Category Archives: art

July 18, 2017

Three Sisters Sanctuary (Goshen, MA)

Date Of Visit: June 4, 2017

Location: 188 Cape St (rt112), Goshen, MA (about 45 minutes northwest of Springfield, MA and an hour and a half southeast of Albany, NY)

Hours: Open 7 days/week, 8:00 am – Dusk

Cost: a $10 donation is suggested. Children under 12 are admitted free

Parking: The parking area next to Three Sisters can accommodate about 15-20 cars.

Handicapped Accessible: There is limited wheelchair access.

Dog Friendly: Service pets are allowed

Highlights: unique pieces of art in a natural setting

Website: Three Sisters Sanctuary

The sign at the entrance to Three Sister Sanctuary states, “Where nature and art merge.” That’s a pretty apt description of the sanctuary if there ever was one.

Three Sisters Sanctuary is no run of the mill art sanctuary. Every piece of art is made of rock, plants, water, iron and other parts of the land in its composition. In fact, sanctuary is a very good way to describe the place. Three Sisters is more than just a place to look at art or enjoy the beautiful nature which surrounds the sanctuary. It is a place for reflection, meditation and peace.

Richard Richardson, the owner and on site artist at Three Sisters created the pieces of art to foster a feeling of serenity, inner peace and spirituality.

The name “Three Sisters” comes from Richard’s three daughters. His three daughters gave him so much joy and happiness he wanted to give this joy and happiness to others through his art. He says he did not find the garden. The garden found him. It helped fill a void in his life and it has brought him a purpose and meaning.

Richard’s use of old machines as well as other tools and spare parts is indicative of the unique style of the art at the sanctuary.

One thing you’ll notice in Richard’s works are his emphasis on people, particularly children, in his work. Looking at these works of art, you can’t help but stop and consider the effort and creativity it took to create such interesting and meaningful works of art. It certainly does make you think about the many forms of inspiration and how we express that inspiration.

From afar, some of the statues look a little like something might see in a zombie movie. But, they are all pretty harmless.

Keeping with his themes of spirituality and peace, you will also see angels and other spiritual figures.

Richard feels the presence of his older brother and his eldest daughter, who he tragically lost. He says the art and nature both work to provide healing and peace while keeping the spirit of his brother and daughter with him. Whether you are a spiritual person or not I still think you can at least find inner peace among the statues and other works of art.

Another common theme of the art at the sanctuary is the use of animals in his work. Dogs, horses, butterflies and even a few mythical creatures are a few of the animals and wildlife

You may even run into a few real wildlife. While walking along the sanctuary, I noticed this rather unhappy goose. Unsure why he or she was making faces and noises at me, I went to take a closer look. It turns out the mommy or daddy was just being protective. It seemed appropriate that life would begin here and share in the peacefulness around them.

Some of the rocks at the sanctuary are said to give up energy and even be a source of healing. In fact, if you stand in between some of the bigger rocks, it i said you will feel a certain energy and healing power. One of Richard’s daughters who was helping him during my visit said she feels rejuvenated after standing next to the rocks.

Jut when you think you’re at the end of the art sanctuary, there are pretty cool statues and other works of art at the front of the sanctuary.

Richard has succeeded in making a sanctuary that is not only a place for art lovers to seek out unique pieces of work. He has also helped create a place for people to reflect and find an inner peace.

Three Sisters Sanctuary also provides accommodations for visitors as well as ceremonies on their grounds. The Nomad’s link of the day is a blog post by Kristin Chalmers. She recently attended a wedding as the photographer and posted about Nicole And Kilean’s Medeival LARP Wedding At Three Sisters Sanctuary.

13 Comments | tags: art, artist, Goshen, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, sculptures, statues, Three Sisters Sanctuary | posted in art, Goshen, MA, New England, photographs, photography, photos, sculptures, statues, Three Sisters Sanctuary, Uncategorized

July 4, 2017

The Mount (Lenox,MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: June 4, 2017

Location: 2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA (about 2 hours west of Boston and 1 hour northwest of Springfield, MA)

Hours: The Mount is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm through October 31st, except on early closing days (please see below). The Mount is open from 10:30 am – 3:00 pm most weekends in November through February. Please call 413-551-5100 to confirm hours.

