Mama Rosa

On a recent visit to the Naked City we took some time to take a stroll through a new park in our former community; Wauwatosa’s Firefly Grove Park.

 

Meet Mama Rosa, a towering 24-foot troll sculpture created by world-renowned artist Thomas Dambo.  She's the first of his trolls in Wisconsin and a striking symbol of sustainability and imagination.

Made from trees recycled from Wauwatosa's urban forest and other materials from the city, Mama Rosa weighs over 4,000 pounds and features flowing hair crafted from oak branches. In her hands, she holds a bouquet made from old Wauwatosa streetlight posts—an artistic nod to her curious, flower-picking nature. 

The park is a one-of-a-kind experience featuring a picnic shelter, accessible play area for children of all ages, a pump track for BMX and mountain bikes, a living willow hut, sledding hill, walking paths and stormwater management features that filter up to 600,000 gallons of stormwater during major rain events.  There is a solar power facility at the park that reduces its carbon footprint, LED lighting from repurposed city lamp posts, landscaping incorporating native trees and plants and future plans to connect with the Oak Leaf Trail.

Firefly Grove Park was built 100% with grant funding—no local property tax dollars were used.   "Mama Rosa", was funded using hotel and motel room tax revenue—specifically through Wauwatosa’s Tourism Commission, intended for tourism and community attractions.

 

Check it out; it's located at 1900 North 116th Street in Wauwatosa, WI. 

Sunrise Bird

Sometimes one of the trail cameras delivers something with an artistic flair. 

 

It’s all unintentional and unstaged - pure chance.

 

Like this turkey walking towards ‘the light’….

 

Backyard Art

I was in the 6th grade when this song was popularized.

Easily the coolest propane tank, ever....

Rubber Idol

A fine example of a postmodern Laughing Buddha Statue......steel belted

 

Nature's Color Palette

During the spring and summer the deep green color of chlorophyll assists plants in the absorption of sunlight and masks additional colors lurking in the leaves of trees. The fall colors are there but hidden.  

The green pigment of chlorophyll is produced by plants during the photosynthesis process.  Those other ‘hidden pigments’ are called carotenoids and they are the source of the yellows, oranges, and anthocyanins, which yield red and purple leaves. While chlorophyll and carotenoids are present throughout the growing season, most anthocyanins are produced exclusively in late summer and early autumn.

There are several reasons why leaves change color in the fall, the most significant of which is shorter daylight hours and longer nighttime hours. As the days become shorter and the nights become longer, the amount of light required for photosynthesis is diminished and the production of chlorophyll slows to a halt. Without any new chlorophyll being produced, the leaves' characteristic green color begins to break down and vanish. This mechanism essentially reveals the colors of the carotenoids and anthocyanins that were lurking beneath. 

The red color is actively made in leaves by bright light and cold. The crisp, cold nights in the fall combine with bright, sunny days to spur production of red in leaves – especially in sugar maple and red maple trees. During these days, lots of sugars are produced in the leaf but the cool nights and the gradual closing of veins going into the leaf prevent these sugars from moving out. These conditions — lots of sugar and lots of light — spur production of the brilliant pigments, which tint reds, purples and crimson. 

 

Elevation and variety of tree species are two other factors that affect the timing of fall foliage. Trees in higher mountain elevations are likely to change colors more quickly than their valley counterparts within the same latitude.

We’re lucky here in the Midwest to be blessed with pretty decent fall colors.  They’re slightly late this year - yet continue to delight.

*Photos sourced from the Brussels community and our yard... 

 

The Golden Throne

It's tradition for US presidents to borrow famous artwork from museums in order to decorate the White House.  The Trumps requested to borrow a Vincent Van Gogh painting from the Soloman R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.  The president and first lady reportedly hoped to display it in the Oval Office.   

The Guggenheim's chief curator declined the request.  Instead, she offered an 18-karat solid gold toilet by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. Called "America," the modern sculpture was on display at the museum for a year starting in September 2016.   

Naturally, Trump supporters have their noses out of joint over what they decry as a crass, tasteless and degrading reponse to the current occupant of the Whitehouse.

I call BS.  Crass is as crass does.  Guggenheim is simply dishing the POTUS a dose of his own medicine.   As far as commodes go this golden throne is certainly an appropriate platform from which to perform your morning tweeting.  

You can learn more about this dust-up here.

Yard Art

From last weekend's Tour de Tom - a handful of roadside curiosities.

Busy, busy patriotic landscaping...

A very large carved bear sculpture...

Biker influenced post box... 

 click on images to enlarge

Roadside Curiosity

Folkart on the wall of an abandoned building in Reims, France...

Architecture

click on image to enlarge

Yesterday Jill and I paid a call at the Picasso Museum in Paris.  All-in-all an excellent day for musées  – drizzly.  The Picasso was organized, uncrowded and not swarmed with unsocialized individuals armed with selfie sticks. (There were none).  We toured and followed Pablo’s timeline and artistic evolution and viewed his private collection.  

Absolutely charming.   

From there we walked/metroed to the Musee Jacquemart Andre to view a private collection (think Frick in NYC).   

Again, very relaxed and no crowds.  Enjoyed a mid-afternoon lunch at the museum café.   

Nice.

You're probably wondering what any of this stream of consciousness has anything to do with architecture?

At the Picasso if you were to climb the steps to the top-most floor you would find this crazy post and beam construction underneath the roof. 

I'm sure it pervades the place.  And it must work - as this ancient structure is still standing.

Nothing hardly this impressive that is as old en états-unis...

Trip to the Louvre

First trip to the Louvre on Monday and it was generally OK.  

Being one of the few museums open on Monday it was quite busy - especially the popular exhibits.

I was having a grand time checking-out old French painters, Greek and Roman sculpture and glass, Egyptian antiquities and more and it wasn't until I decided to inspect the popular stuff that life got interesting.

Take - for instance - the Winged Victory of Samothrace.  This headless sculpture has been displayed at the Louvre since 1884 making it one of the most celebrated sculptures of all time.

 click on image to enlarge

The problem with the visit was the throng of individuals - selfie sticks in hand - pushing and shoving to jockey for photo dominance. It was a mob scene.

It gets worse.

This is my best photo of the Mona Lisa.  

Yes, that's her on the far side of the horde.  

I attempted better but the pushing, elbowing and shoving from dozens upon dozens of 100 pound rude princesses only resulted in these crappy photos.

In the midst of it all someone in the crowd blew chow and projectile vomit covered the floor.  The scrum slipped right-on thru.  It was gross beyond belief and I am not making this up.  With all of the elbows flying, jostling and the risk of losing an eye to a selfie stick (being careful not to slip) I beat a hasty retreat.  

Discouraged I skipped Venus De Milo.  

I went to see the Mona Lisa and as evidence of my visit  returned with this photo of a martyred Saint John the Baptist...

Sigh.

Artistic Inspiration

Last weekend The First Mate and Mrs. First Mate stayed here to watch over our Labs while we were away.  I hear there was some porch sitting and wine drinking (which makes perfectly good sense to me).  In the process inspiration was found.

Check this out...

click on image to enlarge

Missus First Mate sketched this very cool rendering of the old barn and some of the flowers bordering the porch of the house.

I believe it is frame-worthy.