If you’ve been around here for a while you know I like things that are “a little extra,” as the kids say.
Why have a standard bus stop bench in front of the library if you can have one that looks like an open book?
This bench sits in front of the main library in Chillicothe, Ohio. Here’s a view of the back.
Good for the library for adding whimsy to an everyday thing! Life would be more interesting if we all took a page from their book!
One of the things I like best about cities in this country is the amount of public art like this mural in New York City. It’s by Japanese street artist Dragon76. Located near the Oculus at the World Trade Center, it is a show stopper.
The colors are vibrant and it looks like the horse could leap right off the wall. I found it inspiring and I marveled at the idea someone could create such a magnificent larger-than-life thing.
Go look for art, friends. It will brighten your day!
There’s a statue on Mount Washington, high above Pittsburgh, that tells an important story, It depicts George Washington and Seneca leader Guyasuta in a tense dialog and is titled “Point Of View.”
The meeting took place in 1770 around a campfire as the two discussed the future of this region which was at the western edge of the British colonies. It was still wilderness and home to only about 200 white people.
This bronze sculpture was created by Pittsburgh native James West and dedicated in 2006. There’s a terrific narrative on this website if you are interested in the full history. Click here.
I want to point out how important this statue is. For one, public art of any kind is always special and this piece is particularly wonderful because it tells a story that is still relevant as we continue to have tense conversations regarding the future of this place we call America.
It’s also important because it captures one moment in time and tells a much bigger story that is not taught in schools. It brings to life something that might otherwise be just a footnote in a book. I’m a history buff and still often found high school history class an absolute snooze. I marvel at how we take interesting stories and reduce them to something so dull.
So it’s gratifying when art collides with a fascinating story like this one to create a powerful testament to our origins.
Also, know that you get a great view of the city from up here and that this is the best place to catch the sunrise.
If you go looking for it, know that there is not one online source that provides good directions to this statue. Not one. It is located on Grandview Avenue at the corner of Sweetbriar Street on Mount Washington. It’s a relatively short walk from the incline stations.
It’s Saturday which means it should be Adventure Day. I hope you are out experiencing something fun, interesting and fabulous.
Life isn’t meant to be spent in a cocoon. You owe it to yourself and your mental health to shake things up as much as you can – even if it’s just a different route to the grocery store or a walk around a nearby town that looks interesting.
Do something enriching every chance you get. Life is for the living and it’s hard to tell how many more Saturdays you have left. Do not waste them.
This mural is from Pittsburgh’s famed Strip District. It’s so vibrant and full of life, I find it mesmerizing! Plus, there’s a black cat!
Happy adventuring, friends! Get out and go!
Doesn’t she look like she could dance right off the wall? These are the things that make life exciting. These artistic tokens, left scattered about the world, are waiting for you to discover them.
This one is in downtown Cleveland. Go see it for yourself. Better yet, set out into the world and look for your own discoveries! Report back. I like to hear what you’re all finding!
Last year I finally made it to Pittsburgh’s famed Randyland but avoided writing about it because I honestly didn’t know what to say.
The truth is I loved Randyland but didn’t completely understand it even when I was standing there. All these months later and I can’t say my understanding is any clearer.
It’s color and light, trash to treasure, and a sense that all are welcome. It’s the eclectic and commonplace colliding to create memorable outdoor art.
It’s free to walk through but there’s a price to pay – the cost is that you’ll see and read things that are hard to forget and may cause you to think.
I feel like I’m not explaining this very well.
Some call it an outdoor art museum. Some say it’s one of the most important art exhibits in the country. Personally, I think the place defies description.
Essentially, Randyland is an outdoor space on Pittsburgh’s northside that’s filled with murals and repurposed stuff made into art with lots of words and quotes from Randy himself.
Who is Randy?
We met him briefly and he is lovely. His name is Randy Gilson and he seems to have created this place to foster a community where he belongs. On a sign he wrote
Hello, I’m Randy Gilson. Have you ever been bullied? I’m different. I’m retarded. I’m a broken tape measure. My life understands ME. I will never be like you. I’m happy. Please be happy. Everyone is unique, a gift.
From what I gather, Randy has been homeless in the past. He has been a community advocate and has worked to bring people together through art, gardening and being kind to others. He reminds us all that we are ok. No matter what others tell us, we are ok, just as we are.
No matter where you stand in this museum, there is something fascinating to see. And no matter how long you look, it’s impossible to take it all in.
I know plenty of people who would just call it a pile of junk but that would be a mistake. There is beauty to be found in the wall of empty but still vibrant paint cans. There’s intrigue to be found in the way old crystal chandeliers sparkle in the sunshine. There’s wisdom to be found in the words and in the way random objects are united in unexpected ways.
Not everything is meant to be defined or even described. Randy calls himself a broken ruler and says he will never fit in, will never be like everyone else.
I actually find that admission and that acceptance a breath of fresh air given how many of us work to fit in where we find no acceptance where will never belong.
If you’re ever in Pittsburgh, the address is 1501 Arch Street. Go see it for yourself. Meanwhile, check out Make The Journey Fun on Facebook. I’ll post more pictures there because there were too many to share here.