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Tag Archives: art

N.Y. Trip

30 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by Ronald Parks in Hiking, New York, Photography

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Tags

art, engineering, Hiking, HISTORY, nature, photography, Public Works

Another day trip to New York. Always a lot of fun and a lot of walking. You cannot beat the Groupon $33 round trip price. Our driver just flies up the highway. Went thru the Holland Tunnel and got off at 8th and 45th. Went to the City Kitchen then headed over to the subway. 

It was a lot cleaner than I thought it would be. Lots of people in N.Y. for some reason.

Looking down at one of the trains.

Our first stop was at the 9/11 memorial. This is some sort of mall?

Inside view.

Bright sunny day with lots of reflections.

More reflections.

Reflecting pool. Hard to believe there once was a building here – full of people.

Kathy left her cellphone at work, so I’m not sure who she is talking to – on a cloaked phone.

The Survivor Tree. Discovered amidst the wreckage of 9/11 – transplanted and cared for, then brought back to be planted here.

An art sculpture from the wreckage at WTC Plaza. 1971 “The Sphere”

Back on the subway and headed to Staten Island Ferry. The subway card did not work after Kathy went thru – a woman held the gate open for me! Niceness in NY!

From outside the ferry terminal you can see the Brooklyn Bridge.

Leaving the terminal and watching a million people standing in line for the ferry, we walked over to Battery Park. Besides being able to see Lady Liberty from there, they have many statues around.

My B&W post of the day.

This was a strange one – called The Immigrants. 

Castle Clinton. Had some nice dioramas inside.

Another statue. This was blocked off and we couldn’t read what it was about.

Korean War Memorial – Got his camos on.

The Seaglass Carousel. 

Leaves are slow to turn up here.

After Battery Park we caught another subway to Chelsea Market. Building on the way.

This place was packed. Halloween stuff going on.

Halloween stuff!Left the market and headed to the High Line.

Another view. This is at 14th Street.

And here is an old time view. Interesting history about this. Plenty of articles on Google.

The High Line was old train tracks above the City, turned into a garden.

Finally some fall colors.

From 14th street we headed south to the end. Kathy got a kick out of me wanting to keep walking. This is at Gansevoort St. From here on, the rails were destroyed.

Besides being a nice hike, you get to see so much on the High Line.

I saw an old time photo of this. Didn’t think one still existed!

Lots of art work around and to be seen from an eye level view.

On the way heading north.

We are almost at the end and we come across this, just before 34th St.

Lots of new construction going on. This is Hudson Yard.

Leave the High Line and head back to the Theater District. Sights on the way.

Ha! Ralph Kramden!

Times Square is always a treat. Guy flipping over tourist.

Nice day and lots of people. We ate at Shake Shack, went to Muji and just hung out until it was time to head home.

Chalk Art

11 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by Ronald Parks in art, Baltimore

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Tags

art, Baltimore, Chalk Art, Little Italy, photography

Little Italy in Baltimore. I did not see a lot of advertisement for this event, which was a shame since there was such good art work here. And food. We ate at Sabatino’s afterwards, followed by Vaccaro’s pastry shop.

High Street was blocked off for this event.

Betsy Ross.

Lots of work and patience to do these.

This will probably be a great 3-D effect when done.

I think this guy didn’t get the memo about it being Chalk. Smelled like spray paint to me!

We looked at her portfolio. She has done a lot of great pieces over the years.

I really couldn’t see the 3-D effect on a lot of theses…

…even while standing where I was told to.

Nice color on this one. Amazing some of these came out so good considering the texture of the asphalt.

Nice. I saw this one upside down at first and wasn’t sure what is was.

Left over from the City Lights Festival.

The party is over, until next time.

