#sculptural agaves

[espoirose]

Concrete Pavers Los Angeles

Inspiration for a medium-sized, partially-shaded, mid-century modern front yard with concrete pavers and a metal fence in the winter.

[busbyway]

Los Angeles Concrete Pavers Design ideas for a mid-sized mid-century modern partial sun front yard concrete paver and metal fence landscaping in winter.

[bicyclesonthemoon]

Concrete Pavers in Los Angeles Design ideas for a mid-sized mid-century modern partial sun front yard concrete paver and metal fence landscaping in winter.

[shinonarts]

Midcentury Landscape - Pathway

[balluprojects]

Bathing, 2020

Lago das Tágides, sculpture by João Pires Cutileiro

@ Parque das Nações, Lisboa, Portugal

one of my favourite pieces of urban art, on this place!

[herbalnature]

Check out this stunning agave Kisshokan with its symphony of blue and cream leaves, edged with delicate pink spikes. It's like nature crafted its own living sculpture—truly a feast for the eyes!

[russmorris]

Similar, but different.

UT campus, November 12, 2016.

"Monochrome for Austin" by Nancy Rubins, Cut off.

[fomikrai]

San Francisco Contemporary Landscape

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Agave ovatifolia

This agave species from northeastern Mexico does not generally make any offsets, so the dramatic flower stalk is the final chapter in its life cycle. At the ends of the floral branches are dense clusters of upright flowers, green at the base and yellow at the mouth, with the stamens and the pistils extending well beyond. Sometimes the flowers are red-tinged at the bud stage, but the one pictured doesn't show this trait. A very sculptural plant!

-Brian

[talonabraxas]

Day Ozomahtli (Monkey), known as Chuen in Maya is governed by Xochipili, the Flower Prince, as its provider of tonalli (Shadow Soul) life energy. Ozomahtli is a day for creating, for play, for celebrating. Xochipili Talon Abraxas

Xochipilli or the 'Prince of Flowers' was the Mesoamerican god of summer, flowers, pleasure, love, dancing, painting, feasting, creativity and souls. He is a benevolent manifestation of Piltzintecuhtli, the young sun god who was himself a manifestation of Tonatiuh, the supreme sun god of Mesoamerica. The god is closely associated with the corn (maize) god Centéotl and was sometimes referred to as the 'Corn-flower Prince' or Centéotl-Xochipilli, the 7th Lord of the Day. For the Aztecs he could also appear as Ahuiatéotl, the god of voluptuousness and he was also associated with butterflies, poetry and the 11th of the 20 Aztec days: Ozomatli (Monkey). He was considered one of the Ahuiateteo, the gods of excess, and for the Zapotec he was Quiabelagayo. Generally speaking, though, he was thought of as something of a youthful and care-free pleasure-seeker, perhaps with a playfully mischievous streak.

Xochipilli may have origins in the earlier Mesoamerican god worshipped at Teotihuacán during the Pre-Classic to Classic Period who is known simply as the Fat God. In Aztec mythology Xochipilli has two brothers Ixtlilton (the god of health, medicine and dancing) and Macuilxóchitl (the god of games). As a group this good-time trio represented health, pleasure and happiness. The god also has a sister (or female counterpart), Xochiquetzal.

Particularly worshipped at Xochimilco, the most common offering to the god was corn and during his festivals, which were held in the early growing season and during Tecuilhuitontli (the 8th Aztec month), pulque (the alcoholic beverage made from the maguey or agave plant) was copiously drunk. Statues of the god were also frequently decked out with flowers and even butterflies.

Perhaps the most famous representation of the god in art is the Late Post-Classical Period (1450-1500 CE) statue, a masterpiece of Aztec sculpture, now residing in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. The statue is 1.2 metres high and has Xochipilli seated on a temple platform (or perhaps a drum) which is decorated with butterflies, flowers and clusters of four dots representing the sun. Xochipilli is wearing a mask and is himself covered in flowers from psychotropic plants, hallucinogenic mushrooms and animal skins. Cross-legged and care-free the god is portrayed happily singing and playing his rattles, a vibrant symbol of all the good things in life.

[barbucomedie]

Monolith of the Goddess Mayahuel from Mexico dated between 1469 - 1481 on display at the Templo Mayor Museum in Mexico City, Mexico

According to Aztec myths, the goddess Mayahuel (Circle of Catus Stalks) died during an act of creation giving birth to the divinities of maguey and pulque, the sacred drink of the Aztecs. This was a thick, white alcoholic beverage made from fermented maguey, a type of agave, juice. She is represented dead in this monolith and with very similar charateristics as those of Earth deities, such as gaunt mouth, disc earplugs and circles on the cheeks.

