A New Path
by Ilan Averbuch
I think of Opera every time I see this and couldn't resist taking this photo of the stone and steel sculpture by New York artist, Ilan Averbuch for the City of Phoenix Light Rail System. I rather like it although when doing research to find the name of the artist I came across a blog by a local writer/journalist (not really sure) who lambasted the artist and the city. The artist, for having done this same type of thing many times before and the city for not hiring a local Arizona artist. I tried to find the article again to post a link and couldn't find it again.
Many of the new art forms we have around town celebrating the opening of our light rail were done by out-of-state artists. This happens alot in our city and I've never really understood why. We have hundreds, if not thousands, of artists here. One of our highways was decorated by giant cups, saucers and pots (as in Alice in Wonderland) by another out-of-state artist years ago but it drew so many complaints that they were distracting, they were taken down. What was done with them, I have no idea. I did see a few of the giant cups in park nearby. Parks would be a perfect place for them.
In any event, I like Averbuch's work.
Phoenix is large, encompassing almost 500 sq. miles. This also includes the smaller cities of Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe. Phoenix alone has 1.5 million residents, as of 2007. There is over 4 million when including the other adjacent small cities. For these reasons, Phoenix had been criticized for years for not having a good transportation system. Now, after spending several billions of dollars and several years of construction AND many more millions for the artwork all around town, we now have our light rail. It began transporting people a few months back and has been very successful.
Below is one of the waiting stations for the light rail. I like the sail like awnings above it which provides much needed shade from our searing sun.
thesnakeandiandthebutterfly 
Besides, we were just talking about good looking men, Graham. You know you fit right in.
Come back! Come back you coward. Why are men always running away from us?:D :p
Did you go to my photos, Graham, and look at my pretty boy gallery?
Well, we know how to pour it on, that's for sure. And Pam and I like good looking men, isn't that right Pam?:p :happy:
😀 Of course.
Oh, I see. Y'all talking about me behind my back. 😆 Pam, for some reason, every time I read, "I found you" in this Post's title, I hear Sonny & Cher's … Babe! I got you, Babe! 😀
Well….maybe we were. 😀 😆 Now that song is going to stick in my head all night. Good old Sonny & Cher. I really enjoyed their songs. I used to have hippy outfits like she wore and my hair used to be long and straight like hers.
Hmmm, Chuck, do you get to look at anyone's photos? Probably not. You might be missing out on a lot of good stuff. If you look like Ben Stiller, you look pretty good. I said I didn't like him, nothing about the way he looks.
Did you also do her famous mouth / facial gesture? :p Okay, maybe not. 😆
Several actresses come to mind, and one singer, Dolly Parton. She looks very different now. I suppose it makes them feel better.
I don't remember any of her facial gestures Carlos, although I do remember at the very beginning her teeth weren't so good and it seemed she tried to cover them up. You're right Graham. Cher's around the same age as me, if not older. Her face looks mighty smooth the last time I saw her. Botox maybe? She was on Oprah with Tina Turner back a couple of years ago. Tina is 70 something and had retired from touring but did one more last year and was at the Glendale Arena about 25 miles from me. Wish I could have seen her but the tickets were too expensive for me.
That's really self-centered of him to expect that. Very surprising but then, I guess, they get tired of being surrounded by people. Too bad! People pay to see his movies, you'd think he'd be more appreciative. Besides, I doubt he would have been mauled by the regulars.
Linda, how do you know Carlos looks like Ben Stiller? I like Stiller. He's cute and sort of a doofus. At least that's how he seems when I've seen him on a talk show.
You mean Bruce Willis is short? Had no idea. I thought Sylvester Stallone was tall till I saw a photo of him with several other male actors. He was the shortest one. Looked up his stats and I think it said he was 5'6".
I didn't know Willis was short either. Stallone I did know about. And Graham said Mel Gibson is short. How tall are you Graham? You must be pretty tall to be calling all these men short. Are you like…Wilt Chamberlain?I don't think it is so much a matter of arrogance as a matter of safety these days. Celebrities get stalked and killed and their privacy constantly invaded. However, he would have done better just to walk into the place, ordered his drink and sit quietly and drink. The Scots probably would have ignored him.
