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 #35 Prescott Library, 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

My Choices for PPAC #36 Williams Walk #2 A Wild Ride

Williams proved to be a wild place to find public art to photograph. First of all, we found the PPAC corral. These wild things, penned in behind the Museum, seemed to be itching to get out. Some of their counterparts successfully escaped and I’m sure there was some jealousy going on.

Can you see the animal in the back that looks like it’s rolling on its back and has too many legs? It’s really cacti. I think they are trying to get out, too.

Bison

“If there be no place for wild bison in all of Montana, then surely we have crossed a line between the Last Best Place and the the Once Best Place. ”

– Author: Jim Bailey

This must have been a baby bison. He looked friendly to me. I did not try to pet him though.

At 1,000 to 2,000 pounds, bison stand about six feet tall at the shoulder and are the largest land animal in North America today. Traveling in herds of 20 or so, they like to graze on plains and in river valleys. They are usually found in Yellowstone National Park, not usually Williams, AZ. For fun, they wallow in the mud.

Black Bears

“The bears went out one day looking for food which was other bears.”

– Andrew Witham

The New Mexican Black Bear is reputed to live in Eastern Arizona. They like sparsely settled forested areas, so Williams would be perfect for them. Compare them at about 250 pounds for a male to the huge buffalo. Yet these animals are quick and smart. They can unscrew jar lids and open latches. Unlike their grass-loving friends, the bison, they are omnivores and like meat and honey as well as tree parts, like the nuts lying on the ground.

Elk

 “Always drink upstream from the herd.”

-Will Rogers.

Fossils of elk have been dated at 25 million years old. This one probably won’t last quite that long even if it becomes a fossil. Elk, large deer, are also known as wapiti meaning “white rump” is from the Shawnee and Cree word. They are among some of the largest animals in North America. Males can weigh between almost 400-1,000 pounds and be up to four feet high at the shoulder.

There are three primary subspecies in North America. One, in particular, caught my eye because of their name, Tule Elk, and the fact that we lived in Tulare County also named after the tules. An estimated 500,000 Tule Elk walked the Central Valley of California among the tules when they were discovered by white men. By 1874 they were down to one couple. Many ranchers including the famous Henry Miller, tried with little early success to protect them. Some of the conservation measures succeeded and now about 4,000 wild Tule elk live in various reserves in the Central California Valley.

Speaking of Fossils

 Nature is a petrified magic city. 

-Novalis

In this piece of petrified wood, I see a picture of a bison standing by a tree. Do you see it?

Having Fun with Other Challenges

• CBWC ROCKS, BOULDERS, STONES
• SQUAREODDS

Now it’s your turn.

Thanks again to all of you who participate. Your work always brings a smile and brightens my day. Share your own interesting public art either from your area or a trip. Be sure and visit some of the other amazing displays of public art while you’re here. Thanks so much for stopping by and having fun with public art.