Cost: $18 for adults, $17 for seniors (65 and older), $13 for students with id, $10 for members of the military, free for teens and children (18 and younger)

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Service pets may be allowed

Highlights: home of author Edith Wharton, trails, fountains, flowers

Website: The Mount

Once the home to one of Massachusetts’ more prominent authors, The Mount is more than just a beautiful mansion. The Mount, once the home of Edith Wharton, has colorful gardens, fountains, art, spectacular views and history around every corner.

The Mount, which was recently restored, is an elegant house that has kept much of its original charm. What is great about the mansion is that you can see the entire home in half an hour or so. Yet, it isn’t so much the quantity of time and space the tour (I took a self guided tour but there may also be guided tours as well) would take. But, rather, it is the quality of time and space the tour takes. Around each corner is one beautiful piece of furniture and architecture. Yeah, I think I could live here.

I couldn’t use my flash when I took photos inside of the mansion. But, I did my best. Sometimes the lack of lighting gives the home a mysterious feel. Sometimes it just makes the photos look crappy. You decide.

The two floor building has about a dozen rooms and there is a handicapped accessible entry and elevator.

Some of my favorite rooms had the old, antiquated tools and appliances we used to use.

The grounds of the Mount is as beautiful as the inside of the building.

The Beaver Loop Trail, a gentle, short trail (about half a mile) that runs along the grounds of The Mount, offers some very pretty views.

Edith Wharton was fond of animals (well, mostly she was fond of dogs not so much cats – oh well she wasn’t purrfect I guess). Along the trail around the mansion, a side trail leads too a pet cemetery.

There are also little critters along the trail outside of the home.

The Mount is also hosting a special art exhibit called SculptureNow on its trail. If you missed it, you can view the blog post I posted a few weeks ago bout the art exhibit here.

Please connect with me on Facebook to view more New England area related content.

8 Comments | tags: architecture, art, Edith Wharton, garden, Lenox, mansion, Massachusetts, New England, sculptures, The Mount, trail | posted in art, Edith Wharton, garden, history, Lenox, mansions, Massachussetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, The Mount, Uncategorized

June 19, 2017

SculptureNow (Lenox, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: June 4, 2017

Location: The Mount, 2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA

Dates and Hours of Exhibit: June, 2017 – October, 31, 2017, The Mount is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm through October 31st, except on early closing days (please see below). The Mount is open from 10:30 am – 3:00 pm most weekends in November through February. Please call 413-551-5100 to confirm hours.

Cost: $18 for adults, $17 for seniors (65 and older), $13 for students, children and teens (18 and under) get in free, $10 for military personnel (cost includes a tour of the Edith Wharton house and if you return within 10 days you can get in free again with your receipt)

Parking: There is ample parking available at The Mount.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes. The trail is dirt bit wide and even for the most part.

Dog Friendly: No, except for service dogs possibly

Highlights: art on a easy trail, scenic views

Website: SculptureNow

As if the Mount wasn’t beautiful enough, there are 30 amazing sculptures to compliment its beauty.

There are 30 sculptures along the trail. But, when I went to visit in early June, not all of the sculptures were up. I did the best I could to photograph as many as I could find. But, I didn’t have a map or any other guide at the time to find them. So, it was something like a “scavenger hunt” when I did visit the sculptures. It looks like I found 22 of the 30 sculptures. The art has a modern feel to it. All thirty sculptures should be up now for your viewing pleasures.

The numbers next to the descriptions correspond to the descriptions in the map of the trail where the sculptures are located. The link to the trail map is attached above in the website link.

1. The first sculpture is called Stall by Nancy Winship Milliken. Nancy describes her sculpture as the following:

“This site-specific memorial honors the activities and architecture of a New England past. The horsehair gestures towards the building at The Mount which was at one time Wharton’s stable.”

2. The second sculpture is called Day’s End by James Kitchen. James says his sculpture this way:

“Does our fast-paced, distraction filled world allow time to think, read and reflect, enjoy art in all its forms? Exhausted, we let media affirm our feelings rather than inform us.”

