Concrete Jungle and more City Hall Art:

If you fail to see the jewel in the junk, there is always City Hall itself as an object of aesthetic appreciation that has stood the test of times.

It may not be everyone's piece of tea to sip and savor, but there it is, -- ready to raise eyebrows, and spur white and gray matter activity. That opening sentence may mix metaphors, but that should be no cause for offense when it comes to commenting on demonstrative art consisting of a hodge-podge of re-purposed materials and debris.

Patrick Renner Art Exhibits 

And for those who  find themselves challenged when it comes to appreciation of abstract modern art, not to mention distilling the aesthetics from objects consisting of discarded materials and sundry items of junk, there is always City Hall itself, built with federal funds in the 1930s, and functional for decades. At least as a building.

City Hall seen from Plaza in front of Central Library

It's actually quite artistic, especially once you look at the details, the reliefs on the sandstone, and the imagery on the aluminum portals.

South Portal of City Hall facing Hermann Square 

Heads of important people that have come before, people of historic significance and of epic proportions. Nothing of the sort is evoked by the current collection of art objects on display outside, but a commentary on the post-millennial city it is nonetheless; -- especially the piece consisting of the uprooted and inverted metal poles with the chunk of concrete that went into the hole still attached. Aptly titled "Concrete Jungle". 

"Concrete Jungle" - Art work by Patrick Renner

Michael Macedo Meazell: Art work titled "Steadfast" 

Hermann Square Park with reflection pool that does double-duty as a
bathing facility for the homeless during the scorching Houston summer. 

Like City Hall, the reflection pool has practical functionality also. It serves not only as a bird bath, but as a cooling and cleaning facility for the City's plentiful homeless. If only city leaders had the wisdom and foresight to also erect Texas Outhouses to direct the flow generated by the park's most loyal constituency in a sanitary fashion. If it is feasible in Memorial Park, and on innumerable construction sites in the Central Business District and elsewhere, why not around City Hall? 

It might even make the appreciation of the art at the park -- whether contemporary or yesteryears' -- all the more enjoyable. In the hot summer heat.  

The "New" Mandell Park in all its revitalized glory - urban recreational green-space with veggie garden in Montrose

The New Mandell Park 

Wide tree-lined gravel-covered walkway with pairs of benches
on the wall lining what may become a true alley when the trees grow bigger and taller.

Children's tile art installed on concrete wall
Adjoining Mi Pueblito patio in background

Bicycle parking
Bike rack on wide gravel walking paths 

Skip's garden shed with grass planted on roof.
The shed is named for one of the locals who played a key role
 in the community park's development.

Flock of birds aloft over the newly rebuild urban park 

Mandell Park name sign on corner of Richmond and Mandell St.

Veggies in urban garden.

Pair of park benches facing each other inviting
small group discourse and communal park enjoyment 

Adopt a Park sign - Friends of Mandell Park sponsors recognized 

Close-up of Skip's Shed with live green roof 

High-resolution photo of children's art wall below:

(click to enlarge)

Children's communal mosaic art wall with contributions by many 

Also see 2012 blog post on Mandell Park before it was redone 

History of Mandell Park - Successful model of creative conversion of
abandoned overgrown lot in urban area by neighborhood initiative 

Flowerbeds with red tulips at Market Square

Red and yellow tulips at water feature in Lauren's Garden

It may not officially be Spring yet, even with daylight savings time in effect, 

but the signs of the spring season in all its colorful beauty

 are starting to enliven the parks and green spaces around town.

View of Barnaby's Cafe across flowerbed at Market Square Park in Downtown Houston

Blooming rosebud twigs in Memorial Park

Art Installation at Root Square - lit in colors at night

Skyscrapers at Dusk seen from Root Square Park

Hermann Square with reflecting pond and City Hall

Hermann Square in front of City Hall - Reflecting Pond and old Trees

Main Street Square with Fountain

Main Street Square - Looking across the Light Rail line

Main Street Square at Night - Light Rail Track run right through the Water Fountain

Yet more construction work at Old Market Square (Feb. 2013 pic)

Dining Trellis & Lawn Improvement work entail partial closure 

of  Old Market Square early in the year. 

Covered patio area Niko Niko's is being expanded

Example of 21st century urban greenspace and park design - Discovery Green and Kinder Lake

Kinder Lake at the George R. Brown Convention Center - Discovery Green

TV tree art installation across Kinder Lake

Kinder means 'children' in German; but the lake takes its name from the Kinder family benefactors. Still, it is not a misnomer, even if understood to be a children's pond (Kinderteich) by visitors from Germany. Indeed, the entire Discovery Green park has much to offer to kids, including boating on the lake (and open-air ice-skating in January which the Galleria Mall only offers indoors); surprise water jets in a walk-about fountain feature; a playground area with equipment to climb on; a water curtain on an art installation, and more. Not to mention that the whole family can go see Downtown from a horse-drawn carriage, which can be hired closeby.

Kinder Lake with partial view of convention center from the boardwalk

Artificial lake with ornamental grasses on shoreline.

Kinder Lake with GRB Convention Center in April 2014 (photo added)