Pigs of Evora

And there was a whole herd of them.  In Giraldo Square.  The wife suspected they were there because this used to be where the pig market was held.  But the explanation was more mundane.

Here you get an idea of the problem.

And in closeup.  What self-respecting piggy would be out in a bikini in the middle of town?

One piggy after another.  All colors and stripes and plaids and blotches.

Oh how cute.  Candy in front, smiley on the right and Pink in back.

Close up of Pretty in Pink.

Evora Portugal Art and Fountains

Time for some photographs of Evora, Portugal.  We start with some public art and some fountains.

This stone looks like a tortured tree trunk but you can see a face on the right side there.  This was in the Praca do Giraldo.

This fountain in Praca do Giraldo.

This morbid sculpture is on the castle grounds across from the University.

Sixteenth century fountain.

Called the Temple of Diana, it was actually dedicated to the Emperor Augustus.  Perhaps the best known tourist site in Evora.

A fireplug.  You know I have a liking for fire hydrants worldwide.

Fountains and Art of Miami Beach

Miami Beach has a fair number of fountains, and also a fair bit of public art out there.  The weather has to take its toll on art, and on fountains so they either need maintenance or they need to be out of specialized materials. 

Lawn ornament you say?  This is no ordinary lawn flamingo.  Czech out that paint job.  And how many lawn flamingos have a picture of mom tattooed on their necks? 

Not actually art, this is the carpet in the Miami Beach convention center.  Kind of sporty, kind of fun.  

I never went in this park and never saw anyone else in it either.  I thought it was perhaps some fancy jungle gym, plus it makes neat shadows, but the sign on the park said it was a sound scape.  So perhaps you're supposed to hear things.  I didn't hear anything as I walked by. 

These stones on the walls were either part of the installation, (they were pretty pretty by themselves), or there to keep homeless people from sleeping on the ledges.  

The Royal Palm Hotel with its Royal Palm Fountain in front.  

And the script "N" hotel had a script "N" fountain as well.  

This is a sculpture of a dove, can't ya tell?  

 And you can use this fountain to keep tabs on the amount of iron oxide in the water.

Look closely, and you can see the water dripping out of these three faucets, one to the left, one to the right, and one straight down.  

Artistic Signs in San Pedro

This is the first of two sign posts (pun intended) from San Pedro.  Here we see artistic/artsy signs from around San Pedro, including shots of some graffiti.

Here is a shot of signs for little fish theatre or at least for their parking.  I wasn't clear on where the actual theatre is, it could be that building but I doubt it.  You can see the heavy load building owners have for painting over graffiti.  I'm not sure why I consider this art per se, but it's going in this post none-the-less. 

The sign says "Liberty".  On the wall across the street from the little fish theatre parking sign.   

This oddity is one of those mandated public art associated with new buildings.  This laser ray would shine down at night on pedestrians and track them.  I'm sure the pedestrians found this exceedingly uncomfortable.  Clever idea, but best left on the shelf.  Just sitting there, it's not that pretty.  Looks a little like a Pixar reject from an open casting call for a lamp.

The last of the public art.  This from a table on someone's lawn advertising painted rocks for sale.  I thought they were pretty.  Go buy one. 

Fetus is not for sale.  Probably available for painting over if you contact the owners of the waterway.  Graffiti may be painful (I've got plenty of graffiti shots from San Pedro), but bigger more practiced graffito do rise to the level of art. 

For example, this graffiti decorated wall.  The combination art and social commentary is dripping with what?  Irony? Sarcasm?  Fakery?