3. The third sculpture is by Harold Grinspoon. According to Grinspoon, his art is:

“Giving new meaning to objects that have aged out of their original purpose, I invoke nostalgia for the familiar and an appreciation of new forms of beauty.”

4. 3. “Fallen Sky” by Coral Penelope Lambert is the next sculpture. Coral explains her art this way:

“My work explores forces of nature and seeks to address the darker issues related to Earth’s resources such as mining and contamination where traces of the process remain.”

5. Stack C by Lydia Musco is a combination of nature and architecture:

“Architecture and elements of nature, such the work of gravity, influence this work. The form is built in one additive action, line by line, like layers of stories within memories.”

6. James N Burnes’ sculpture Nine Piece Ring is the next sculpture. Burnes described his art this way:

“I create forms from nature that express our intimate relationship with Mother Earth. I am drawn to the tension between the natural and organic, man and nature, time and decay.”

7. Biomorphic by Michael Thomas is the next sculpture. According to Michael, Biomorphic is:

“An undulating, sensual, and playful organic form, often encountered on the periphery of the natural world, realized here in steel. Biomorphic is the fluid movement of mass, coupled together with the visceral experience of color and texture.”

8. Distant by Philip Marshall is, according to Marshall:

“The nude model at a figure drawing held his pose for hours, eyes fixed on a distant point, maintaining his mental distance under prolonged scrutiny; he and the chair becoming one.”

9. Off The Rails by Lucy Hodgson:

“Our country: how we got here and is there a way forward? This is a comment on the decline of infrastructure—among many other things.”

10. Sheep by Madeleine Lord is:

“A pile of galvanized scrap metal sheering implied the subject: Steel Wool. I work the skeletal to the surface and the surface to the skeletal. Pulse arrives after I finish.”

11. Joseph Carpineto’s Walkabout

“This sculpture is inspired by a memory of the coarse undershirts my mother made for me from flour sacks. The rough feel of the rope is reminiscent of those undershirts.”

12. Bench I by Peter Barrett:

“Please, have a seat! I’ve wanted to incorporate some stone into my work since visiting a friend’s marble quarry, and here you have my first attempt.”

13. Anabasis by Chris Plaisted:

“I like to work with steel for its strength and powerful emotion. The subject is the human spirit. I was inspired by the sea and the concept of an upward journey.”

14. Yellow Peril by Setsuko Winchester:

“In 2015 & 2016, these 120 handpinched tea bowls traveled to ten U.S. concentration camps where 120,000 persons (mostly U.S. citizens) were imprisoned during WWII. Their crime was to be Japanese.”

15. Reflective Change by Martina Angela Muller:

“The undulating lines of music and the sculptural force of the wind informed these shapes. Both are continuous game changers that generate inner and outer movement leading to reflective change.

16. Avoidance Attractor by Matt Crane:

“Avoidance Attractor in its first iteration explores structure and materiality with a shift in scale and orientation. An empty piece of signage that invites projection, while remaining stoic and silent.”

17. Netting For Water by Ann Jon:

“My work is an adventure, exploring new forms and media, hoping the viewer’s eye, mind, and heart will experience the sculpture visually, creating their own narrative or message.”

18. Fenestral by William Carlson:

“This sculpture is intended to pull the audience into the small portals of light as the sun rises and sets. The piece acts like a clock while controlling the viewer’s perception of the landscape.”

19. Blue Pulse by Murray Dewart:

“I want my sculptures to convey both the momentum of ritual pilgrimage and the stasis of meditative mandalas. They gesture in their various ways as resolute guardian forms, protective and consoling.”

20. Gnomon 1 by Christopher Curtis:

“Much of my work seeks context for humankind’s place in the natural world. Gnomon 1, made with stone, stainless steel, and gold leaf, is a good example of this investigation.”

21. Waterstone by Dove Bradshaw:

“Waterstone is a time-sculpture: For a slow action of water boring a hole, limestone was used; for fast boring, salt boulders and granulated salt mounds. Outdoors in winter, vodka replaced water.”

22. Poet’s Cry by Colleen O’Donnell:

“Weepings of unsound. A poet’s cry of light. Reflecting back into herself.”

23. Bittern by Robin Tost:

“The Bittern is a marsh bird who, when alarmed, stretches up its neck so that the striations on its breast give it perfect camouflage in the reeds.”

