Al Green Sculpture Park

Location: Toronto,Ontario,Canada
Address: 77 Davisville Ave.
Date: June 2015
Website: carlbucher.com/werk

   Tucked in between Balliol Street and Davisville Avenue in Toronto is a small parkette known as the Al Green Sculpture Park.  Al Green was both a sculptor and a real estate developer.  It is fitting that the park is located just a little distance east of Yonge Street between several condo developments.  We believe that Al Green was responsible for both the buildings and the art.

  A majority of the pieces were created by Al Green himself.  The piece above is called People Helping People and features two giant hands grasping each other.

   There was also some work by Sorel Etrog such as Grande Odalisque (above).

 The highlight of the park is a sculpture called The Landing. It features two red cartoonish alien creatures coming down to earth.  The creatures (maybe they are spaceships?) appear to be landing into a small pool. Whatever they are, we welcome them to planet Earth and know that because they look so cute they could never mean us any harm.

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This location is near Davisville subway. Visit other Toronto TTC stations.

Map of Our World
Al Green Sculpture Park

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Post # 165

Maui Releasing The Sun

Location: Maui, Hawaii, USA
Address: 1 Keolani Pl
Date: Feb 2017
Website: hawaii.gov/ogg

  Maui is one of our favourite places in the world.  When your vacation is over and you are reluctantly departing from the Kahului Airport you can see a statue of Maui.  It is located in a small garden area just before the security check.  In Hawaiian mythology, Maui is a powerful man who is responsible for you throughly enjoying your vacation.

  There are many myths involving Maui, but here are two of the most popular.  The first myth has to do with the creation of the Hawaiian islands.  It is said that Maui used a special fish hook and caught the bottom of the ocean floor.  He then told his brothers to row their boat with all their might.  They rowed and rowed as hard as they could.  Behind them an island rose out of the ocean.  Maui did this several times to create the Hawaiian island chain.

  Maui is also said to be responsible for the sun moving so slowly across the Hawaiian sky. His mother complained to Maui that she was unable to get anything to dry as the days were too short. Maui climbed up Haleakala which is a dormant volcano that rises 10000 feet at its peak.  As the sun appeared over the clouds Maui lassoed the sun and captured it.  We also went to the top of Haleakala and captured the sun, but only with our cameras.

  The sign as you enter Haleakala National Park shows Maui with the sun in his grasp.  In order to be released again, the sun agreed to shine longer over the Hawaiian islands each day.  The statue at the airport is called Maui Releasing The Sun and depicts Maui letting the sun return to the sky.

 
  So as the sun sets out over the edge of the Pacific Ocean and you settle back in your chair lulled by the sound of the crashing waves you should be thankful for another beautiful day in Hawaii.  Whether it be because of the man or the island, you owe it all to Maui.

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Map of Our World
Maui Releasing The Sun , Haleakala National Park Sign
Haleakalā National Park Visitor Center

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Post # 164

Immigrant Family

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: 18 Yonge Street
Date: May 2014
Website: www.tomotterness.net

   Where they came from, we don't know.  It is possible that they came from New York City, as we have seen some smaller yet similar people in the subway there.  This Toronto sculpture and the "Life Underground" figures in New York are both created by artist Tom Otterness.  The other thing they both have in common is that they are very cute.  The family with the big round heads are part of a work of art called "Immigrant Family".  They stand in front of a Yonge Street condo welcoming people to Toronto.  Or is that being welcomed to Toronto?  Either way this family always brings a smile to our faces.

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Map of Our World
Immigrant Family

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Post # 163