Birds of a Feather

Located on the walls of the former Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority Building in midown is this piece of urban art by Daniel Anguilu with woodwork assistance by Lindsey George.

Peggy

Henry MacGregor was involved in Houston businesses for over 50 years. The vice president of the Houston Railroad Company from 1883 to 1903, he also was involved with the Houston Post newspaper, banking and real estate ventures. In 1924 he commissioned Gutzon Borglum to create a statue for a park that he and his wife, Elizabeth were planning.

If you recognize the sculptor’s name, it’s might be because we was also involved with a little project call Mount Rushmore.

While not as large a project, “Peggy” still weighs 28 tons and the bronze and white granite sculpture now proudly resides in MacGregor Park.

Stop and Smell the Flowers

Well... sorta.

This "bouquet" survived the drought and from the looks of it could withstand most of what Mother Nature can throw at it.

This unique piece can be found outside the Edgar Odell Lovett College on the campus of Rice University.

Not To Be Left Out

Originally featured HERE, the City of Houston Mounted Patrol & Canine Facility also pays homage to its canine residents as seen in today's image.

Woof.

City of Houston Mounted Patrol & Canine Facility

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.

Tolerance

Last year the Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance at Rice University, which offers a range of distinctive signature programs promoting religious tolerance, sponsored the Sacred Sites Quest. This entailed several high school students visiting 12 local religious sites of differing faiths and then under the guidance of the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston fashioned mural panels of their experience.

Several of them are now prominently displayed on the exterior walls of the Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston office located on Montrose.

Which FINALLY leads up to today’s image which is one of those panels, and IF you look closely enough you might see a certain photographer in action.

Dove - Part 2

Sense a theme?

Inspired by the lives of Abbie Dewees & Amy Friederichs, this is Beverly Paddleford’s “With Hope” located in the Woodlands' Town Green Park.

Dove - Part 1

Monyo Mihailescu-Nasturel’s “Woman With Dove” Fountain dedicated to honor Luz Stranahan Ruiz is located between the University of Texas Medical School and HAM-TMC Library in the Texas Medical Center allowing people a serene atmosphere to enjoy a nice break or maybe even their lunch.

The Test of Time

Just a little bit of long standing street art in the First Ward that has lasted quite a long while.

Behind the Scenes

Yet another piece by local artist David Adickes.

"The Virtuoso", located in front of downtown's Lyric Center, was previously shown HERE, but these three are actually displayed behind the larger sculpture.

Come and GET IT!!

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is back in town and this past weekend was the annual BBQ cook-off.

While I was unable to attend this is Eric Kaposta’s “Cookie” located in Carruth Plaza on the rodeo grounds at Reliant Park.

Coming Soon To a Wall Near You...

Five years ago a mural just like this one adorned the side of Mary’s Bar located near the intersection of Montrose and Westheimer. Eventually, it was painted over and last June it was recreated just prior to Houston’s Pride Parade.

I took this photo a month ago, and now… unfortunately it has been painted over again with the promise from its artists that it will “eventually” show up in another location soon.

Breaking the Chains

Given to the city by the Mexican State of Jalisco to commemorate the 180th anniversary of Mexican independence, this statue of Miguel Hildalgo Y Costilla stands in Hildago Park on the city’s east side.

Go Ahead... Take Another Step Closer

From yesterday's close-up and you'll see this detail that covers the electric service boxes on the back of the building. Details most people don't notice as they drive by.

Take a Step Closer...

From yesterday's photo and you can appreciate the Mayan detail of the student's work. I wonder how many of them drive by and show off their work to others.

Painting the Wall

Now vacant, but still visible from the Gulf Freeway has you drive north towards downtown is this mural that was created in the fall of 2000 by art students from George Sanchez High School in the fall of 2000. Using the back wall of a now vacant distribution center, the project was funded in part by a grant from the Cultural Art Council of Houston and Harris County.

A Chip On His Shoulder

This remarkable work is an untitled work of Robert Fowler located in the Frank C. Weber Plaza near University of Texas Medical School in the Texas Medical Center. If that name sounds familiar it’s because another of his pieces was featured in a previous blog post HERE.

All Alone...

While this statue by Edd Hayes, entitled “In the Line of Fire” is quite striking, the odd thing is resides on an empty lot on the corner of Main St. at Hadley in the midtwon area.

It seems that eventually... the Houston Fire Museum will be located in a new building on this location. Until then he's on his own honoring our local firefighters.

Taking A Step Back

To follow up yesterday's post, here is a step back to show the entire wall, giving you a glimpse of some of Daniel Anguilu‘s urban art.

...and the walls bled

A sign of the apocalypse?

Well... not really.

The former Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority Building in Midtown has become a canvas for local urban artists and this is just a close up of one of its painted walls.