24. Twelve Cuboid Stack, I by David Teeple:

“My work centers on water as a subject, a material, and an idea. In this sculpture, I am interested in how the reflections and refractions create a new perceptual experience.”

25. Yellow Dakota + River by Stuart Farmery:

“Through abstract forms I reference a passage of time combining art historical sources, such as stone circles and constructivist concepts, with my awareness of current political, environmental, and communal issues

26. Hedge by Gary Orlinsky:

“Inspired by the two rows of linden trees that link the Mount’s gardens, Hedge creates a provocative dialogue between the organic movement of the saplings and the geometry of the boxes

27. Gilavar by William Brayton:

“This abstract sculpture developed in response to a range of sources, including indigenous wind patterns, Polynesian stick charts, wooden boat building methods, storm tracking data, and chance-based fabrication systems.”

28. Gene by Eric Stein:

“Representing cause and effect, the cast concrete units of molecular design are stacked, colliding randomly. They present an undetermined beginning and illustrate the natural selection of options of creativity, form, and life

29. Tree With Spheres Jacque Metheny

“My sculpture juxtaposes geodesic spheres with the yet more complex structure of a tree. Geometric systems are the foundation of all material form. In nature we understand this as beauty.”

30. Caterpillar Bridge II by Roe Osborn:

“My sculpture combines construction materials in contextual mathematical formulas. This piece joins sections of drainage pipe in a dimensional sequence that captures and defines space in an engaging, yet playful manner.

10 Comments | tags: art, Lenox, Massachussetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, sculpture, sculptures, The Mount | posted in art, Lenox, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, sculptures, The Mount, Uncategorized

June 13, 2017

Hanna-Barbera Exhibit (Stockbridge, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: May 28, 2017

Location: Norman Rockwell Museum, 9 Glendale Rd, Stockbridge, MA

Dates Of Exhibit: Unfortunately, the exhibit is no longer at the museum. It was such a big attraction, I wouldn’t be surprised if it did come back at another time, though.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, the Norman Rockwell Museum is one of the more handicapped accessible places I have been to

Highlights: animations, drawings and collectibles from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon collection

Yogi, Fred, Richie and even Jabber. They were all there at the Norman Rockwell Museum last month. as the Norman Rockwell Museum showed off some of the works of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon franchise. Just as a warning, some of the photos may not look top notch because we weren’t allowed to use a flash in the museum.

As I walked along the various drawings of my childhood, it was like walking down memory lane. I could envision the shows I loved so dearly. All I needed was a bowl of Cap ‘N Crunch and a glass of O.J. and my footie pajamas and it would have been just like my childhood. OK, I still might have a pair of footie pj’s.

The popular shows were represented of course.

But, what was great about the exhibit is how they showed some of the more obscure shows in the exhibit. At least they were obscure to me. In fact, I didn’t even remember some of the shows they featured until I saw them at the museum.

There was also a television playing a short documentary about Hanna-Barbera playing on a loop for visitors to watch as they checked out the comics and there was a scavenger-like game kids could play with their parents to find certain characters in the drawings at the exhibit. Also, an employee gave an informative tour of the drawings and collectibles.

Another cool thing about the exhibit was that some people offered to lend their collectibles to the exhibit for display. Some people have quite a few collectibles!

Here’s a fun fact. Well, it;s a fact. Not sure if it is “fun” our tour guide told us how Jackie Gleason almost stopped the Flintstones from happening. Apparently, Gleason watched an episode and he noticed how the story lines, the shows basic setup and characters were essentially the same as his show, The Honeymooners. But, even though he would have had a case in court, he stopped short of stopping the show because he didn’t want to be known as the guy who stopped the Flintstones show. Nowadays, every show seems to mirror The Honeymooners.

The exhibit was organized so neatly. It encompassed three spacious rooms and each inch of the walls seemed to be covered with a drawing or card with information on it. Yet, the art work didn’t seem cramped.

I would have to say seeing some of the drawings from the more obscure shows like “Jabber Jaws” and “The Ed Grimley Show” brought back some of broadest smiles if “I must say” (I actually liked the Joe Flaherty segment of the show when he played the “Count Floyd” character best).