The other objects accompanied this piece as an offering in Chamber 1, located under the circular sculpture of th egoddess Coyolxauhqui, in Stage IVb of the Templo Mayor.

Photographs taken by myself 2024

[lepoppeta]

For the fanfic ask thing: 6, 7, 8, 17, 22, 23, 26, 29, 35, 39, 42, 49, 68 and 75 c:

6. What's the last line you wrote?

"... he may yet make a surprisingly great trainer!"

Victor couldn't help the sneer of his top lip, or the darkening of his brow, or the way he parted his teeth just slightly and asked: "What do you mean, 'surprisingly'?"

Title: To the Victor Goes the Spoils

Fandom: Pokémon (Sword & Shield)

Relationship(s): Victor/Hop

7. Post a snippet from a WIP.

Brassius has no classmates to celebrate with; no teachers to particularly thank. Within the month, he finds an empty warehouse studio in Artazon for his fantastical sculptures and fills the gardens of his new home with roses; agave; blackberries.

Title: Carnivore

Fandom: Pokémon (Scarlet & Violet)

Relationship(s): Hassel/Brassius

8. Post an out-of-context spoiler from a WIP.

"Jack we have to go."

"... I can't."

"We have to, pet. We'll be found if we stay here, and to be quite frank..." he trails off, wincing. He folds his lips together ponderously and tries again: "... to be honest, you don't look like you could squash a roach, let alone kill a Splicer."

Title: Dark and Familiar and Deep as the Sea (re-write)

Fandom: Bioshock 1 + 2

Relationship(s): Jack Ryan/Atlas

17. Do you have a writing routine?

Absolutely not.

22. Do you title your fics before, during, or after the writing process? How do you come up with titles?

Fandom and music have always gone hand in hand for me, so most of my titles end up being song lyrics!

I usually write with a title in mind, but sometimes it changes during the "drafting" process.

23. What is the easiest and what is the hardest: beginnings, middles, ends?

Beginnings are easier, certainly.

Endings are very difficult for me. I have a hard time conceptualizing a good stopping point in my stories; a lot of the time they keep going of their own volition, but not necessarily linearly.

26. What's your least favourite part of the writing process?

Drafting.

I can't do word vomit; I can't write things badly on purpose; I don't entirely understand how drafting works. Someone needs to take my brain and my hands and do it for me so I can have the template muscle memory to do it on my own.

29. What's something about your writing that you're proud of?

I like to think that I'm quite good at dialogue, and I think I'm getting better at making my overall prose snappier and more minimalist.

35. What's your favourite fic that you've posted?

Overall? Probably At the End of the Line (Maybe a Diamond Ring). It's relatively well-written; the ending actually ends somewhat cleanly; it paces well compared to most of my other works. I'm pleased with it. I wouldn't change it.

More recently, I'm quite fond of My Lover Stands on Golden Sands, but I also don't like the ending all that much anymore. I feel like it just... falls off at the end.

39. Most self-indulgent WIP?

I wouldn't strictly call it a WIP, but I still have a few passages from a completed Nuzlocke (OmegaRuby / X) that I was going to transfer into a prose format. It has a lot of headcanons and self-insert-y elements without it being a straight-up self-insert fanfiction.

42. What's your favourite title you've come up with?

Mentioned above, I have two (named) Pokémon stories in the works. One is "Carnivore" and one is "To the Victor Goes the Spoils". I like both.

Out of my published works I think Dark and Familiar and Deep as the Sea is my favourite (although this fic I'd hardly consider to be published in its current state). The Blue Tide Pulling me Under is also pretty up there.

49. What fic of yours would you say is the best introduction to you as a writer?

I don't think I can accurately answer this because I kind of know what I want my writing to aspire to be, but I don't really know what it is. I don't know my own quirks, I only can hazard a guess as to what I would want them to be. It would probably be a question better posed to a member of my audience rather than me.

However, true as I may think that is, it's a bit of a cop-out answer. If I had to choose I'd probably pick Athair. It needs to be re-written, though.

68. Are there any fics that influenced you to write the way that you do?

My one true fanfiction love is Hang the Fool, and that's probably influenced me the most in terms of style. It's a story that's repetitive without lingering past its welcome; it's very articulate while still being descriptive. I admire it greatly.

75. Is there a particular fic that your readers gravitate towards that you didn't expect?

My five most popular works are as follows:

Aphrodite

Athair

You're Gonna be My Bruise

Frame and Wire

The Blue Tide Pulling me Under

I don't understand why Aphrodite is ranked so highly. Maybe because it's my oldest Bioshock work and has simply been around the longest? I think it's pretty crap now, but I also think some of my newer stuff is worse.

