Celebrating Sisterhood

Presented to the City of Houston by its sister in Japan, Chiba, this Japanese Stone Lantern commemorates the 10th anniversary of that sisterhood back in October of 1982.

Not sure where the other anniversary gifts since then are located...

A Little Bit of the Far East

This Chinese Gazebo, located in Hermann Park is a great place to seek refuge from a quick rain shower or the beating sun.

It is also available for rentals and is a popular place for small weddings.

Spring Has Sprung...

Officially that is.

Located in front of the main entrance of the Houston Garden Center in Hermann Park, the Lillian Schnitzer fountain will soon be seeing a steady stream of visitors, I'm sure.

The sculpture itself is unnamed, but was created in Rome in 1875. Then, in 1964, the fountain was added to the sculpture and the entire piece was dedicated to the memory of Lillian Schnitzer.

Hope Springs Eternal

Just outside the Museum of Natural History is Charles Umlauf's sculpture entitled "Hope of Humanity".

Does it give you hope?

Beware Strange Gifts

Texan artist Jim Love’s first public commission in 1974 is featured in today’s image. His “Portable Trojan Bear” is located along the train tracks in Hermann Park between the Zoo and Miller Outdoor Theater.

Not sure if this is what Odysseus had in mind or not…

A First for Everything

The statue honoring Dick Dowling was Houston’s first piece of Public Art, originally dedicated in 1905. At first it was located on Market Square, at the time the city’s hub of commerce. Now the eight-foot tall Italian marble stature stands on top of a twenty-foot tall granite base in the esplanade leading into Hermann Park on near the intersection of Holcombe and North MacGregor.

Dick Dowling was a Civil War commander and is considered to be one of Houston’s first prominent citizens. Already a prominent figure before the war, as he owned several saloons and was instrumental in forming Houston’s first gas light company AND fire department, Dowling was the commander that led the Texas-based artillery unit that thwarted the only Union invasion attempt of Texas at Sabine Pass.

Pachyderm Lite

Today’s image was chosen to celebrate the recent opening of The Houston Zoo’s newly renovated McNair Asian Elephant Habitat. Read the details HERE.

Unfortunately, this sculpture by Robert Fowler is of an African elephant. Oops.

Located at the Zoo’s West Entrance, the life sized steel sculpture weighs five tons and was donated to the Zoo by Isabell and Max Herzstein in 1982.

Water Makes the Sphere Go Round

Houston is the home to two of Josef Kusser designed Kugel Balls, one at the Museum of Natural Science and this one in Hermann Park. The 3-ton sphere of polished flamingo red granite sits perfectly balanced and floats and spins on a thin film of water, without belts, pulleys or wheels.

Art and physics combined.

Is It Fall Yet?

Located within the Bloch Cancer Survivors' Plaza in Hermann Park is this wonderful gazebo that allows a brief break from the almost unbearable sun.

Confucius Say...

Geeez... It's hot!!!

Maybe not his most well known saying, but it IS the truth.

Sculptor Willy Wang was commissioned to create this rendition of the reknown Chinese philosopher to commemorate the 2560th anniversary of Confucius’ birth. A gift to the City of Houston from Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Houston, in association with the Houston Chinese-American community, this bronze sculpture has resided in the tranquil setting within the borders of the Houston Garden Center in Hermann Park since its dedication in September of 2009.

In Bloom

The Stroud Rose Garden is in its prime. Located within the Houston Garden Society on the edge of Hermann Park, it holds a special place for me as it is located directly aross the street from the hospital where both of my children were born.

Recycling At Its Finest

Built in 1968 and constructed of Corinthian-style limestone columns from the original Miller Theatre, the Mecom-Rockwell Fountain and Colonnade in Hermann Park is a popular destination for portrait photography.

Pioneer Memorial

Located at one end of McGovern Lake in Hermann Park, this obelisk was donated to the City of Houston by the San Jacinto Centennial Association to honor the pioneer men and women of Houston, and was dedicated during the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city on August 30, 1936.

I just noticed… this very well might be my longest sentence published on this blog.

Woman's City Club

IMG_9538, originally uploaded by lc_db.

Centered inside the gazebo, as a part of the Bloch Cancer Survivors' Plaza is this fountain, which has obviously been “re-used”. Unfortunately, I am unable to find any history on its origin.

Still… it does provide a serene getaway in an otherwise busy city.

Are You the Key Master?

Sitting atop the hill that overlooks Miller Outdoor Theater in Herman Park is this handsome fellow.

Created by Hannah Stewart, "Atropos Key" provides an interesting backdrop to those that attend the free concerts and play that occur here.

Sam Houston

This bronze sculpture of the city’s namesake is located in Hermann Park. Atop his horse the former President of the Republic of Texas is pointing towards one of his famous accomplishments, the sight of the battlefield at San Jacinto.