Puerto Vallarta: Public Art on or near the Malecon

 From December 2021

During our walks on the Malecon, I took photos of some of the many sculptures.

 

 

 

Looking back at those photos now, I recall the peace we both felt on the Malecon, especially at sunset.  Being in Puerto Vallarta didn't make the pandemic go away.  Masking inside was strictly observed for all--even in the common areas of our condo complex. But outside, walking among the sculptures along the sea, especially at sunset, it was possible for us to forget for just a little while. 

Second Annual Art on the Trail

I first wrote about Art on the Trail here

This year, I was out of town when the publicity about the event started.  Someone called Julia with the news that her art was in the Wisconsin State Journal.

I think Julia would readily admit that her art wasn’t the star of last year’s show.  She was one of the artists who installed pop-up art without being asked. 

Because Julia’s piece was made of natural materials and biodegradable, she was allowed to keep it up all year.  Amazingly, it was still recognizable after a hard winter, so the newspaper used Julia’s piece for this year’s pre-event publicity.
When I returned from my trip south, I hiked each of the local Ice Age segments and took some photos.  There is a lot more art this year.  Here are some examples:

Here is Julia’s piece for this year. She didn’t have much time to put it together, but I still enjoy it.

I’m not a purist like the commentator in the “trash” piece in one of the photos above, but I think that there is a lot of art to be found in nature “as is.”

 

 

Art on the Trail (Redux)

When we hiked last weekend, a few important art pieces had not yet been installed.  So I went out yesterday morning to view my friends’ installations and then again last evening to help in my wife’s installation of her piece.  I don’t think I could ever hike Gibraltar Rock too many times.  It’s just too much fun. 

From Dana  Slowiak of D Squared Studios:  La Lunita.

 

From my wife Julia, “TreeSoul”:

From Dean Allen of D Squared Studios:

Art on the Trail

Yesterday, I served as a pallbearer for my wife’s grandmother’s funeral.  Eldora was born in Little Wolf, Wisconsin in 1918 and was buried in Little Wolf, Wisconsin.  She was 99 years old and lived in her own house until she was 90.  She polka danced until she was 97.   And she loved to drink a half-glass of my home-brewed beer at special family gatherings.  As a recent commenter pointed out, none of us knows what the future holds, but Eldora was a standard setter for living life fully.

Art on the Trail

This is an event in Lodi, Wisconsin during May, celebrating art, poetry, music, and musings.  The opening was held last night at D Squared Studios and Spring Creek Art Works.  After our long drive yesterday to the funeral and back home, we stretched our legs on the Gibraltar Rock segment.

This morning, we woke up at sunrise and hiked the Slack’s Hill segment from the Merrimac Ferry.  All along the trail, artists have strategically placed works of art, reminding us of the connection between nature and art.  Some of the art requires sharp eyes, as it is designed to blend into the surroundings or disappear over time.

Decorated wood rounds are dispersed along the trail with famous quotes and not-so-famous quotes.

This one was my favorite by a guy I want to learn more about:

Finally, I leave you with a piece of art that my wife Julia has been working on.  She has learned to weave over the last few years.  We still have to find a place on the trail for it.

A Fall Update

The last few weeks have been busy with matters mostly unrelated to this blog.  Julia’s mom, who was a frequent commenter to this blog, succumbed after an uncomfortable and lengthy battle with congestive heart disease and related kidney issues.  Her ashes were placed in the ground on Monday.  Berla was a generous, optimistic woman who almost always had a smile on her face and encouraged others to smile by showing her  love and support.

In early August, I purchased the 100 watt solar panel kit from Harbor Freight for the Brew Hut.  It worked okay, but I wasn’t satisfied with the build quality of the panels or the solar controller. It was also quite bulky.  After trying it out for awhile, I returned the kit and purchased the Renogy 100 watt solar suitcase kit. 

So far, so good.  It is much smaller and easier to transport.  The solar controller provides information on amps supplied to the batteries(something that the Harbor Freight controller did not do).  The panels produce   more amps in direct sun than the HF kit.   

I think it will be an excellent tool to top off the batteries for the Brew Hut when boondocking (camping without electrical hookups).

We’ve had a stretch of hot, humid weather that ended yesterday.  I celebrated with a Slack’s Hill hike on the Ice Age Trail to the Merrimac Ferry and back.  One of my favorite spots on the Ice Age Trail is a bench overlooking Lake Wisconsin and the Baraboo Hills.  This is the view:

 
This is the bench:

The header photo to this post shows my feet on the bottom part of the bench as I stretch out.  This bench was built in honor of a professor who loved the trail.

 
This segment of the trail ends at the Merrimac Ferry, the Colsac.

The Ferry crosses the Wisconsin River from the Town of West Point to the Town of Merrimac. From the deck of the Colsac, looking upstream, there is a railroad bridge.

In our family room, we have a painting of this bridge. Bernie Kvam, a sign painter for many years, became an artist in his retirement. Bernie was a coffee shop customer and continues to give me a hard time when we meet.  I try to dish it back, but he usually wins.