underbrush, while its head is framed by a ring of pink feathers.  The exact numbers of this bird are unknown.

Falls Brush Fowl, 5/09

No response was noted from the male Falls Brush Fowl’s display.  As reclusive as the males are…the females are even more difficult to approach.  Nothing is known abouts its nest, eggs, clutch size, incubation period and chicks have never been seen.  Speculation exists that the eggs may be deposited in a hole covered with rotting vegetation.  The heat generated from the decay of leaf matter incubates the eggs, but this has never been proven.  The bird is more myth than fact and the photos are welcomed by the scientific community and the general bird-loving public.

Chestnut-sided Warbler, 5/09

Other birds noted in the area this day include:  the Chestnut-sided Warbler seen in the above photo.  Small groups of mixed species  traveled and fed together among the willow and cottonwood trees.  It was not unusual to find Yellow Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, Carolina Chickadees, and Indigo Buntings harvesting small caterpillars. 

Time Keeper and Wishing Well, 5/09

Lastly, yesterday’s figure entitled the “Time Keeper” was spotted in an a different location.  A park visitor moved the piece inside a wood structure called the “Old Colonel’s Wishing Well”…a curiousity deposited by the last high water.  I’m sure there is a story surrounding that object and if anyone out there knows it…I would love to hear it!

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Godzilla and the Time Keeper

Posted in Art, art and environment, birding, creativity, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, Ohio River, public art, recycled art, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged , , , , on May 18, 2009| 3 Comments »

plug at the bottom of the river, 5/09

Sunday was absolutely glorious and the river level had dropped as quickly as it had risen.  My youngest son Adam came with me today and we shared an adventure in exploring and creating art.  After the river goes down, it’s always fun to see how the landscape has been changed and what new stuff has washed up.  Here’s an image of Adam and the “giant plug from the bottom of the river”.  The air was full of cottonwood fluff and birds were everywhere.  Saw two more new species for me, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Black-throated Green Warbler.  Both are supposedly common species, but you would be surprised at how little they show themselves.

Adam, sand drawing, 5/09

Adam is the artist in the family and has an amazing ability to focus on projects when he wants to.  Lately, he has been on an extended Godzilla, King  of the Monsters kick.  He collects the action figures and watches the movies and makes all kinds of art based on the characters and story lines.  Today he started things off with a sand drawing.

Adam and Godzilla figure, 5/09

He has seen me make stuff from Styrofoam for years and naturally he has to try his hand at it too.  We call these small sculptures “Foamies” and here is his Godzilla…now in three dimensions.  It’s made from polystyrene, sticks, and nuts.  I helped where the use of a knife was needed.  Adam’s older brother, Michael used to come out with me when he was younger and we would have similar adventures making things.  It’s important to bring your kids outdoors if you ever expect them to develop a love for it.

Time Keeper w/rope, 5/09

Adam wasn’t the only one enjoying himself!  I gathered materials and made this figure I called the “Time Keeper” based on the plastic clock filled with water hanging around his neck.  The riverbank is still muddy in places.  If you are not careful you can walk right out of your stuck in the mud shoes.  The first photos I took of this figure were by this barge rope.  I’m not sure what the blue material its body is composed of, but it’s not true polystyrene foam.  I was able to locate many of the larger pieces I had put away for safe keeping…the river did move them, but not far away.

Time Keeper, final location, 5/09

This is where I left the “Time Keeper”.  I wonder when I next return to the Falls if he will still be there?  His body was water-logged and he needs to dry out a bit.  He’s in the Willow Habitat by the fixed wier dam.  The coming week promises a few good days and we shall see!

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The Ear Trumpet

Posted in Art, creativity, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, Ohio River, public art, recycled art, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 14, 2009| 2 Comments »

Deaf man...with ear trumpetA beautiful spring day and a perfect time to sit by the river.  The greening trees are alive with the fresh colors of migratory birds.  Somewhere off in the distance is a sound or more accurately a vibration that piques your interest.  Since the hearing is going you need something to focus the sound.

Deaf Man with ear trumpet

Where would you be without your trusty ear trumpet?  You have come to rely upon it like a conduit to your brain and an aid for your memory.

the ear trumpet

A smile comes across your face as the vibration becomes more audible.  It’s enough of a hint for you to recall the sound of…

diesel engines 5/09… diesel engines crossing over the bridge………. Alright, so it won’t win any literary prizes, but it was fun to do.  The train picture is recent, but the figure is long gone…was it last  year or the one before that?  I think I need something to focus my memory too.  This figure, as usual, is made from various found elements…polystyrene foam, driftwood, and plastic.  The nose I remember was the handle of a broken paint brush.  One of the eyes is a fishing bobber and the other…who knows?  I thought the found bottle of sports drink added a nice color note.  This piece was up for awhile, before it was carried away by a flood.

