Public Art in Outdoor Spaces, Part II

On December 29, 2013November 23, 2017 By Alice WebbIn Public Art2 Comments

I’ve encountered a variety of interesting art pieces in landscape settings ranging from urban to natural. Some are in parks and nature preserves, others are along city streets and alleys, and a few are in small town centers. Some integrate visually and thematically with their surroundings, and others stand alone. Below are a few favorites.

Cut-outs in a small panel (viewed through a scope) on New York City’s High Line transform this view of buildings into abstract shapes.

More art on the High Line: A modernistic wire structure with houses and seed/fruit trays for birds and insects seems to represent the intersection of city and nature, as does much of the High Line. A similar structure faces the opposite direction on the other side of the walkway.

These transparent facial profiles at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, Massachusetts, appear to symbolize the connection between people and nature.

Juxtaposition of “natural” and built forms – Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University in East Lansing

Painted optical illusion in New Haven, Connecticut, by Felice Varini – this shape is only visible when one stands at a specific point. As one progresses further down the alley, it no longer appears as four circles within a square.

Sculpture composed of various types of stone in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Granite sculpture in Eastport, Maine – a town whose principal industry is commercial fishing

Bas-relief piece in CityGarden – a sculpture park in St. Louis, Missouri

A deep discussion taking place in Montreal, Quebec

Colorful bench in Belfast, Maine

Whimsical piece in the Olson Family Garden at St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Photos by Alice Webb

On the Ground – Creative Pavements in Montreal

On August 9, 2013November 23, 2017 By Alice WebbIn Parks, Plazas, Streetscapes2 Comments

While visiting Montreal recently, I came across a number of public spaces with attractively-patterned pavement, many combining various types of stone. My favorite was Place d’Armes, which was renovated in recent years, but other fine examples are shown below as well.

Place d’Armes, in Old Montreal, includes smooth granite pavers in various shades of gray, interspersed with stripes of pinkish cobles. The custom-designed tree gates coordinate well with the coble patterns.

The cobbles in the streets surrounding Place d’Armes are repeated in random stripes within the perimeter of the plaza.

The large, central, open area of the Place d’Armes includes gray granite pavers punctuated by these pink ones sporting fleurs-de-lis.

The renovated Square Dorchester includes pavers with a range of textures. The smoothest ones shine both during day and evening, giving the walkways a glittery appearance.

Intermittent crosses in the pavement at Square Dorchester, formed with rough-textured pavers, signify the historic use of this space as a burying ground.

Stripes of colored concrete pavers in various hues and sizes at Place Ville Marie

Metal drainage grates serve nicely as linear accents in this park next to Montreal’s convention center.

An attractive pattern of concrete pavers and tree grates

Strips of white pavers repeat the linear pattern of water jets in the Place des Festivals.

Photos by Alice Webb

Parc Hydro-Quebec

On June 28, 2013November 23, 2017 By Alice WebbIn Parks, Sustainable SitesLeave a comment

In Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles, an interesting little park is tucked between two buildings, designed by renowned landscape architect, Claude Cormier. It features a raised metal grill of varying widths that functions as a pedestrian walkway/court, punctuated with Honeylocust trees and star-shaped benches. Native perennials and ground covers are planted in the low-lying areas along the sides of the park. The walkway, essentially one large tree grate, protects the underlying soil from compaction and allows for rainwater infiltration, promoting healthier trees and sustainable stormwater management. In fact, there are no impervious surfaces in this park that are larger than the benches. Appropriately, the park is situated next to the green-roofed Centre for Sustainable Development.

Parc Hydro-Quebec with the Centre for Sustainable Development in the background