X/ABC Wednesday

@ mirandablue

An X-shaped sculpture that functions as a light fixture at the Serendra Piazza.

Wishing you a  X'mas
overflowing with
Love and Laughter! 
-xoxo-

Linking to ABC Wednesday

T/ABC Wednesday

T is for Topiary

I didn't see Edward Scissorhands around here but I admire the gardener who has a natural gift for topiary art.   These topiaries are part of the Zen-like gardens near the lagoon and chapel at Greenbelt Park, a park in the middle of a mall complex.  Topiaries are not as popular in the Philippines compared to other Asian countries that I'm always delighted to see them.

Topiary is the horticultural practice of training live  perennial plants by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees, shrubs to develop and maintain clearly defined shapes, perhaps geometric or fanciful; the term also refers to plants which have been shaped in this way. As an art form, it is a type of living sculpture. The word derives from the Latin word for an ornamental landscape gardener, topiarius, a creator of topia or "places", a Greek word that Romans also applied to fictive indoor landscapes executed in fresco. No doubt the use of a Greek word betokens the art's origins in the Hellenistic world that was influenced by Persia, for neither Classical Greece nor Republican Rome developed any sophisticated tradition of artful pleasure grounds.

European topiary dates from Roman times.  Elaborate figures of animals, inscriptions, cyphers and obelisks in clipped greens were first seen in Roman gardens.

The clipping and shaping of shrubs and trees in China and Japan have been practiced with equal rigor, but for different reasons. The goal is to achieve an artful expression of the "natural" form of aged pines, given character by the forces of wind and weather. Their most concentrated expressions are in the related arts of Chinese penjing and Japanese bonsai.

Japanese cloud-pruning is closest to the European art: the cloud-like forms of clipped growth are designed to be best appreciated after a fall of snow. Japanese Zen gardens  (karesansui, dry rock gardens) make extensive use of Karikomi (a topiary technique of clipping shrubs and trees into large curved shapes or sculptures) and Hako-zukuri (shrubs clipped into boxes and straight lines).  Wiki source

Linking to ABC Wednesday

L/ABC Wednesday

L is for Luneta

This is the Rizal monument at Rizal Park, more popularly known as Luneta Park, or colloquially Luneta.  Luneta is a historical urban park in the city of Manila, and one of its major tourist attractions. Touted as the "land of heroes", many Filipinos died in Luneta fighting for Philippine independence.  This place was the "killing fields" during the Spanish regime.  The execution of Dr. Jose Rizal in Luneta on December 30, 1896 sparked the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish colonizers.  The park was renamed in Dr. Rizal's honor---his monument serves as the symbolic focal point of the park, an honor guard is on duty here 24 hours a day.  National dedication days are held in front of the Rizal monument.  It is also where foreign leaders attend wreath-laying ceremonies during state visits.  Below is the marker of Dr. Rizal's execution site, and behind it is the diorama.

Aside from Dr. Jose Rizal, Luneta is also home to another Filipino hero, Lapu-Lapu (1491-1542).  His larger-than-life statue is known as "The Sentinel of Freedom".  Lapu-Lapu was a ruler of Mactan (an island in Cebu) who is known as the first native to have resisted the Spanish colonization.  

Luneta is a 54-hectare park with a man-made lake at the center with dancing fountains and giant raised-relief map of the Philippines.  The national library and national museums are located inside the park.  There is also a diorama of Rizal's martyrdom, a Japanese and Chinese gardens, an orchidarium and butterfly pavilion, a planetarium, an oceanarium,  various sculptures and historical markers.

If you're too tired to walk around the park, there are horse-drawn carriages, locally known as kalesa, for hire; there is also a mini-train that goes around the park.  Lots of things happening at Luneta, especially on weekends---from Concert at the Park to cultural shows.  Recently, I've read that there will be free wi-fi access at Luneta this October.

Will be blogging from Luneta soon!:p

Luneta means "eye glass" in Portuguese; "lens", "window" in Spanish. 

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Yard Art on Thursdays

@ mirandablue

"Salmon Waves" is a permanent sculpture installation at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington.  Crafted from stainless steel, there are 3,000 screws holding the waves together.  This sculpture celebrates the improvements made to the Locks enhancing smolt migration.

@ mirandablue

Join us at Yard Art on Thursdays

Yard Art on Thursdays

@ mirandablue

Pepe and his dog---Dr. Jose Rizal as a boy with his dog
at the grounds of Rizal's ancestral home in Calamba, Laguna.

Posted for Yard Art on Thursdays

Yard Art on Thursdays

@ mirandablue

A larger than life self-portrait of the artist, Kublai Millan,
 coming out of a shell.  Found in Ponce Suites, Davao City.

Posted for Yard Art on Thursdays

Yard Art on Thursdays

@ mirandablue
Sculpture by Kublai Millan

Posted for Yard Art on Thursdays

Yard Art on Thursdays

@ mirandablue

The Archer - Garden Sculpture at Fort Ilocandia Resort

Posted for Yard Art on Thursdays hosted by Mary the Teach

Yard Art on Thursdays

My first Yard Art post---a free-standing large-scale scroll crafted from mild steel, black iron and bronze by Lor Calma, an architect.  Found this sculpture in Greenbelt 5.

This post is linked to Yard Art hosted by Mary the Teach