I hope I was able to make you smile on this Tuesday!

What were some of your favorite shows from the drawings above?

9 Comments | tags: animated, animation, art, cartoons, comics, Hanna-Barbera, Massachusetts, New England, Norman Rockwell Museum, photographs, Photography, photos, Stockbridge | posted in animation, art, cartoons, comics, Hanna-Barbera, Massachusetts, New England, Norman Rockwell Museum, photographs, photography, photos, Stockbridge, Uncategorized

June 2, 2017

Northampton Street Art (Northampton, MA)

By New England Nomad

hDate Of Visit: May 27, 2017

Locations: Main St & Pleasant St, Northampton, MA (about 30 minutes north of Springfield, MA and an hour and a half west of Boston, MA)

Parking: Metered street parking and 15 minute parking is available throughout the area but it is limited, particularly during the weekend. Parking rules are strictly enforced in this area. There is also a parking garage on Main St.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, everywhere I visited during this trip was handicapped accessible

Highlights: bridge art, murals, architecture

One of the more culturally and artistically rich areas in Western Massachusetts (and there are a lot of them out there), Northampton is a great place to walk around and take in the street art.

This art is on Main St on a bridge along the Norwottuck Bike Trail in the heart of Northampton.

You can find art around just about any corner in Northampton. This mural was located in an alley off Pleasant St.

This mural is on the side of Millennium Liquors, also on Pleasant St. I noticed it on the drive into Northampton and I also noticed it is fading. So, I wanted to photograph it while I still had the chance.

It was a beautiful day outside and Smith College was holding their commencement the day I was visiting so the city was bustling. It always makes me smile when I see a new crop of students graduating. To me, it seems liek it’s not officially summer until the graduations and weddings start. People were also enjoying the warm weather bt dining outside or sitting on a bench.

Dogs like to look at the street art, also. Katama is a two and a half year old Samoyed. This beautiful can be found on Instagram at katamadog,

8 Comments | tags: art, bridge, dog, Massachusetts, mural, New England, Northampton, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in art, bridge, New England, Northampton, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

April 14, 2017

DrainSmart (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: April 9, 2017

Locations: Throughout Salem, MA

Highlights: DrainSmart Mural Project, sights and sounds of Salem

Think twice before you drop that seemingly harmless piece of paper on the sidewalk. That is what the DrainSmart murals located throughout the city of Salem, MA, seem to be saying.

The DrainSmart Program was created to help create awareness of how littering causes so much pollution in our waters. As the murals state, everything that enters the sewers drains to the ocean.

There were 12 murals planned for the city. I photographed 5 of the best looking works. Unfortunately, I could not locate some of the others or the others I did find had been worn away by pedestrian foot traffic and the elements.

Click here to see what they were supposed to look like.

The DrainSmart murals weren’t the only works of art or signs in the area.

Halloween isn’t the only time people dress up in Salem. The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers held a Regency Dance Weekend in Salem, MA, while I was visiting. The participants all wore attire that represented the time they were recreating.

Whenever I am in Salem, I am always taken by the historical significance and the architecture of the area. This building, the Witch House, is the last standing structure with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials. In this house suspected witches and other people who were considered witnesses were tortured and threatened to confess to participating in witchcraft or witnessing witches.

It’s also fun just walking around and checking out the sights and sounds of Salem, particularly on such a pleasant spring day. They are building a hotel on Essex St and I noticed on the side of this building an old sign for Pickman Place.

It’s always refreshing for me to see buildings that have stood the test of time and still stand today, even if they may have different tenants. I may have an unhealthy attachment to historical buildings and landmarks. They bind us together. In a world that is ever changing and making way for new and better, it’s important to keep our history close at hand as well. Imagine all of the different people who have walked those same streets, enjoyed the very same entertainers we have. These streets could tell stories.

This side street where the Salem Witch Trials Memorial stands will be packed shoulder to shoulder in a mere 200 days. On this day it was desolate.

As was the mall. There is something about the Museum Mall in Salem that seems creepy and kind of scary when there’s not a crowd there.

There were also musicians out in the warm weather. You might not recognize the second musician. He usually plays his instrument with a mask at the very same location during the Halloween season.

There were also some very cute dogs out in Salem during my visit.