New York City

05 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by Ronald Parks in New York, Photography, vacation

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

art, boats, Hiking, HISTORY, Museum, nature, Parks, photography

Did the Groupon Tour Bus to NYC the other day. Really nice trip and for $32 round trip, you couldn’t beat the price. Left the Carney Park and Ride at 7:26am and was parked in NY at 10:25am. Had to be back to the bus by 6:30pm. Nice long day of sight-seeing. It has been close to 30 years since I have been there. Back then it was smelly and dirty and I saw someone get robbed right outside of Penn Station…

First stop, Times Square.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Inside the church.

Past Rockefeller Center and thru some back streets to this guy made of Coach bags. I was waiting for the girl to start singing… “Mothra…”

The first Trump property we saw. Armed Tactical Police outside with dogs. Secret Service inside with scanners. Looking down from the top of the waterfall.

From walking around mid-town to Central Park. Not sure what was going on with the woman in the pink top, to the left. It looks like her transporter malfunctioned.

On the hour and half hour, these guys rotate around the base of the clock.

Nice zoo in the park.

 

Model yacht sailing on one of the lakes.

Was goiing to ask Alice something, but she seemed pre-occupied knocking this little kid off her toadstool…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the oblisk.

Then to Belvedere castle.

View of the turtle pond with many of them basking in the sun, along with the egret.

Across the pond to the Grand Lawn.

We were supposed to go to the Natural History Museum, instead, we were enjoying just seeing the sites, we kept on going…The Dakota.

Which then took us back to Central Park and Imagine.

Lots of people trying to pay their respects. This was the only rowdy scene all day. Some rickshaw driver started cussing out tourist as he was hogging up the photo-op for his passengers. Surrealistic.

Another Trump Property, for the man who would be king and have this in his hands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relections.

This was pretty neat – a wall of plants, just barely hanging on by their roots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lincold Center.

And of course, a bunch of water towers.

 

Clifton Gate House – Update

19 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by Ronald Parks in Baltimore, Gate House, water history

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Tags

art, Baltimore, engineering, FILTRATION, Lake Clifton, Lake Montebello, Montebello, photography, POLITICS, Public Works, water history

Back in July 2016 I wrote about the renewed interest in doing something with the Lake Clifton Gate House. A farmers market, a cafe, a historical showcase for the water department, etc. The other day I received an email to attend a meeting on another proposal, submitted by Civic Works and their vision for the Valve House (Note: Valve House and Gate House are interchangeable when talking about this structure – Pump House is not – it never had pumps in it). Attached to the proposal was this photograph:

I thought to myself, how the heck did I miss this driving back and forth to City Lights?? Well, this didn’t happen. It is a piece of art. “This is an animation of a specific artist’s winning proposal to mount this public art installation. BOPA is hoping that the installation will be able to move forward under the watchful eye of Civic Works.”

Here is an excerpt from John, at Civic Works, on their proposal for the Gate House:

When the Valve House is renovated and attractively landscaped, it will attract people who pause for pastry, coffee, ultra-local freshly harvested foods and flowers, art and stories of Baltimore. Stories from our past, presented here, will be outshined by news of the structured opportunities, offered “next door” for careers in the expanding green business sectors.

As the renovations to the Valve House are fully realized, the adjacent Lake Clifton campus will become the operational base for Baltimore Center for Green Careers, Civic Works Food and Farm programs and other pathways to prosperity. In the coming decades, these two work in harmony – the information packed social hub and the sustainable-jobs work preparation center.

I personally think this is a great idea! And I really hope it happens.

Here is a 1927 aerial of Lake Clifton and its relation to Lake Montebello. Clifton being the one at the bottom. Water flowed from the dam at the Gunpowder Falls, via a 7 mile tunnel to Montebello, then by conduit to Clifton, at which point it was dispersed to the city.

From the 1970s showing the interior of the Gate House with the water chambers covered over with wood.

The reverse of the above photo, from the Sunpaper files showing that back in 1970 there was an interest in restoring the Gate House.

