Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Milwaukee in the Day...

Usually when I come to the Bead & Button show, I don't get an opportunity to explore the city during the day.  All of my exploration is left after dark when the show is over for the day.  Today my flight got in early and I took the chance to walk around and see a different side of Milwaukee.

I've often times seen the museum lit up, like a giant sail, but haven't been able to check it out.  I decided to change that and see what they had.  I was impressed with the selection and took massive amounts of pictures.  It was funny to see works of art by my professors or from friends back in New York up in the museum.  It was a little reminder of home.

Above is a small selection of pieces I saw by artists:  (From left to right) Catherine Lusurier, Erwin Redl, Abbott H. Thayer, and Bruce Pearson.

After I finished up at the art museum, I found a connecting system of park trails and walked several miles through the trails.  Along the trail was a REALLY nice coffee roaster called Alterra Coffe Roaster.  It was a cute little stop that seemed hip.

I saw a lot of different plants and kept stopping to take pictures.  People would stop and stare and ask questions when they saw me squatting on the side of the trail or climbing up a hill.  It was nice to talk to the various people, but what I enjoyed best was the solitude and the quiet of nature.  I relished the sounds of the birds, the smell of the clover and flowers, and the exploration of my own thoughts as much the exploration of the trails.

I liked finding little things, little things that might normally get passed by.  I liked freezing a moment, that to most would seem insignificant.  

Like a flower on the steps of the Urban Ecology Center...

Or an old wasp nest, blowing around by the museum...

Or a spiderweb on a drainage pipe off a trail...

Or a tennis ball that met with a lawn mower...

Or a snail shell on the bank of a river...

I had a good time finding things and taking pictures of them.  I tried to make myself get lost and sort of bask in the surroundings, enjoying all the details of a new and different place.  One of the things I stumbled upon were koi fish made of milk cartons.  They swam over a boarded up window.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you got the opportunity to have a look around Milwaukee during the day. I love the photos! The tennis ball gave me flashbacks of mowing lawns with dad and made me laugh.

SummersStudio said...

Those koi are great. I love that they are swimming up a boarded window. And that spider web is fantastic. I am uneasy with spiders but love their architecture.

Nicki said...

It sounds like you really enjoyed it - I almost feel homesick, I was walking around that area a lot, our offices are just down the road and I know the area very well.
Nicki

Gaea said...

You are my favorite travel agent! Great places and fantastic beads and jewelry all from home!

Jean Hutter said...

Great photos - loved them. The koi are so amazing - and I love to see a new art museum. Sounds like a great walk!!

sweet fine day said...

lovely photos, andrew!

RupaB said...

After having lived in Milwaukee...the only thing I really miss is the Calatrava....I enjoyed a lot of their exhibits...especially the Dale Chihuly glass sculpture in the Quadracci Pavilion....wished you had posted a pic, I think your readers would have enjoyed it....its just sooo brilliant!

Have fun at B&B.....

TesoriTrovati said...

I just love the way you view the world! That museum is so cool when the sail is open! I have never been inside but I hear it is great. And you notice the little things...I would love to go on a walk with you sometime just to soak up that attention to your surroundings! Enjoy the day!
Erin