COLD, QUIET

A quiet, cold weekday at our wonderful botanical garden. There had been just a bit of snow. There were few visitors but at least half of them had cameras. The Japanese garden is perhaps the most peaceful area. More of this to come.           

SIMPLE AND CLEAR

Looks to me like they do good quality work. I'd hire them. I'm surprised by how many signs I see, particularly advertising, that communicate poorly: weak color contrast between lettering and background, too many words to absorb quickly, lack of explanation of the subject, etc.

Locust Street, midtown.           

CITY DAILY PHOTO FEBRUARY THEME DAY - VIRTUE

Okay, this was a tough one. My responsibility since I picked it. It's a concept that is hard to reduce to a single image. I looked through years of archives and decided to use this since it expresses the virtue of compassion. It is one of the most important virtues (just ask Jesus or the Buddha), but one often sadly lacking in this world. The lettering is on the side of an improv club here in town.

Take a look at how other City Daily Photo members aspire to a better life at https://citydailyphoto.org/category/theme-days/ .            

SACRIFICE

Soldiers Memorial, downtown St. Louis. Is the muscle-bound horse protecting the mother and child or leaving them behind as it goes off to war? Probably the latter. I'm not sure if I think it's sincere, melodramatic or creepy. Our feelings about wars--and wars themselves--aren't the same as 85 years ago when this was built. 

CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON

As intellectually arid as it gets: sculpture in Citygarden called 2 Arcs x 4, 1999-2000, 162″ x 162″ x 29″, 230.5 Degree Arc x 5, 1999, Steel, 162″ x 162″ x 36″ by Bernar Venet. The description on the garden's website says that he "creates works based on mathematical graphs and formulas. In mathematics, Venet discovered a language of symbols that satisfied his desire to create an art that is non-expressive and not subject to personal interpretation." I think I have broad tastes in art but this is beyond what I can appreciate.

        

THERAPY ON THE CHEAP

A clothing and accessories store in midtown St. Louis. Odd statement. Dear? Is the recommended therapy to treat yourself and buy something?                     

NO LONGER SACRED

Another abandoned building in downtown St. Louis. It has an interesting history. It was a social club, then another social club, then a couple of different hotels, then a Catholic seniors' residence and chapel. https://builtstlouis.net/opos/alverne.html