Mojo is a 4 year old Airedale and Pointer rescue from Tennessee.

Duke is a 9 month old Hungarian Vizsla. I wonder if he’s related to Dennis?

10 Comments | tags: art, buildings, dogs, historic, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in art, buildings, dogs, historical, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Uncategorized

April 13, 2017

Art In The Park (Lappin Park, Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Event: April 9, 2017

Location: Lappin Park, Essex St, Salem, MA

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Highlights: Aspiring and casual artists painting and drawing works of art

Once known exclusively for the tragic Salem Witch Trials and tales of haunted attractions, Salem, MA, has become a hub of artistic and creative expression. The “Art In The Park” event held last weekend (April 9) at Lappin Park (also known as the park with the Bewitched statue) is proof of this.

This was the first “Art In The Park” event and it was such a success another event has been planned for May (details of the upcoming event can be found near the end of this post). The idea came to a school teacher who resides in Salem, MA. And, the Salem Collective of Arts And Musicians (SCAM) ran with the idea.

Gary, one of the organizers of the event, told me, it was great seeing people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds getting together to bond over art.

From novices to skilled artists, all were welcome to participate. This family’s work of art was aptly called, “Family.”

This work of art was a collaborative effort with at least 3 or 4 people taking turns working on it.

This work of art was created by the creator of the event, John.

Another Art In The Park event is scheduled for Sunday, May 7 at Lappin Park in Salem, MA , at 11 a.m. Minimal materials will be provided. For more details, check out their Facebook page:Art In The Park.

Below are some photos of the exterior of the SCAM building on Essex St

Although they weren’t interested in painting, I saw a lot of dogs in Salem enjoying the beautiful Salem weather.

Bella is a 2 year old rescue from Alabama. Although her exact breed is not known, her mom thinks she probably has some Lab in her. Either way, she cute’s as a button!

Nora is a 5 year old Chihuahua. Don’t you just love those ears!

As an fyi, the Salem garage (at least the one on New Liberty St where the Museum Plaza is) no longer has attendees in their parking garage. They have automated their pay system. Gone are the friendly faces that greeted you as you entered and left the garage.

Although it seems like a minor change and for the better for some, I’ll actually miss having a person taking my money and wishing me a good day instead of paying a lifeless machine. It’s funny how such a small and seemingly innocuous change can bother me so. I suppose it’s also a sign that things are changing (and I suspect there will be many more changes coming to Salem). Or, it could just be another sign the machines are taking over!

13 Comments | tags: art, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in art, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Uncategorized

March 9, 2017

Spring Bulb Show (The Botanic Garden of Smith College, Northampton, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Event: March 4 – March 19, 2017 (photos taken March 4)

Location: The Botanic Garden of Smith College, 16 College Lane, Northampton, MA

Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday extended hours 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (members get in earlier at 9 .a.m)

Cost: Free ( a $5 donation is suggested)

Parking: unmetered parking is available on College Lane and additional parking is available throughout Northampton

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, from their website: There is one designated handicapped parking space in front of the Lyman Plant House. Two of the three front entrances to the Lyman Plant House and Conservatory are wheelchair accessible and the restrooms are accessible. There is a lift in the front of the building that goes between the lower level Church Exhibition Gallery and the Reception area. All but one of the greenhouses (the Fern House) are accessible.

Highlights: Avariety of flowers such as crocuses, hyacinths, narcissi, irises, lilies and tulips in full bloom or nearly in bloom at the Botanic garden of Smith College

Web Site: The Botanic Garden of Smith College

Believe it or not, spring, for most if us, is right around the corner. Soon enough, drab, colorless soil and grass and dead flowers and plant life will be replaced with the vibrant colors of spring and summer.

As an early celebration of the spring season, the Botanic Garden of Smith College is showcasing a colorful array of flowers as part of their Spring Bulb Show (which ironically ends the day before the Vernal Spring buds, get it?) .

There were a wide variety of flowers of display and I won’t even try to name or describe all of them, except to sayy they were very pretty.

The gaarden used works of art such as paintings and statues to highlight the beauty of the flowers. It was very well done and it brought out the colors of the flowers.

