Modern Experimentation

Yesterday I told you about the exhibit called "Color Riot" at the Heard Museum.  Today, I wanted to show you a few of the modern pieces that were also in the display.  This one is especially interesting. It was created by one of the Mellon fellows, Velma Kee Craig in 2013.  She created this piece to resemble an American flag with the stripes created from a standard bar code and the "stars" section from a QR code she found on a for sale sign for a foreclosed home in her neighborhood.  When this piece was displayed at the Heard Museum's Weavers Market, people were able to scan the QR code and it actually took them to the house listing web page.  I find that amazing!

Here are two more of the modern designs.  The top one is by Venancio Francis Aragon called Prism of Emotions.  It was created this year.

The one to the left was created by Lola S. Cody and is called Grand Falls.  It dates to 2012.

I like both of these, but that QR code one at the top still amazes me.

Color Riot

The Heard Museum has several interesting exhibits on display right now and one of them is called "Color Riot".  It's one of the exhibits I went to see last Friday.

In 2017, the Heard Museum was awarded a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support a fellowship program centered on Navajo textiles.

This exhibit was created by the three fellows, Ninabah Winton, Velma Kee Craig, and Natalia Miles along with the curatorial staff of the Heard Museum.  The three young women were involved in all phases of this exhibit from the concept development to the object selection to the label writing.

Some of the textiles displayed date back to the 19th century and in most cases, the artist is unknown.

The textiles represent a time between 1868 and 1910 when Navajos had been returned to their reservation after a period of internment.  Weavers had new freedom to experiment with colors, materials and patterns and they created some wonderfully beautiful and colorful textiles.



Another section of the exhibit displayed some more recent and modern weavings that I'll show you tomorrow.

Native Princess & Aztec God

These two murals used to be on the back side of a restaurant on McDowell Road but I noticed recently that the walls have been painted and are now just one solid color.  I took these shots a while ago and was waiting to see if I could find something about who painted them but, no luck and now they are gone completely.  What a shame.  It's a shame too that someone had to tag that second one.

Linked to Monday Murals.

Who is a Citizen?

I went to the Heard Museum on Friday to see two new exhibits and while I was there, I visited the newly arranged and expanded exhibit about the history if "Indian Schools" and their legacy.  It's a very informative exhibit about that time in our history when Native American children were taken from their homes and placed in boarding schools designed to strip away their "Indian-ness" in order to bring them into what was called "civilized" society.  (Frankly, it doesn't seem very civilized these days.) It was another of those "dark" periods in our past.

When I got to this room designed to look like a classroom, I was kind of stopped in my tracks at what was written on the chalk board.  Given the political dialog here in the U.S. this last week,  it struck me as very timely.  However, in this particular context, it was about how Native Americans were not given full citizen rights until the passage of the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968.  And, they are still fighting for full rights to their lands and water.  (And the beat goes on as Sonny & Cher might say.)

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I'm making a quick stop in a pretty Oregon town.

The Moon

I thought it would be appropriate to put up a photo of the moon today on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.  The Apollo Lunar Module Eagle landed on the moon's surface on July 20th 1969 at 20:17 UTC.  I wonder if those footprints are still there.

Big Glass Box

This big glass building sits on the corner of Central Avenue and Roosevelt (the street pictured) and it's been there for many years.  It was recently purchased by a new real estate group who have plans to create a multi-use environment.  It's the only office building located in the "Roosevelt Row" Arts District so there is potential to incorporate art venues along with restaurants on the ground floor. I'll keep my eyes open for changes taking place here.

Tribute

Wesley Bolin Plaza is a park located opposite the Arizona State Capitol building.  It contains 30 monuments and/or memorials and I've featured many of them here before.  I somehow missed this one.  It's the Korean War Memorial paying tribute to the 280 Arizonans who were killed or reported missing during that war.

It's such a pretty and peaceful looking memorial that I hate to think of it in relationship to war.  It consists of a stylized pagoda with a ceremonial temple bell inside.

I'll have to look at my photos and see if I have something for all 30.  I don't think I do so I might have to go scouring the park once again.  When it's cooler!

Luxury Living Near Downtown

These new luxury condos opened near downtown Phoenix a year or so ago.  When I visited the Japanese Friendship Garden a few years ago, I'd see the construction going on.  I guess they were completed in late 2017.