You're Gonna be My Bruise I think is the biggest surprise. I truly think this is my worst one. It's too short. It's written poorly. It is simply bad. Why do you people like it so much?

[theoregontrail2024]

Santa Fe was a delightful whirlwind. We started the day with a morning hike up Sun Mountain and we were definitely feeling that ~8,000ft elevation! Next stop was the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, which featured a sculpture exhibit and agave death bloom. The afternoon brought us to the tourist trappings of historic downtown. So many sights to see, and if only we had a week to spend here! Next time we will visit the cat cafe and perhaps take the train up from Albuquerque.

At nightfall we arrive in Gallup, another historic town. After that, we head for Flagstaff and stop briefly at Petrified Forest National Park on the way. The sights are so grand, and yet we miss home so much!!!

[highdesertaffordablelandscape]

How to Work a Minimalist Design into Your Hesperia Landscape

Minimalism is all about simplicity and functionality. Therefore, on a general level, minimalism is a principle of design that focuses on simplicity and functionality. As a concept in modern landscaping in Hesperia, experts from Hesperia can be approached for transforming an outdoor space into a relaxation haven. If you feel that the exterior of your home needs more appeal using a minimalist concept, here is how you go about incorporating the rightful traits of a minimalist design into your outdoor landscaping or renovation projects in backyards.

1. Clean Lines, Simple Shapes

Two basic rules for the minimalist design are clean lines and geometric shapes. When planning your landscape, go for straight pathways.

Straight Pathways: Choose to have straightforward, simplistic paths that are made from concrete or natural stones. These lines guide visitors through the garden while providing an uncluttered look.

Try Geometric Planting: Space plants in structured groupings or simple shapes, like squares or circles. Not only will this be more pleasing to the eye, but it will also reduce maintenance time.

2. Go for Restrained Color Usage

Another prominent characteristic of minimalist design is the limited use of color for harmony and a calming effect. Here's what to keep in mind when forming a color scheme for your landscape design:

Stick to Neutrals: Whites, grays, browns, or other neutrals in hardscape material make for an immaculately clean backdrop that allows the greens of your plants to really pop.

Add in Focal Plants: While keeping the rest of your color scheme simple, add a couple of attention-catching plants that are either highly colored or have interesting textures. This will satisfy that human interest urge in your design without overpowering the space.

3. Focus on Functional Outdoor Spaces

Functionality is at the core center of minimalistic design. Some elements to consider for any backyard remodeling in Hesperia include :

Delineation of space by the intended use, such as relaxation, dining, or gardening. Low-profile furniture, like a low-profile lounge chair or sleek dining set, would tend to draw outdoor living.

Combine Other Hardscaping: Combine other hardscaping that would mesh in with the landscape, like patios or decks. A simple deck will be an excellent spot to host family and friends and will not take any away from the aesthetic surrounding it.

4. Low-Maintenance Plants

A low-maintenance landscape should be about low care. Here's how to choose plants that fit this guideline:

Drought-Resistant Varieties: You need to pick plants that are drought-resistant and would do fine on very little water in Hesperia's climate. These include the likes of succulents, agaves, and native grasses—plants that could be considered sustainable rather than aesthetically appealing.

Group plants into size order: Plant the taller one at the back, then the smaller one at the front. This layering effect will give depth, yet it stays neat and tidy.

5. Limit Accessories and Decorations

Minimalism advocates for simplicity, so be selective and thoughtful of what accessories you choose for your yard:

Select a Few Meaningful Features: Instead of having clustered spaces with too many decorations, go for a few effective decorations like a modern sculpture or simple water feature. Choose it and add the focal point.

Use Simple Furniture: The furniture for outdoor landscaping in Hesperia should have clean lines and be free from decorations. A sleek bench or simple table will further add appeal to your outdoor space without detracting from the design.

Conclusion

A minimalist design in the landscape of Hesperia will integrate such features on your property, creating a serene and visually appealing outdoor space. Adopt a contemporary landscape with simple lines, a straightforward palette, functional rooms, low-maintenance flora, and limited accessories to appeal to the beauty of your home and evoke tranquillity. If a yard makeover is on your mind that incorporates minimalist principles, contact High Desert Affordable Landscaping today for outdoor landscaping solutions and backyard remodels designed around your vision.

[journeydb]

July 8 2023 Santa Barbara

Today we drove into Mission Canyon and hiked Inspiration Point, which had a fantastic view at the top.

