URBAN EXPRESSION AND DEPRESSION

Street Photography That Highlights Urban Life

pond

SCULPTURE BY PETR HOLECEK

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QUACK-QUACK IN THE DUCK POND

I published photographs of this a few weeks ago but I prefer these images produced by my Sony A7RIV but the difference is not great. Also, I wonder why the artist decided to call the frog sculpture Quack-Quack.

Petr Holecek was born in 1976 in Benesov, Czech Republic.

Between the years 1996 to 2001 he studied at University in Ceske Budejovice, CR, Pedagogical Faculty, and specialized in Art and Civic Education. In the Spring of 2003 he attended a drawing studies course at the National Gallery of Ireland, and in 2004 he was an art assistant in the studio of Patrick O’Reilly in Dublin

He has had many solo exhibitions in the Czech Republic and numerous group exhibitions throughout Ireland including a solo show at The Kildare Gallery in 2018.

THE POND AT ST ANNE’S PARK

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PHOTOGRAPHED 15 AUGUST 2022

The park is bisected by the small Naniken River and features an artificial pond and a number of follies, a rose garden, a Chinese garden, a fine collection of trees with walks, including an arboretum, a playground, cafe, and recreational facilities including extensive GAA and soccer playing fields, tennis courts and a par-3 golf course.

BLACKROCK PUBLIC PARK

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BESIDE THE DART STATION

Blackrock Park is a pleasant green area overlooking Dublin Bay, in Blackrock County Dublin, and boasts a well equipped children’s playground, cycle path and trees.

There is also a picturesque pond containing a small island, and swans can regularly been seen there. The Peace Fountain in the pond was constructed in 1986 to mark International Year for Peace.

Blackrock had a beach that was a popular bathing place until the construction of the railway close to the shoreline. The space between the shore and the railway created an area that flooded with sea water at high tide. This created a malodorous salty marsh similar to that at Booterstown marsh. This marsh was a cause of local discomfort for years until it was decided by the Blackrock Town Commissioners (established in 1860) to fill the area in and create a park. The park, which stretches from Blackrock to Booterstown (encompassing Williamstown), was created in the early 1870s. The granite gates at the main entrance once belonged to a house called Vauxhall. The gardens at the entrance were part of the gardens of the old house.

The Williamstown Martello Tower in Blackrock Park was built between 1804–1806. When the tower was built, it would have been surrounded by sea water at high tide as it was built in the inter-tidal beach area. The tower became isolated from the sea when the construction of the railway took place, but sea water still flowed into the area at high tide. It wasn’t until the filling in of the area to form the Blackrock Park that the tower was to be on dry land. That part of the tower which is visible today is actually the first floor as the ground floor is buried underground.

DRAGONGLY BY FRANK HALLINAN-FLOOD REF 70

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DRAGONGLY BY FRANK HALLINAN-FLOOD REF 70

Frank has been a full time Fine Art painter for the past sixteen years. Prior to that he worked as an award winning Theatre design artist, both in Ireland and internationally.

FATHER MATHEW MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN AT FITZGERALD’S PARK

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FATHER MATHEW MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN AT FITZGERALD’S PARK

Designed by Henry Cutler and constructed by local builder J. Hegarty. Together with the President’s and Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, and the entrance gates, it forms part of a significant group comprising the only surviving structures associated with the Cork Exhibitions of 1902 and 1903.

Freestanding fountain, built c.1900, comprising four decreasing bowls, having straight sides to lower two levels, curved edges to third level bowl, and later cast-iron bowl with curved edges supported on moulded shaft to top level. Celtic Revival detailing to bowls, including interlacing strapwork, stylised mask, knotwork, etc. Inscription in Gaelic font reading ‘Father Mathew Memorial Fountain’. Now set in centre of pond.

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