An American Artist

Is any artist more American than Norman Rockwell? He has captured the soul of America, drawn the wide-eyed eagerness of our children and painted the steadfastness of our traditions. Some of his works may come across as over-sentimentalized Americana. But he was also a champion of equal rights and created some iconic images of the civil rights movement like the image below of little Ruby Brooks integrating a New Orleans school.

Some critics have been dismissive of the fact that much of his work was done for magazine covers. That in no way should detract from the quality of his creations and the enormity of his talent.

These images are from the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., the town where he lived from 1959 until his death in 1978 at age 84.

Rockwell on race

Rockwell’s Kids

Rockwell on Rockwell

Rockwell on work.

The Four Freedoms (1943, during World War II)

Happy Skiers on Train
Happy Skiers on Train
American LaFrance
An ad Rockwell was commissioned to paint for a subsidiary of the A-T-O Corporation. He painted the scene in front of the fire station in his hometown of Stockbridge.
Rockwell Museum
Rockwell Museum
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A Mass of Contemporary Art

MASS MoCA

MASS MoCA

North Adams, Mass.

The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art opened its doors in 1999 in a former industrial complex that was built by the Arnold Print Works in 1860. It has since expanded to include some 250,000 feet of exhibition space. There is an excellent documentary called Museum Town that tells the MASS MoCA story, as well as the impact the museum has had on this post-industrial Western Massachusetts town.

Blane De St. Croix, How to Move a Landscape

Moving Landscape at MASS MoCA
Moving Landscape
Alchemist Triptych at MASS MoCA
Alchemist Triptych

Spencer Finch

Cosmic Latte at MASS MoCA
Cosmic Latte

ERRE, Them and Us

Sing Sing at MASS MoCA
Sing Sing
Eye Chart, Dennis Chavez
Eye Chart, Dennis Chavez

Sol LeWitt, Wall Drawing

Louise Bourgeois

Richard Nielsen, This is Not a Gag

This is Not a Gag, Richard Nielsen
Richard Nielsen
Self Portrait

Gunnar Schonbeck, No Experience Required

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Old Town, Quito

Winged virgin of Quito
The winged virgin of Quito looks out over the city. This is an aluminum replica of the statue created for the Church of San Francisco in the 18th century. She has occupied this perch atop El Panecillo since 1976.
Winged virgin
Church of San Francisco
Church of San Francisco, 1534
Church of San Francisco
All that glitters is gold (leaf)
The Basilica of the National Vow
The Basilica of the National Vow
Quito street
Plaza de la Independencia
Plaza de la Independencia
Plaza de la Independencia
Republica del Cacao
You are never far from a chocolate shop in Quito
La Iglesia de la Compania
La Iglesia de la Compania,1765
La Iglesia de la Comanie
La Iglesia de la Compania
This is the back of the church. To the left of the door is a stairway. To the right is a painting of a stairway
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Casa del Alabado

Museum of Pre Columbian Art in Quito, Ecuador

The term Pre Columbian is used for art created by indigenous peoples in the Americas up until the 16th century. The IDs on these pieces show the civilization that they came from and the period of time when that civilization existed.

Pre Columbian art
Bahia, in coastal Ecuador, 450-700 ad
Pre Columbian art
Jama-Coaque, northern Manabi Province in Ecuador, 350 bc -1530 ad
Pre Columbian Art
Soldiers. Jama-Coaque, 350 bc-1530 ad
Pre Columbian Art
This feline with human traits is a bottle that makes the noise of the character when filled with water. La Tolita, island in Ecuador which has an acrheological site that has become a tourist attraction. 350 bc – 350 ad
Pre Columbian Art
La Tolita. 350 bc – 350 ad
Pre Columbian Art
Jama-Coaque 350 bc — 1530 ad
Pre Columbian Art
Napo, province in Ecuador. 1200-1600 ad
Pre Columbian Art
Manteno-Guancavilca, coastal Ecuador, 1100-1520 ad
Pre Columbian Art
Carchi, northern highlands of Ecuador, 750-1550 ad
Pre Columbian Art
Bahia 450 bc – 700 ad
Pre Columbian Art
Shaman’s Table, Jama-Coaque, 500 bc -1500 ad
Pre Columbian Art
Pre Columbian Art
Stamps. Jama-Coaque, 500 bc-1530 ad
Pre Columbian Art
The ancestor with six faces. Valdivia 4000-1500 bc
Pre Columbian Art
Valdivia, 4000-1500 bc
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Lava Landscapes and Sunsets

The Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos are a group of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean that straddle the equator. They are part of Ecuador. They became part of the Ecuador National Park Service in 1959. The Galapagos has a population of 30,000, most of which are on San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabella islands. Only five of the islands are inhabited. When I visited last month it had been two months since the Galapagos had their last COVID infection. While the islands are primarily known for their wildlife which attracts visitors to play with the sea lions, swim with the sea turtles and gaze at the many species of birds, the Galapagos is also the setting for a good deal of unspoiled natural beauty.

Galapagos
Kicker Rock
Genovese Island
Sombrero Chino
Galapagos
Lava tunnel

Lava tunnel at Santa Cruz
mangroves
Mangroves at Black Turtle Bay
Galapagos
Galapagos sunset
Santa Fe
Santa Fe
Galapagos
Santa Fe
Santa Fe
Crater at Los Gemelos
Crater at Los Gemelos

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Southern Vermont Summer

Equinox Preserve

Equinox Preserve

Manchester, Vt.

The Equinox Preserve consists of 900 acres on the slopes of the Equinox Mountain. The land was donated by the Equinox Resort. The land and trails are maintained by the Equinox Preservation Trust.

Equinox Preserve
Equinox Preserve
Equinox Preserve
Equinox Preserve
Equinox Preserve
Equinox Preserve
Equinox Preserve
Equinox Preserve trail map
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Boobies, Frigates, et al.

The Birds of the Galapagos

The Boobies

The Frigatebirds

Swallow-Tailed Gulls

Galapagos short-eared owl
Galapagos short-eared owl
Molting Galapagos penguin
Molting Galapagos penguin
Pelicans
Pelicans
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Reptilian Paradise

Iguanas and tortoises in the Galapagos

Land iguana
Land iguana
Marine iguana
Marine iguana
Iguana embrace
an iguana embrace
Galapagos tortoise
Napkin please!
Galapagos tortoise
Galapagos tortoise
Nobody passes until I say they can.
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Owners of the Islands

The Galapagos Sea Lions

Galapagos sea lion

It was a cab driver in Quito who commented to me that the sea lions of the Galapagos are the “owners of the islands.” I didn’t come across anything to make me think otherwise. Whether you are landing on a beach in a panga, kayaking along the cliffs, or coming in face down with a snorkel, the sea lions are there to greet you and to offer up a play date. They’re not unlike puppies, just bigger.

Galapagos sea lion
This guy grabbed onto the rope that was attached to our kayak and took us for a ride.
Galapagos sea lion
Galapagos sea lion
And here’s a fur seal
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Cruising the Chicago River

Dusable Bridge
The Dusable Bridge, built in 1920 and named after the founder of Chicago Jean-Batiste Pointe DuSable.
Marina City
Marina City
Tribune Tower
Tribune Tower, home of the once excellent newspaper. It was purchased this year by Alden Capital, a hedge fund that started cutting staff two days after closing the purchase.
Kayakers on the Chicago River
The kayak cruise
Merchandise Mart
Merchandise Mart
Dave Mathews Bridge
Dave Mathews Bridge. It was 2004 when the Dave Mathews tour bus was headed over this bridge and the driver decided he would unload the bus septic tank into the Chicago River. That alone would have been bad enough, but it turns out he dropped some 800 pounds of human waste onto a tour boat much like the one I’m taking this picture from.
The El.
The El.
Lyric Opera Bridge
Lyric Opera Bridge, behind which is the Chicago Lyric Opera House
River City
River City. Built by the same architect, Bertrand Goldberg, as Marina City
Ping Tom Memorial Park
Ping Tom Memorial Park, Chinatown. Named after Ping Tom, a Chinatown civic leader who was instrumental in acquiring the land and developing plans for the park. He passed away before it was completed.
Ping Tom Memorial Park murals
Ping Tom Memorial Park murals
Lift bridge
A lift bridge!!!
Chicago River map
A map of the river is etched onto this building. The dot you see is a “you are here” marker.
St. Regis Chicago
The tallest building in the photo is the St. Regis Chicago. Designed by architect Jeanne Gang, it is the tallest building in the world designed by a woman.
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