We walked through a beautiful neighborhood and admired the landscaping, which is quite different from the landscaping in other places we have visited. California's climate, especially near the coast, encourages lots of desert plants as well as lush vegetation like the palm trees and agave plants in these yards.

After our hike we went to the botanical garden, which had lots of different local plants as well as those from other parts of California.

We went to lunch at Jeannine's, which had limited choices for me as a vegan but the salad was tasty. After lunch we drove downtown and walked around the shopping district for the rest of the afternoon.

I have always liked Santa Barbara's eclectic mix of architectural styles and its laid-back feeling. It is an easy city to walk around in with lots to see and do.

These sculptures were so lifelike I did a double take!

As always, Bruce needed to check out the pastry shops! Being lactose intolerant and vegan means that we can't eat 99 per cent of the pastries but it's fun to look at them anyway.

This was a turtle day as we saw some at the botanical garden AND on a fountain in downtown! After perusing downtown we returned to the resort to shower and rest and then returned downtown to Bouchon restaurant which was excellent and had quite a few choices for me.

[charlottejacksonfineart]

Tom Waldron: Steel and Concrete

April 26 - May 25, 2024

Opening Reception for the Artist: Friday, April 26, 5 - 7 PM

The eye follows a smooth plane, curving gently in pitch, slope on slope, sweeping to meet and create a line. A deep rust form tilts, leaning, forming a deeply shadowed side. A sharp, faceted arc sweeps to a point. Softly interwoven curves braid together in a column. A round oxidized shape seems to fold up on itself, caught in a moment just before it sprouts wings.

It is a trick of sculpture to put us squarely into the here and now. Mass. Volume. Weight. Sculptures inhabit space with us and we with them. They alter the air’s flow through a room. They radiate their own minute gravity. Fully art object, whether molded or cast, carved or welded, sculptures remind us that our world is multi-dimensional – not solely existing in the 2D hybrid mind/light no-space of our screens.

Tom Waldron’s work not only brings us to attention but challenges our perceptions with its deceptively simple forms. It is likely no surprise that Waldron’s entrance into artmaking was spurred by his love of the materiality and physicality of the process. The challenge and intense focus required of welding, it’s possibilities and generative power led Waldron to leave his studies in architecture to pursue sculpture.

Steel and Concrete brings together a disparate collection of Waldron’s work in different mediums. While he is best known for his steel pieces, this show also incorporates works in concrete, a dense gypsum plaster (Hydro-stone), and even in wood. The concrete and wood pieces have evolved slowly in relationship to the steel works. First, as simply materials for pedestals and bases. However, over time, sometimes the line between sculpture and pedestal would blur. Later, Waldron began to take some of the curved cardboard constructions that he creates as models for his steel works and use them as molds to cast concrete or hydro-stone pieces. In this format, Waldron saw the possibilities of using them like modules. Using wood allowed Waldron to explore wall-mounted work because of its lighter weight – but the medium also allowed him freedom to alter and find forms not possible in steel.

The pieces in Steel and Concrete, in each medium exemplify these different properties and effects – the steel pieces with their gently curved volumetric masses tend to encapsulate or bloom into space. Sledge, at over eight feet,and Agave, at five,seem like massive geometric creatures frozen in a moment of twisting growth. Ledge 2 tricks the eye into seeing a rectangular block from one angle – which then bulges and puckers from another. Mounted on a concrete base, Spoonful, inverts Waldron’s more familiar convex curves with a smooth concave scoop out of the sharp-edged steel square.

The concrete pieces included in the exhibition are all columnar – composed of regular interlocking shapes and modules which showcase the motion of uprising lift and rhythm. Shadow Column includes both a wood base and cap which contain a smooth, white, braided sculpture of hydro-stone within. Fan Column, on its wood plinth, is a complex composition of interlocking arced forms in alternating muted colors. His most recent piece, Six Color Column is comprised of gently curved blocks fitted together to create an undulating tower.

Finally, the wood piece, White Cloud 3, explores the same fascination with curved planes and elegantly intersecting lines as Waldron’s steel works – but makes good use of its lighter weight to create a more delicate shape that seems to sail out abstractly from the wall.

Step by step, each sculpture of Steel and Concrete leads the viewer through an experience, from objective observation through to subjective co-existence. Frozen curves intimate at the gentle slowing down of time. (We pause. We notice.) The density of the large steel works grounds our feet into the floor. (We find balance in space as they balance so elegantly in their twisted curved forms.) And the columns, rising slenderly toward human height, feel like fellow beings. (We stand with them, being.)