Another 1970s Sunpaper photo showing the stained glass windows nearly intact. Most have since been broken out. (Note:Photos from my personal collection)

Light City City Lights

10 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by Ronald Parks in art, Baltimore, Photography

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Tags

art, Baltimore, Jones Falls, Museum, photography, Public Works

 

Moon over Marriott.

Was able to go into the lighthouse this year.

Dusk view of umbrella boat.

A couple hours later.

Mesmerizing wheel.

Movie time

This is what happens when someone bumps you while taking a photo.

Bmore.

Alyssa and Patrick

Later found out these were up-skirt cameras??!!

In search of the egg.

Electric lit egg on water.

To be reborn through the egg…

Wonder what the resident falcons up there think of all this?

Looking up the World Trade building

The Eastern Avenue pumping station.

It was a very nice time. Lots of people. Friends and family. And a special thanks to the Operator Supervisor that let us park at the pumping station.

Neighborhood City Lights

02 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by Ronald Parks in art, Baltimore, Photography

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Tags

art, Baltimore, photography

Decided this year to visit the neighborhood displays of The City Lights projects. Lauraville was first, since I live here:

Getting ready for the unveiling.

After here we went to Montebello to see the Montebellephant.

Unbelievable. The signs were a little hard to read.

Next we headed to Hampden. Not much going on there but for this lone work…

Then down to Little Italy, which is always a mad house.

Blocked off High Street.

Not really sure I understood this concept art??

 

Montebellephant

24 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by Ronald Parks in art, Baltimore

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

art, Baltimore, boats, elephant, Lake Montebello, Montebello, Public Works, water, water history

I have been working at Montebello Filters for over 35 years and have never seen it allowed to use the Montebello Lake for anything other than what its purpose is – an overflow catchment for the smaller waste lake up on the property of the filters. I have seen it requested to be used for paddle boats, canoeing, kayaking (I’m not even allowed to kayak on it!), fishing, ice skating, model boat racing, etc. The answer has always been “NO”.

But next week – there will be an inflatable elephant floating on the lake! Yes, you heard me – an inflatable Lighted elephant! History will be made next weekend.

But seriously – I think it looks pretty cool and I can’t wait to see it!

See lightcity.org for a list of other events around Baltimore.

Road Trip, Museum and Hike

30 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by Ronald Parks in art, Photography

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Tags

art, Hiking, mills, Museum, nature, photography

Headed up to the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pa. where part of the Wyeth Collection is displayed. Kathy suggested we go to check out the Wyeth Family art work before we go see Andrew Wyeth’s granddaughter’s work at the Harford Artist Association next month.

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Art gallery connected to a mill. http://www.brandywine.org/museum

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A boy and his hawk (and I guess 2 pigeons to feed to his hawk?)

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View from the second story window, actually thru the window. Meditation pyramid.

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Not allowed to photograph the artwork, which was fine. Gave me more time to look at and enjoy the work (sometimes I photograph objects and their accompanying plaques, thinking I will read later…) Big Brass Bunny to start off our hike on the Riverwalk.

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Nice little trail along the Brandywine River.

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“That’ll do pig, that’ll do.” Farmer Hoggett – Babe.

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Water connection for my water blog – Stream monitoring station (USGS)

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View from the train tracks, looking up-stream.

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One of two inscribed benches along the trail. “Live For The Day”

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Large sycamore leaning towards the water. Wonder how much longer it will stand?

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A lone hawk wondering if he will ever get to pose for a bronze statue…

Favorite Photograph of 2016

31 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in nature, Photography, vacation

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Tags

art, Hiking, nature, North Carolina, ocean, photography

…and it’s not even one I took!

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Taken by Kathy’s sister Gail, in North Carolina. Love the water tower in the background…and Kathy’s not bad either!

Word of the Season

23 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in Baltimore, nature, Photography

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Tags

art, Baltimore, Crafts, fishing, Gunpowder Falls, Hiking, Holidays, Montebello, Peace, photography, Public Works, water

From Kathy, Molly the mutt and myself….

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