The building is called Portland on the Park because it faces Portland Street on one side and a city park on the other side and it looms over the Japanese Friendship Garden.  So if you are on the north side of the building you have park views and if you are on the south side of the building you have a downtown skyline view.  Either might be nice.

I checked and there are a few units for sale if you have $425,000 to $1,150,000. to spare.

Great Discovery

I made a new discovery over the weekend.  I went to the Arizona Heritage Center and discovered a fabulous museum that I never knew existed.  And, it was huge with first class exhibits.  The museum is tucked away in a kind of out-of-the-way place so it's not a place you pass by all the time.  That must explain why it's not been on my radar before this.

The museum is all about the history of Arizona and the people who have built this state into what it is today.  The exhibits take up two floors.

There were exhibits about our participation in wars, about industries that have made the valley home and about all the people who have built the state from the Native Americans to today's leaders.

There was one new exhibit that was quite sobering.  These two rooms were covered with portraits of homeless people in the area who were photographed and interviewed by Jon Linton, founder of the "I Have a Name" project.  The stories that went with these photographs were truly amazing.

I'll show other things from the museum from time to time.  And, I'll certainly be back.  There was a film about how copper is mined and refined that I want to go back and see again.  Even after four hours, I still hadn't really seen it all.

Busy Mural

This is a section of a very large mural by artist Joerael Elliot.  It's on the side of a building in the Roosevelt Row arts district.  I can't really explain this one.  I did some searching and I found information about the mural and I found photos of it with the artist's name but none of the articles explained what it wa about.  One person mentioned that it had something to do with surviving the Arizona heat.  I just know that there is a lot going on here!

Linked to Monday Murals!

Sharp Teeth

This aloe plant looks like it's ready to take a bite out of anyone who slips their arm in-between those leaves.  I snapped this photo to capture the thorns on the plant but when I noticed how that background got darkened, I liked the dramatic look it made.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I found the place I'd stay on Lake Como if money was no object!

Slipper Plant

Here's a plant I don't think I've shown on this site before.  It's called a slipper plant but, it's official name is Euphorbia lomelii.  I've been told that it gets it's name from the blooms that supposedly look like ladies slippers.  Personally, I don't see the resemblance.  It's an unusual plant that produces these bloom but does not have any leaves.  It just has tall, erect stalks.  I see a lot of it in the hummingbird garden at the Desert Botanical Garden so it might be attractive to hummingbirds.

Unusual Lighting Feature

This car was parked in the Scottsdale Fashion Square Shopping mall garage and with those ever changing colors surrounding the headlights, it was hard to miss.  I looked up "Voxx Wheels" and guess what, they sell wheels!  Very expensive and very different auto wheels and this car is even featured on the their web page.  I'm not in the market for wheels, so I didn't search any further.

The Park and the Moon

Here is another view from Encanto Park, this one looking in the opposite direction from yesterday's photo.  There are several of those small bridges crossing the lagoon as it flows across the park.

Another view looks at the expanse of the park scattered with picnic benches.  Most of the picnic benches are positioned under shade trees or shade covers but, there are a few out in the sun.  Notice that little spec of a moon in the sky......

...I decided to zoom in on it.  I love a good day-time moon.

Encanto Views

Two weeks ago I took a walk at Encanto Park over on the west side of Phoenix.  That's where I found the rocking horse statue that I posted last week.  I hadn't been there since I moved to the other side of town so I thought it would be nice to take a walk there and see if anything had changed.  The lagoon is still just as pretty as before.

And, the Encanto Park Clubhouse is still looking exactly the same.  It was a pleasant walk, early in the morning before our summer heat was setting in.  Tomorrow I'll show you another view from the park.

Another Collection of Odds And Ends

Today I have another set of random shots I've found in my "Odd Shots" photo file.  First up is a very cute little watering can.  It would make watering the plants lots of fun.

I saw this clay frog sitting at the end of a driveway and I thought he looked a little tired and sad.  He's been sitting out in the Arizona sun a bit too long.  He might have developed some skin cancer because of it. 😱

This guy was climbing up a wall and at first I thought he was real but, he's not.  He's made of ceramic and has been scaling that wall for a long time.

A police helicopter circling over one of the historic neighborhoods I was cruising through looking for photos.  I hope he wasn't called to watch me.  I sometimes wonder when I'm out taking photos if I look a bit suspicious.  No one stopped me so I guess I was safe.