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High Water Bottleman

Posted in Art, art and environment, birds and birding, creativity, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, public art, recycled art, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged , , , , , , on May 9, 2009| 2 Comments »

high water bottleman, 5/09

My latest figure made from river junk comes at a time when the river is getting higher.  We have had a lot of rain today and so for the next few days the river should continue to rise.  When you live on the Ohio River, this is important information.  For example, the morning talk was of a small fishing boat going over the Falls that needed rescuing…that and a large white pelican was sighted again.  Might be the same bird from two years ago.  Didn’t hear anything else about the fisherman…hope they are ok.

high water and interpretive center, 5/09

foot of steps, high water, 5/09

Two views looking east…the top shows the interpretive center and the steps leading to the river.  The next shot is from the foot of the steps themselves.  It should be interesting to see how high up the steps the rising river level will creep. During the Great Flood of 1997 the river completely climbed the steps.  This event shouldn’t be that bad.  Fishing has been great with lots of anglers catching striper hybrids, catfish, skipjacks, and an occassional sauger.  Did see many large carp trying to leap over the fixed wier dam as in classic salmon pictures. 

Bottle man, 5/09

I moved the Bottleman to another location to get a better sense of his context.  A couple days ago, you could walk by the trees that are now submerged.  Most of the fossil rock formations are underwater.  The Bottleman is on some sort of mission just one step ahead of the river.

heron and fridge, 5/09

Took a little time to do some birding and had some success.  Saw my first Black-headed Blue Warbler, male and female traveling together.  They were here and gone before I could get a snapshot.  I did, however, find this Great Blue Heron fishing from floating logs as an abandoned refrigerator went by.  Years ago, when I first started this project, I found a refrigerator lodged in the top of a tree and I couldn’t believe the river could get that high.  Other notable birds…lots of Magnolia Warblers, various thrushes, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Great Crested Flycatchers, Indigo Buntings, and a few Scarlet Tanagers were still around.  Double-crested Cormorants were fishing all along the river and close to shore.

bottleman and stash, 5/09

This is where I left the Bottleman by a log with a large hole in the side.  Perfect for stashing away plastic bottles in case of an emergency.  The figure is made from pink insulation foam, regular polystyrene, hickory nuts for eyes, part of a walnut husk for a mouth, wood, plastic bottlecap nose, and a fork for emphasis.  He’s near the water and probably gone by now.  The logs rolling over one another in the water made the strangest creaking and squeaking noise and reminded me of my father grinding his teeth in his sleep.  We will see how high the river gets and if that pelican hangs around.

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Key Man, Styro-figure

Posted in Art, art and environment, creativity, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, public art, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged , , , on May 1, 2009| 2 Comments »

Key Man, 4/08

Before my first month of blogging slides into the archive, I thought I would sneak another post into the Riverblog.  There is a favorite patch of Virginia Bluebells or Virginia Cowslips ( same scientific name…different flower guides) that I like to visit at the Falls.  I noticed that this year the patch has gotten a little wider and more successful.  The flower buds are pink before they turn blue.  I am always looking for new places to pose the Styrofoam pieces I make that reflect the season and this looked like a good location.

Key Man, 4/08

Here is the “Key Man” posed in a bed of wildflowers that include the bluebells.  The figure is found Styrofoam, driftwood, and various plastic elements including tiny fishing bobbers for the eyes and “nipples”.  His name derives from the orange plastic key around his waist that was once part of a child’s teething ring.  Keys have power and are potent symbols.  How all that works in this context is up to you! 

Virginia Bluebells or Virginia Cowslips, 4/08

Another view of the Mertensia virginica.  I would like to offer these to the poor guy who jumped off the 2nd Street Bridge the other day.  I was Falls bound, crossing the bridge by car, and saw that there were two other vehicles that had stopped in the middle of the span.  Drawing closer I could see  two men (later learned they were volunteer firefighters) trying to reason with  a person who was preparing to jump off the bridge into the Ohio River.  I drove on wondering if what I was seeing was in fact what was happening.  The following morning, the local newspaper reported that the man had indeed jumped, but was rescued from the water unconcious and taken to a hospital.  That’s all I know.  It’s amazing he survived a fall of that distance into a river with such dangerous currents.  Sometimes the bodies are never found.  These flowers are offered with hope that this unfortunate soul will be able to find some beauty in the world once again.

