Belvedere Castle Central Park

Mo “Well it has been a bit since we spoke about stuff.”

Sa “True. It has been hot. Also pop pop and mom have been busy doing other things.”

Mo “So what are we going to talk about today.”

Sa “We did go to Central Park again. Do you remember what we discovered?”

Mo “Mmmm. We saw a bunch of humans. Passed a lot of hot dogs and food carts. But pop pop and mom packed our own snacks this time.”

Sa “You don’t remember the castle?”

Mo “Oh yea. It wasn’t as big as some of the ones while we lived with the white hot dogs”

Sa “Those were bratwursts and it was in Germany.”

Mo “Yep that was some good food and big castles.”

Sa “So true but do not sell the one in central park short it is really neat considering.”

Mo “Considering what?”

Sa “Glad you asked let me give you the history lesson for this week.”

Mo “Oh no fair you set me up for that one.”

Sa “Indeed I did. Originally designed in 1865 by two people named Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould. Belvedere Castle was intended to be a Victorian Folly, a fantasy structure that provides a great backdrop and views however there was no real purpose for the building itself.”

Mo “Really? When space is important people did not live in this castle?”

Sa “Good question, no with a strong stone façade, grand turret and flag, the castle was meant to be just a stunning attraction in Central Park.”

Mo “What about the other side that does not look like the other castles we have seen?”

Sa “Honestly, you are hot today. The original plans for the building included another elaborate two-story structure on the site of today’s pavilion, but money concerns stopped construction and left the castle in its present state.”

Mo “Do they use the castle for something else now?”

Sa “In 1919 the United States Weather Bureau moved the Central Park Observatory to the castle. Before that weather measurements were taken from the Arsenal at Fifth Avenue and 64th Street. The Weather Bureau enclosed the castle and altered the turret’s shape to accommodate their scientific instruments.”

Mo “I didn’t see big electric stuff or monitors there?”

Sa “There is a reason for that. They closed that part in the early 1960’s. The empty building was left to deteriorate until 1983, when the Central Park Conservancy replaced the original turret, rebuilt the pavilions, and converted the castle into a visitor’s center. The Henry Luce Nature Observatory in the castle, created in 1996, provides interactive nature exhibits inside the castle as well as bird-watching kits, which can be used throughout the park.”

Mo “In the end of it all your saying if you get the chance take the time to come see the castle in Central Park.”

Sa “Definitely. It is worth the walk.”

 MoSa “And for all those humans who like the images here and want to see more you can visit our moms site to view or even purchase images from the link below. Remember all purchases helps our puppy parents buy treats.”

https://bkpphotography.smugmug.com/travel

The Art Student League Riverside Park South near 59th street

 

Sa “This weekend we took a long walk along the Hudson river.”

Mo “Yea spent a lot of time next to the water. Saw lots of people and a really big shiny bird.”

  

Sa “Yes that is what we are going to talk about this week.”

Mo “Oh, I do know one thing that these are not the same statues that were here last time. So did the other ones get eaten like a hot dog?”

Sa “What? No. No one would eat a sculpture.”

Mo “Then what happened to them.”

Sa “Well for that we need a small history lesson.”

Mo “I don’t think I will ever learn.”

 

Sa “Let us go back to 1967. When New York City decided to show it had a commitment to public art.”

Mo “So people got together to make sure all us dogs could get to see some of the works of art.”

 

Sa “Sort of. Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs who were then one agency organized the group outdoor exhibit Sculpture in Environment. Their intent was not only to have dogs see these works but to use public space as an outdoor museum, letting works of art loose in the city, to set them under the light of day where they intrude upon human and dogs daily walks and errands.”

 

Mo “What does that have to do with the statues changing?”

Sa “The Art Student League of New York city in 2011 started placing different students works of art out on a yearly basis.”

Mo “Hmmm. I wonder what will come out next year.”

Sa “We will just have to wait and see.”

MoSa “And for all those humans who like the images here and want to see more you can visit our moms site to view or even purchase images from the link below. Remember all purchases helps our puppy parents buy treats.”

https://bkpphotography.smugmug.com/travel

 

The Peace Fountain-Cathedral of Saint John the Divine by West 110th Street

Mo “This weekend spent the afternoon at a big building with statues that also had a garden next to it.”

Sa “What are you doing?”

Mo “Telling people about the place we went to. Where was I, oh yea, we had chicken and there were some mini statues in the garden and hmmm maybe you should talk for a bit.”

Sa “I think that would be best. The big building Mo was talking about is the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in the Morningside Heights by 110^th street and Amsterdam.”

Mo “If you look hard you can see us in the picture. That is how big the building is.”

Sa “Yes mom also took some impressive images close up.”

Mo "Then we walked next to the building and saw some really interesting stuff."

Sa " Indeed. The Peace fountain sculpture that ws built in 1985. When you look at the sculpture you can see the sun, moon and many animals."

Mo "What did this plaque say?"

Sa "Move over and let me see."

Sa "Well it says-Peace Fountain celebrates the triumph of Good over Evil, and sets before us the world's opposing forces—violence and harmony, light and darkness, life and death—which God reconciles in his peace.When the fountain operates, four courses of water cascade down the freedom pedestal into a maelstrom evoking the primordial chaos of Earth. Foursquare around the base, flames of freedom rise in witness to the future. Ascending from the pool, the freedom pedestal is shaped like the double helix of DNA, the key molecule of life. Atop the pedestal a giant crab reminds us of life's origins in sea and struggle. Facing West, a somnolent Moon reflects tranquility from a joyous Sun smiling to the East. The swirls encircling the heavenly bodies bespeak the larger movements of the cosmos with which earthly life is continuous."

Mo "Wow that is a lot of words."

Sa "Actually that is not all it also says-Nine giraffes—among the most peaceable of animals—nestle and prance about the center. One rests its head on the bosom of the winged Archangel Michael, described in the bible as the leader of the heavenly host against the forces of Evil. St. Michael's sword is vanquishing his chief opponent, Satan, whose decapitated figure plunges into the depths, his head dangling beneath the crab's claw. Tucked away next to the Sun, a lion and lamb relax together in the peace of God's kingdom, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah."

Mo "So basically it explains about the statue."

Sa "That's right."

Mo "What about all the little statues over here an around the garden."

Sa "These are a series of bronze animal sculptures created by K-12 students from New York City and surrounding area public, private, and parochial schools. Collectively known as the Children’s Sculpture Garden, they represent the diverse community the Cathedral strives to serve and represent."

Mo "Wow that is very interesting. So they let the little humans make something and put them up for all visitors to see."

Sa "True that was a good day. Hope everyone enjoyed this edition of our travels."


 MoSa “And for all those humans who like the images here and want to see more you can visit our moms site to purchase images from the link below.”

https://bkpphotography.smugmug.com/