100 Day Project 2021

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Walk and Click Wednesday ~ April 10, 2013


 
Oh my, it was hot around here yesterday. Reaching 85 degrees was way too hot for me! On top of that it was humid, which will be causing storms later today. Hopefully no tornadoes!! I find it very fascinating that I don't notice the heat as much when I'm with my camera.
 
And, with my camera I was. I'm taking another class with Kat Eye Studio called "A Sense Of Place."  I don't go to faraway places, but I do want to learn how to better tell the stories of the places I visit. One part of our exercise was to go on a photo excursion. I decided I'd just combine that with Walk and Click Wednesday.
 
 
I had recently read about a small sculpture garden (only 100 x 150 feet) in an area of downtown Little Rock know as SoMA for Southside Main Street. The garden is a juxtaposition of nature and man made creations. Anita Davis, an investor, bought this whole block of South Main. One of her first projects was to turn an empty lot into the Bernice Sculpture Garden.  Master Gardener, Lavern Davis, tends the native plants and landscaping.
 
 
The sculpture "Comfort" may look soft, but those beautiful textured pillows are made out of concrete.
 
 
Some of the sculptures are permanent like the mosaic above. There are four of these mosaics scattered about the garden. Many sculptures are only there for a year. Mrs. Davis  hosts a sculpture competition to bring new sculptures into the garden.
 
 
She stresses the use of recycled or reclaimed wood and metal for the garden and the sculptures. The concrete slab, which is the foundation of a past fast food restaurant, is covered by a canopy. (shown on the left below) The structure catches rainfall and funnels it into a cistern. (shown on the right) The collected water is then used to water the plants. The cistern is faced with reclaimed wood from a slave building once located on a nearby plantation.
 
 
This pathway is colorful and eye catching, especially when the sun is shining on it. The mulch is made with recycled tumbled glass. There are no sharp edges. I had to put my hand down and test that out. It's true, no shape edges. It certainly will last much longer than wood mulch.
 


I even tried out the local cuisine. I ate a most delicious burger from The Root Cafe. They feature fresh seasonal ingredients from small farms in the area. The meat, bread, cheese, and vegetables are also locally grown and produced.


When I arrived at the garden I saw how small it was and didn't think I'd be there much more than an hour, but I wound up staying in the neighborhood for four hours! When I got home the first thing I did was take a nap!   All that fresh air and exercise made me sleepy. I can tell I was a little more sedentary this winter, my arms got tired from holding the camera to take so many pictures. I think I might need to start lifting weights!  Just a small reminder when you're out and about, don't forget the sun screen. I got a little pink, but it could have been much worse. 
 
Enjoy your day!
If you're in the path of these storms, take care!

laf Custom Designs                

16 comments:

  1. Your post was so interesting. That garden provides lots of photography opportunities . . . how fun:)
    My husband is having a $25 Amazon gift card give-a-way on his blog and I have a link to enter it on mine. So come visit and put your name in the hat. He's doing it in celebration of your 37th wedding anniversary. The drawing will be April 15th so get in while you have time :)
    Have a wonderful day and keep taking your camera with you wherever you go. Great shots:)

    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! fascinating post and place and marvelous photography ~ ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  3. What an amazing place to visit, sounds lovely! x

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a fascination walk. I love that the sculptures change every year. Makes it exciting to go back again and again. Love that tumbled glass pathway. I want one of those.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A wonderful photo walk through the sculpture garden. I've never heard of tumbled glass mulch.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That looks like a great place in the middle of a city. Love all the colors and textures you found.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I just love seeing your "places", Cathy! Beautiful work.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a fun place for a walk. I love these kinds of places with fun art and all.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really enjoyed your pictures and your comments. It is so unusual that the sculptures change every year but what a wonderful thing for visitors. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow Cathy - this is fabulous. I love stories like these - where art is used to reclaim empty urban spaces. And look what has been done with a relatively small space. There is so much beauty and artistry in our world - we just need stages on which to present it. I can understand why you spent so much time here. Love your image of "Garden Flush" - with those metal birds flying free into the sky. I really enjoyed this walk with you today - thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a wonderful photo walk and "talk". I'm still scared to go out of my comfort zone on photography. Doing most of it inside, I think I have to get over it and take a photo walk too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a wonderful combination of being outside in the warm fresh air and having this wonderful garden for a photo opp. It really is amazing what has been done in this space. I am so glad you shared your walk with us; it's always fun to see new places....



    ReplyDelete
  13. What a very unique garden. I am learning alot about your town and some of its hidden beauty. Love the photo with the metal birds. They do look like they are flying. Keep the photos coming.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm so impressed with your documentation of this sculpture garden! Wow, hard concrete pillows that look soft and inviting. And the sweet mosaic by Maribeth Andres ... just amazing. I wish there was a place like this here ... hmm, there are lots of municipal art displays, but not quite like this. I have noticed some new installations on main street in Lafayette ... I should go out and take some new pics of them. Thank you so much for sharing in Walk and Click Wednesday!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a charming and visionary way to utilize a vacant city lot! You really did give me a good sense of the place, as well as a wish that I could see it for myself. I love the variety of sculptures, starting with the bird and nest on the sign, and the plantings are beautiful. This was a great photo excursion.

    ReplyDelete
  16. These are lovely, thank you for taking us on your walk! Love, love, love that glass pathway - sea glass is one of my favourite things - which is guess is the same principle - and that pathway is just gorgeous. Happy week to you. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for stopping by!!