Project Athena - Day 305 (Curves)

My Alma Mater

After walking around the CSU campus for a few hours, I have to say I barely recognize my alma mater.  There are so many new educational and student housing buildings that I had to use the old Clark Building to keep my bearings. The Lory Student Center has had a magnificent face lift and the library looks brand new, even though the construction started while I was still in school. The iconic Moby Gym is dwarfed by all the new buildings surrounding it now. I definitely want to be around the day they raze the old towers on the corner of Shields and Laurel. I hope I am not starting a rumor. I don't know of any future plans for this but those things were nasty ugly when I was in high school. I can't imagine a renovation that would bring them up to par with everything else. It would be great to see some new architecture at that location that matches all the beautification that is taking place on and around the campus.

I am still not sold on the idea of a new college football stadium smack in the middle of town and campus. But if it is anywhere near the amazing improvements that I saw this week, I am sure I will be impressed.

I enjoyed my tour and plan to go back as soon as all the new fountains have water flowing. This ram's head is part of a fountain that I want to reshoot when he is spewing water.

CSU Campus Ram's Head Fountain

Fujifilm X-E2 • Fuji XF18-135mm lens • 58.9mm • F22 • 1/35s • ISO 200

Project Athena - Day 143 (Graves)

Peace of Mary

“I’m not a feminist, I’m a humanist.”
— Madonna

This sculpture of the Mother Mary with the dove of peace is located in a cemetery close to our home and while it doesn't appear to mark any specific grave, it stands over the entire grave yard as a symbol of love and tranquility for those who have transitioned and for those left behind. She is posed with open arms and open hands, ready to bless and receive the parting souls.

I am not a believer in the traditional biblical stories of Mary as the virgin mother of Jesus but I do feel her essence in my life and the gentle guidance she provides on a daily basis. She is the Mother of all to me and the nurturer of this soul.

Mary with Dove of Peace

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 20mm • F/4 • 1/1000s • ISO 400

Project Athena - Day 87 (Musical Instruments)

Bronze Instrument

“Music, in performance, is a type of sculpture. The air in the performance is sculpted into something.”
— Frank Zappa

This sculpture is one of my favorites at the Benson Sculpture Park. I love its name, "Wall Street" and the distorted, off balance depiction of the cello. I can almost hear the warped, garbled sounds that would come from this instrument if it were playable.

Stock Market by Philippe Guillerm, 2007, Benson Sculpture Park, Loveland

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 55mm • F/4.5• 1/100s • ISO 200

Project Athena - Day 68 (Trees)

The Giving Trees

“Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come to play
Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade
Laughing all the summer’s hours away.
And so they love,
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.”
— The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein

Chapungu Sculpture Park in Loveland is little sanctuary in the city is one of my favorite places to walk, sit, meditate, and take pictures.

I was very surprised to find the leaves on the trees already beginning to turn color. Fall is just around the corner. Smiling.

Chapungu Sculpture Garden, Loveland, CO

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 18-55mm lens • 24mm • F/4.5 • 1/20s • ISO 200