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Spring Migration

Posted in Art, art and environment, birds and birding, creativity, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, public art, watershed, tagged , , on April 28, 2009| 1 Comment »

view from Falls, 4/27

Managed to steal a few hours late in the afternoon and visited the Falls.  Bad weather is predicted for later in the week, plus the Kentucky Derby Festival is going on now making routine trips an occassional challenge.  The real reason I’m here today is to look for birds…it’s spring migration time and it seems to be happening a little later this year than last.  I will, however, enjoy anything else that I happen to come upon.  Such as these wildflowers…

prairie trillium or recurved trillium, 4/27

celandine poppy or wood poppy

I’m still learning the wildflowers…but I think the one on the top is called Pairie Trillium or Recurved Trillium.  I’ve never seen this one here before.  The bottom image is of a Celandine or Wood Poppy.  The latter’s stem and flower buds are hairy.  The trilliums were found along the Woodland Trail.

American Robin, 4/27

Okay…I know this is not the most exciting bird, but I found this pose to be interesting.  I came upon this American Robin on the trail and instead of flying away, he froze staring straight at me.  The most spectacular bird I saw today was a male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but my photo of them is not great.  I hope to have other chances with that species.  Cedar Waxwings were still around and I saw several birds of prey.  The Turkey Vultures are back.  Here’s a recent image of another bird that I think is becoming a problem at the Falls of the Ohio.

brown-headed cowbird, male, 4/09

This is a male, Brown-headed Cowbird, ( the females are a duller gray).  I have seen more of this species than I have seen here before.  The curious thing about this bird is that it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds.  This species takes no care at all in raising its own young.  That job is given to the parasitized species.  The young cowbirds usually hatch first and either push out the other eggs or out compete the other young.  The victim species does not recognize that the cowbird is not its own offspring.

ice storm damage, 4/09

Perhaps one reason there are more cowbirds, may have to do with more accessibility in the wooded portions of the Falls.  The Brown-headed Cowbird is not a forest bird , but looks for breaks and clearings where it feels comfortable venturing in to look for other nesting birds.  We have had two extreme weather events in less than a year ( a major ice storm and winds from Hurricane Ike) that have damaged so many trees.  I wonder if this will impact the birds we will see this year and will the cowbird take additional advantage of them?

tent catepillars, 4/09

Tent catepillars seem to be more numerous this year as well.  The trees here are certainly being stressed by various insects.  Unfortunately, there are only a few bird species that will eat these catepillars.

wood car, 4/09

I could have used this image for my last post.  Hopefully, someday I will happen upon this person or persons who like to make “sculpture” from the found materials in the park.  Already I have come across several structures that are mostly driftwood.  This “wood car” is a little different in feeling from their past efforts.  For me, it’s fun to come across something like this.

fisherman, 4/09

Among the willows and fossil rocks was this single fisherman.  I don’t think he was having any luck.  Perhaps like me, just being outside and near the river is it’s own reward.  I am already looking forward to my next visit.

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Entropic Vehicles

Posted in Art, art and environment, creativity, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, public art, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged , , , on April 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Here are a few recent images illustrating the state of disorder as seen at the Falls of the Ohio State Park.  Let’s begin with…

abandoned atv w/figure, 3/09

 

This was once an expensive battery powered car for some lucky child and now its garbage.  I can imagine this dynamically going over the dam only to come to rest lodged in this willow tree.  I couldn’t resist adding the Styrofoam driver.  On Earth Day, I checked on this “piece”.  The car was still there, but the driver disappeared…a partial victory of sorts.

 

full size and mini gas containers, 4/09I come across and photograph enough of these gasoline containers that they form a subcategory of objects that I pay attention to.  Gasoline is such a sign of the times that it seems particularly relevant.  Where do these containers come from?  I have never found one that still had gas in it.  Because plastic is made from petroleum, as is gasoline, does putting gas into these containers become a redundant act?

plastic dump truck/4/09

 

Another vehicle this time a plastic toy truck.  No longer fueling a child’s imagination this object awaits being picked up, washed away, or buried into the sand.Trash midden, 3/09

 Exhaustion sets in and the wheels have come off.  Provided there will be archeology in the future, how would you like to render and interpret the artifacts in this context?

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Mother Earth and Child

Posted in Art, art and environment, creativity, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Green, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, Ohio River, public art, Styrofoam, tagged , , on April 22, 2009| 3 Comments »

Annie on Earth Day

It’s officially Earth Day and my friend Annie and fellow artist/standardized patient (a topic for a later time) went to the Falls today to be out in nature.  After several cold and wet days we received one that’s  a winner.  In the spirit of collaboration we combed the riverbank and brought our finds together to create this Mother Earth image and child.

Mother Earth and Child, 4/09

Here’s the finished result which is colorful if not disturbing!  It was fun to make and includes various foams, plastics, driftwood, bark, grass to name a few of the found materials. We left the figures next to a driftwood structure (one of two we came across today) and it looks like home to me.  Here are the before and after shots.  Happy Earth Day!

found wood structure/4/09

Mother Earth, child, driftwood structure, 4/09

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