Toothy Critters

I don't think I've ever seen a mural painted on one of those chain-link fences with the aluminum slats in it before.  This was on the back side of an artists space called Weird Garden.  I don't know much about it except that an artist is working to clean up the space and turn it into an artists studio and gallery.  There are lots of art studios and galleries on this part of Grand Avenue near downtown.

I just noticed that I also captured an airliner making its way to land at Sky Harbor International Airport.

Linked to Monday Murals.

Well Known Clinic

Yesterday it was a brand new hospital wing for Banner University Medical Center, today it's another medical facility this time in Scottsdale.  I bet everyone has heard of the famous Mayo Clinic founded in Rochester Minnesota.  They also have a huge presence in Arizona with at least 8 facilities here.  Most of them are all located in Scottsdale.  I think someone told me that this particular  building has hospital facilities along with clinical offices.  The Mayo Clinic still has facilities in Minnesota but I see they've expanded greatly in Arizona and Florida.  I wonder if that is because of the large retirement communities in both states.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I have something a little different, some random shots from Italy.

Building a New Tower

The Banner University Medical Center has added a new tower to their hospital campus and it is now open for business.  I watched this building go up and took several photos along the way.  Here they are.

I first noticed it in October of 2016 when I took this photo.  

One evening in January of 2017, I saw it all lit up at night while workers continue to work on the building.

March through June of 2017, they were starting to put the building cladding on it but as you can see from these two photos, they still had a way to go.

By August of 2017, it was taking shape.

The photo at the top is how it looks today.

Rocking Horse

I took a walk at Encanto Park last weekend where I saw this statue dedicated to childhood dreams.

The plaque says that it was donated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation back in 1989.  The artist is Snell Johnson.  It sits near the entrance to Enchanted Island, a small amusement park that I've never visited.  Did you have a rocking horse when you were a kid?  

Break Out the Confetti

It's the fourth of July also known as Independence Day here in the good ole' US of A.  There will be fireworks tonight, I'm just not sure where.  We'll see if I can catch any.  Happy Fourth to all my American readers!

Corporate Art

The Madison office complex on north 16th Street has a sculpture that forms the centerpiece for the complex.  I believe the bottom where the plant is growing used to be a fountain at one time because there is a little valve box with "fountain" written on it at the base.  I searched and searched looking for the name of the artist but couldn't find any information.  It's an interesting piece.

Timeless Beauty

It's been a very long time since I featured a photo of this very distinctive building.  In fact, it was back in 2011.  However, the July issue of Arizona Highways was dedicated to The Architecture of Arizona and this was one of the many buildings it featured.  That inspired me to go out and get a new photo of this wonderful midcentury modern building.

This Chase Bank branch was originally commissioned by Walter Bimson, who was President of Valley National Bank (a predecessor to Chase) back in 1968.  It was designed by Frank Henry.

I love this quote straight out of the article in the Arizona Highways magazine:  "This is a shotgun wedding of Wrightian geometric expressionism and International Style modernism - an unlikely union, but one that works because a slightly goofy sense of fun chips away at sober rationality (and visa versa), creating a poised and complex balance of personality.  It exudes an emotional warmth that few mainstream modernist buildings in the 20th century ever manage."  Amen to that!

Theme Day: Blue

Well, it's the first of July.  We've used up half of 2019 already.  Gosh, those months went by fast.  As most of you know, the first of the every month is "theme day" for us City Daily Photo Bloggers and today's colorful theme is "Blue".  I took this photo back in April when Berridge Nursery had that art show I posted about.  I saved this shot especially for the July theme.  If you are in the market for some deep blue pottery, you know where to go!  I must admit, it is a color that appeals to me.

Other City Daily Photo shades of blue can be followed here.

Beware of the Dog....

...but, the lions are harmless.

I found this house while cruising around one of our historic neighborhoods.  These people certainly have an affinity for statues of lions.  There are six of them on top of pillars lining the driveway with two giant ones at either end.  And, those are just the lions I can see behind that fence.  There were two "Beware of Dog" signs, one on the garage door and one hanging on the fence.  I took the photo from across the street so I didn't disturb the dog, wherever it was.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I'm showing one of the biggest highlights of my recent trip to Italy.