Pam, let me clarify. It is NOT a fact that I look like Ben Stiller. I mentioned on my Blog that on a couple of occasions, my youngest sister has said that Ben Stiller reminds her of me and / or I remind her of him. I don't think she necessarily said it was a case of we look alike. She conveyed that it was sort of a combo of to a certain extent looks, personality, body frame / height, how we dressed … or something along those lines. And I guess a dash of an intangible factor.
Yeah, he was Graham. He received several awards in his basketball playing days and wrote two books. He was quite the player…..in more ways than one.
Thank you Pam. Graham sounds as though he's a giant. Glad to hear you are normal height Graham. 196 lbs–I would use the phrase "a well set up man"We call that phenomenon of short guys being extra cocky and aggressive as having "little man syndrome" and it is easy to spot.Chuck, it's those intangible factors that do the trick every time. :p
Well, Carlos, I think Stiller is cute, a sharp dresser, and funny when on talk shows. He seems pretty relaxed too. I love seeing his movies. Last one I saw was Meet the Fokkers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilt_ChamberlainAt 7'1", he was a basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers and the LA Lakers.
OK. I was getting ready to defend you. 😆 :knight: I am known to jump to the defense of friends if I think they are being disrespected in any way. Just me.
Quit making fun of yourself. Your wife didn't really say that did she?
Smart bloke, too.:lol:
Well, how often do we have to stroke your ego to keep you happy Chuck?:devil:
Peppermint, the only time I ever went fishing for fish, I caught absolute SQUAT. So, I figured fishing for compliments would be easier. Nyeh! :p
Pam, I guess then you'll think I'm a cute, funny, relaxed, sharp dresser … Okay, so I haven't done any Talk Shows. So, just substitute Blogs for Talk Shows. 😆
There he goes Pam. Fishing for compliments again.
Well, Carlos, I'm guessing you are a sharp dresser, not necessarily with expensive clothing, but that you are impeccably neat in your appearance no matter what you are wearing. I gathered this just from the way you write and the work you do on blogs. Plus, your personality is cute and funny and so are your 'Blog Talk Shows'.
I agree about the neat dresser Pam. I am just as sure as I can be that when Chuck dresses, he is as neat as a pin. No mismatched socks for this guy! Bet his hair is always perfectly groomed, too.
yes, this is a great 'Opera' photo! I hear you– it is too bad that the local artists are not hired for this sort of thing! I totally agree… where else did I hear this? Some one was visiting, I think it was AZ, and they got to the top of a hill of sorts, some landmark/feature, to the giftshop… all the artisan wares said "made in China" on their bottoms. 😦
Jill, anyone who uses Opera couldn't help but think of it when seeing this sculpture. To me it's a puzzle why Arizona artists aren't utilized for things in our state. Doesn't make sense. Here is one Arizona metal sculptor whose work I've seen a couple of times at his studio when we have our First Friday art walk in Phoenix. http://www.deisesculpture.com/Maybe when our city/state puts out 'requests for bids', our artists don't submit one? I really don't know.
Ummm, once a day, Peppermint. :left: :right: Stroking my ego once a day would be a good start. 😆 Yeah, Pam, Peppermint, I dress so sharply that my hands always have a Band-Aid or 2 because I cut myself on my sharp clothes. :p Nah! You're right, Pam. Expensive clothes I do NOT have. I'd go buy a new computer before I'd buy expensive clothes.
Same here Carlos. Well, not a new computer, but I'll find a good deal on an art book at a used book store.
I don't now because I never go anywhere, but I have always loved pretty clothes and have always had a reputation for looking neat and stylish. However, over the years, because of financial circumstances, I have had to learn to dress well for little money, and I think I have been able to do that. I have enough clothes for 3 women, but I refuse to pay retail prices for clothing. I have always been a clothes horse. Not now, though.