Public art encompasses any form of art you see in a public place, large or small, statues, murals, graffiti, gardens, parks, etc. The art should be visible from streets, sidewalks, or outdoor public places. Let your imagination and photographic eye show us diverse samples all over the world.
Last week for PPAC #22, I had a marvelous response from all of you. I want to say thank you to each of you for joining along in our challenge. Here are the featured bloggers for this week. Their posts really grabbed my attention. They are all worthy of a second or third look.
FEATURED BLOGGERS
Cee is taking a well-deserved break this week from PPAC and will be back on board next week.
A Tiny Bit for Natalie’s Coffee Share
On Tuesday my teddy bear, Manny and I hosted a Lens-Artist guest host for the Challenge Host Interview Series. Our guest, along with his Mom, Ma Leueen, was a well-known talking and “blobbing” horse named Biasini from The Horse Addict. “Blobbing” is Biasini’s way of saying blogging. Manny was quite enamored with Biasini’s word and it’s become a household focus of conversation this week.
Reporter Manny 
Biasini and Ma Leueen
My Choices for PPAC #23
Using my Canon Rebel XTi, I took these photos during a 2012 Teaching American History Grant field trip. What a fun time we had with teachers from Tulare County and professors from UC Davis learning U.S. history very near to home. When I found these photos of a hard-working Pony Express horse and rider, I thought it was appropriate to make this week all about horses, one statue in particular.
The intense look on the rider’s face caught my attention. The rider is so tiny and you know he didn’t make many stops or eat very often. The mail had to get through!
A few statue details
- Location: 2nd Street and J Street in Sacramento, California
- The bronze statue was sculpted by Thomas Holland
- “The Pony Express riderโs clothes were based on a paragraph in Mark Twainโs book Roughing It, published in 1872.
- Riderโs saddle and Mochilla (what they carried the mail in) were modeled after originals that are in the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.
- Bit and bridle were designed after military โtackโ of the 1850s.
- The sculptor gave him a wide brimmed hat instead of a skull cap, which the riders usually wore.
- Statue took over 2 years to design and build, including 9 months casting and finishing by Vianello Art Bronzes.” California Department of Parks and Recreation
Originally taken in color and as the entire statue, I wanted to draw attention to how tired both the rider and animal looked by cropping the body and leaving just the faces. The average delivery time for the Pony Express traveling 1,800 miles was ten days. You can almost see that in their panting faces.
Recently, I read that off-horizon pictures weren’t cool. I was trying to be artistic, and in color, this picture is too busy. So I played with it in Adobe Bridge giving it the preset black and white treatment called Infrared then I adjusted the exposure to remove some of the shadows. I think it brings more emphasis to the statue.
Now it’s your turn.
Take us for a spin around your world to see the public art you love and tell us your stories if you like.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
69 responses to “PPAC #23: Pony Express Statue in Old Sacramento Historic State Park”
[…] had a marvelous response from all of you on last weekโs PPAC #23. Marsha picked out the featured bloggers and says โthank youโ to each of you for joining […]
LikeLike
I learned about the Pony Express when I was in elementary school. Going all that distance by horse sounds exhausting. I get exhausted driving more than 2 hours anywhere and it’s from the comfort of my own car.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL, I do too, Julie, and always have.
LikeLike
[…] Ingrao from Always Write blog and Cee Neuner are co-hosting challenge to bring together two very different aspects of seeing the world. […]
LikeLike
[…] Ingrao from Always Write blog and Cee Neuner are co-hosting challenge to bring together two very different aspects of seeing the world. […]
LikeLike
[…] Photographing Public Art Challenge hosted by Cee’s Photo Challenges & Marsha at Always Write […]
LikeLike
[…] had a marvelous response from all of you on last weekโsย PPAC #23.ย Marsha picked out the featured bloggers and says โthank youโ to each of you for joining along […]
LikeLike
[…] #PPAC23 […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOVE it! Very colorful! ๐
LikeLike
Here is Woolly Muses entry.
https://woollymuses.wordpress.com/2021/11/25/photos-public-artppac-wk-23-geelong-street-art/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here is Kanloan’s entry.
https://anthropologist.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/photographing-public-art-challenge-ppac-15-window-displays-london/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cee. ๐
LikeLiked by 2 people
That must have been hard on both the riders and their horses.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to be, I think, Maria. ๐ Thanks for your comment. ๐
LikeLike
[…] These Water Lily were part of an annual light festival. For PPAC #23. […]
LikeLike
[…] https://alwayswrite.blog/2021/11/19/ppac-23-pony-express-statue-in-old-sacramento-historic-state-par… […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Chasing Waterfalls: Bridal Veil Falls in the Columbia Gorge, Washington […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Here is my entry for Marsha’s, Always Write blog, PPAC #23. […]
LikeLike
Beautiful closeups, Marsha. Here is mine https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2021/11/22/sassafras/
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] are some public art, some chairs and some windows for this weekโs […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Pull Up a Seat Challenge. There’s also a sculpture by the seat, so this is also my entry for PPAC, hosted this week by Marsha. There is no explanation for the sculpture; to me though it looks like the ruins of a church, […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your captures of the statue are fantastic & really showcase what the sculpturer was trying to portray ๐ Here’s mine: https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2021/11/22/overlooking-the-marina-on-a-rainy-day-pull-up-a-seat-47-and-ppac-23/
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Ingrao from Always Write blog and Cee Neuner are co-hosting challenge to bring together two very different aspects of […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] post is part of Marsha’s PPAC #23 Photo […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent post, Philo! ๐
LikeLike
Love the horse and the rider.