The people at the Botanic garden were kind enough to open the rest of the garden to us which showcased an impressive field of flowers and trees.

I also spotted a frog, fish and some other mysterious faces at the garden.

We also saw Kaezli, a beautiful 4 year old Burnese Mountain Dog, outside the Botanic garden.

Below is a video of a plant that closes when it feels pressure or weight and a video of a waterfall at the garden.

21 Comments | tags: art, dogs, flowers, Massachusetts, New England, Northampton, photographs, Photography, photos, plants, trees | posted in art, dog, flowers, Massachusetts, New England, Northampton, photographs, photography, photos, plants, Uncategorized

February 10, 2017

Lego Wall (Boston, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: January 5, 2017

Location: Next to Dunkin’ Donuts, 330 Congress St, Boston, MA

Hours: Accessible everyday, 24 hours a day

Dog Friendly: Yes

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Highlights: Art display of Lego tiles in a brick wall

You never know what you’ll see while you walk along our city streets. Statues, dog, lego walls. Yes, you read that correctly. A Lego Wall! But, this is not the first work of art to appear on a brick wall on Congress St.

Well, the display doesn’t look like a Lego display but more like a wooden cut out. The “Lego Wall” name is actually a holdover from an earlier display on Congress St.

After noticing a hole in a section of the wall on Congress St, a artist took notice and decided to do something about it. Nate Swain, a former landscape architect, stealthily filled in the gap in the wall at 342 Congress St one Sunday night with a rather unusual material, Legos.

Weeks, months passed by while people stared, pointed, giggled and maybe weven shook their heads a few times at the work of art by an anonymous artist. Until recently.

Nate Swain finally publicly came forward as the artist who created the first Lego Wall. Imagine the joy he got as he walked past the display as other passersby scratched their heads or had a chuckle. There’s nothing like being in on an inside joke.

Unfortunately, the parking lot which stood next to the Lego Wall has been closed to make way for “affordable luxury housing.” Oxymoron aside, it also meant the Lego Wall had to go.

For some time, the brick walls of Congress St laid bare without a Lego Wall or any other work of art to admire or photograph for that magtter. However, in December of 2016 a different artist decided to put her own work of art on display on Congress St.

Boston artist and writer Daisy Razor (not her real name), decided to put her own brand of art on the walls of Congress St (next to the Dunkin’ Donuts at 330 Congress St to be exact).

The art is still there as of post. But, with our weather elements and other “forces of nature” (the original Lego Wall had been vandalized at least on one occasion) it’s unclear how long it will stay there.

Fun fact: this trend of fixing up walls with Legos is not limited to the United States. German artist Jan Vormann has also used Legos to dress up some architecture he has come across in his travels.

Who would ever think there would be so much history and background to Lego art?

19 Comments | tags: art, Boston, Massachussetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in art, Boston, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

February 2, 2017

Gun Totem (Providence, RI)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: September 24, 2016

Location: S Main St, Providence, RI

Hours: Accessible everyday, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

Parking: There is on street parking and several parking garages in the area

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlight: concrete obelisk constructed with over 1,000 real guns embedded in the concrete of the structure

I found this group of photos from a visit to Providence, Rhode Island last summer. I was originally going to post it on my Facebook page. But, since not everyone has liked my Facebook page (you really should), I decided to post it here. But, I do periodically post additional photos, videos and other fun stuff on my Facebook page that I don’t post on WordPress. So, think about joining it. OK, enough shameless self-promoting.

Built from 1,000 reclaimed guns from the Guns For Goods gun buy back program, the Gun Totem is a 12 foot obelisk made of concrete and 1,000 guns. Perhaps not coincidentally, the totem is located across the courthouse in Providence, Rhode Island.

Award winning artist Boris Bally created the monument in 2001. The concrete was chipped away to reveal the guns giving the guns a fossilized look. Or, as Bailey is quoted and saying:

“All aboriginal cultures, including this country’s own native American culture, build totemic structures to serve as venerated symbols of a clan or family… It will act as a monolithic, metallic warning and ‘mojo’ to ward off evil and violence so prevalent in today’s society. A crew of volunteer ‘archaeologists’ aided me in carefully chipping away areas of the concrete skin to reveal the ‘fossilized’ handguns beneath.”