The Tama County Freedom Rock

Tama County Freedom Rock in Iowa

I was looking through some old photos that my mom had saved, and came across this: The Tama County Freedom Rock. I haven’t seen it in person myself, but she was there with other members of our family to check it out ten years ago and took these photos. This specific painted rock is part … Read more

José González de la Peña, Bullfighter Painting

Jose Gonzalez de la Pena Bullfight painting

I was in Lambertville, NJ, looking at antiques, when I spotted this bullfighter painting by José González de la Peña. I love the drama of the image, the way the red cape swirls around the torso of the matador. While I saw the exterior of two different bullfighting arenas on my trip to Spain, I … Read more

Standing where El Greco stood outside Toledo, Spain

El Greco and Toledo, Spain

I received a book as a Christmas gift titled “Spanish Art in New York,” which acts as a guide book to the museums, libraries, and other public spaces in New York City that have art works by significant Spanish artists. As I was flipping through the book, I happened upon El Greco’s well-known painting “View … Read more

Mysterious Ellwood Kieser platter with quote

Ellwood Bud Kieser quote on a ceramic serving dish

I was in an antiques store in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, when I saw this mysterious platter (serving plate?) with a quote from “Ellwood Kieser C.S.P.” from Christmas of 1988. It reads, “I Am Called not To be Successful But to be faithful.” I wonder what the significance of this is? And who is Ellwood Kieser? Ellwood … Read more

A King in CDMX, but not Burger King

mojiganga King character in Mexico City CDMX

I was walking down Calle Simon Bolivar, a pedestrian thoroughfare in Mexico City (CDMX), when I noticed this tall puppet-like figure with a crown walking down the street. I didn’t realize this until after I took the photo that this “king” with a crown was walking past Burger King just as I took his picture, … Read more

Metal shutter murals in Mexico City

Cowboy mural on a metal gate in Mexico City

As I mentioned in my last post, I was walking around my Centro Historico neighborhood in Mexico City after picking up some early morning coffee. Since it was relatively early, a lot of the local storefront businesses weren’t open yet, and therefore had their security gates still down from the night. From what I was … Read more

Abstract sculpture in the front yard in Santa Fe

abstract sculpture in a Santa Fe front yard

On my last visit to Santa Fe, I was driving through a residential neighborhood when I spotted these white abstract sculptures in someone’s front yard. I found them so striking and unusual that I decided to pull over and walk back for a closer look. The street is Old Santa Fe Trail, near the intersection … Read more

The Exclamation Point in a park in Pittsburgh

Exclamation Point in a park in Pittsburgh

I visited Pittsburgh for the first time as a tag-along on a business trip that my girlfriend had for a client meeting. We were staying at the Wyndham Grand Downtown, and had a decent view from a high floor room. I was looking over the area from our room’s picture window when I noticed this … Read more