Great art!
Love the various angles-you took the clicks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it fabulous? Such art! I didn’t even appreciate it enough when I was taking the pictures, but only when I went back and shared it for PPAC and did a bit of research. It made me think of the impossible task that those young men and horses had and for what we do with the click of a finger now. We can communicate around the world in seconds. Was it worth all those lives and energy? It must have been. We have spent more time improving transportation and communication so that we can live farther and farther apart from those we love and still stay close. Ironic isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s fabulous.
We never realize the hardship the sculptures undergone to bring out the wonder!
I fully agree with your thoughts on communicating with the entire world spreading the message of hardship along with beauty.
๐๐๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Philo. ๐ It hit me in the face when I looked at the photos. ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC) hosted by Marsha at Always Write & Cee at Cee’s Photo Challenges […]
LikeLike
This looks great, very expressive work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m finding these wonderful shots in my archives. Glad you enjoyed it, Sarah! ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
great job with the photo…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jim! ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2021/11/20/public-art-2/
LikeLike
Very interesting, Tgeriatrix!
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] PPAC […]
LikeLike
Hi Marsha
That is a superb choice of the Pony Express Statue in Old Sacramento Historic State Park for your challenge this week and your photos are great captures. Rendering in b&w really brings out the details โ look at those muscles and sinews straining! I liked that you included your commentary about your post-processing techniques. Plus I adore seeing Manny at the keyboard.
And a big thank-you for including my Herons as one of the Featured Bloggers, what a thoughtful gesture.
Hereโs an offering from me for this weekโs PPAC challenge:
https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2021/11/20/tunnels-of-great-blue-heron-love/
Best, Babsje
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] to Cee and Marsha for their jointly hosted PPAC from Marsha: Photographing Public Art Challenge #23. And here’s PPAC from Cee: Photographing Public Art Challenge. . . Thanks to Cee for her […]
LikeLike
Thanks for playing along, Babsje. ๐
LikeLike
[…] Topiary Town […]
LikeLike
That’s a fabulous statue. It has so much character.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tas. ๐
LikeLike
The statue is a wonderful one! It may never move but there is so much movement and energy in it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Manny and I thought you would love it. It is an amazing statue, and gave me so much more appreciation of what our forefathers expected of animals and people to fulfil the task of cross country communication. Whew!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! That’s quite a sculpture. It’s so powerful. You’re right that the rider is tiny, but he must have been strong.
I’m still playing catch-up: https://anthropologist.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/photographing-public-art-challenge-ppac-14-christmas-decorations-london-december-2018/
LikeLike
Yes, I agree! ๐
LikeLike
A very cheery post, Anthropologist. Thanks again for sharing some early Christmas cheer. ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved your pony rider at Old Sacramento State Park. I’ll see it next time I’m in Sac!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s well worth a visit. Be sure to snap some pictures. I took pictures mid-day in summer, so the lighting was less than stellar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Still playing catch-up with the Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC) co-hosted by Cee Neuner and Marsha Ingrao. From Marsha’s blog, Always Writes: […]
LikeLike
[…] PPAC #23 […]
LikeLike
great photo’s Marsha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cath. I’m honored. ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful statue and close-up photos, Marsha. I appreciate your explanations. I hope you’re doing well.
Here’s my contribution: https://natalietheexplorer.home.blog/2021/11/19/recent-reads-and-bench-art/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Natalie, I’m pretty good. I still need one more surgery, I found out this morning. So I’m a little bummed, but I feel great! ๐
LikeLike
Truely unique benches. Thanks for joining us at PPAC. I love the Don’t talk the talk but walk the walk piece best. They are all amazing.
LikeLike
Hi, fellow blobbers! Here, let me take you all to church, to a few of them in Piran on the Slovenian coast. A new art series from this town commences!
https://manjameximexcessive6.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/ppac-piran-1-church-art/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I already like you Miss Manja, and I haven’t even read your post. Love Manny xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
๐
LikeLike
[…] For Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC)ย hosted by Marsha at Always Write […]
LikeLike
These are great photos. The pony express those guys and horses ran hard and fast. ๐ ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they did.
LikeLike
I do know about the pony express and how hard it was on the men and animals involved. A great piece of artwork and the close up is very effective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Roberta. The full statue wasn’t as good head on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Linking with #PPAC23. […]
LikeLike
I remember reading about how hard it was on both the horse and rider. It only lasted 1 1/2 years, until the telegraph was available. Then, it went bankrupt. There were around 186 Pony Express stations that were about 10 miles apart. A letter cost 2 cents to send, while a letter via pony express was around $5. In today’s costs, a letter is 53 cents — so that in our time the cost for pony express would have been $120.
I thought it very interesting that Billy Tate, a 14-year-old Pony Express rider, rode the express trail in Nevada near Ruby Valley. During the Paiute uprising of 1860, he was chased by a band of Paiute Indians on horseback and forced to retreat into the hills behind some rocks. He killed seven of his assailants in a shoot-out before being killed himself. His body was found riddled with arrows. He wasn’t scalped, a sign that the Paiutes honored their enemy.
And we think we have it bad today? ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen! Just seeing this statue really made me think. So much technology changed the country at that time causing the Pony Express to go bankrupt, but it was such a dangerous occupation that it was a blessing.
LikeLiked by 1 person