Citygarden Opening Day

Yesterday was the first day that our brand-spankin'-new, $30 million sculpture park and garden was open to the public. It is lovely, and it was a joy to stroll around it, even though I could not stop myself from wondering how many schools could be repaired with that money. I don't mean that as political commentary -- I'm no good at that -- it's just an illustration of a guilt complex in overdrive.

Over half of the 23 pieces are by artists born outside the U.S., and all but two of those are from Europe, with France being the dominant country of origin. I was hoping for some African or Indian or Malay pieces, but it seems Japan and Taiwan will have to do. In case you're interested, I'll identify the pieces by American artists at the very bottom of this post, in tiny letters, just for fun.

I like the tranquility of this piece, and I wonder why the man felt the need to take the cat along. Did he intentionally create a captive audience, or did the cat get in the boat voluntarily because it loves the man?

The cat's face, which struck me as creepy in its humanness.

I have no idea why I like this piece so much, but hey, that's the magic of art. It's the only one I read an explanation of, so I can tell you that the part at the top is meant to be an opening seed or "a mouth that opens to the sky, like a baby's first cry."

Pinnochio welcomes you to the All-Star game!

My very favorite piece; again, no idea why, but as it turns out, the artist is one of my people: a polack.

Confronted with a gorgeous new sculpture park, a local naturally takes the opportunity to have her dog piss on it.

The obligatory damsel in distress; while I'd rather see a naked woman in a position of strength, I am happy to see that she's been eating well.

Two bunnies avert their eyes from a derelict van -- and, as it happens, the much-reviled Richard Serra piece that you can't quite see in the next block up. As I was walking around the bunnies, a passerby refused to respond to my cheerful "good morning." He must be a truly woeful person to be able to maintain a scowl in the presence of giant white bunnies. Poor guy. Maybe the bunnies will work their magic on him if he keeps taking that route to work.

Pinnochio is the only American piece depicted. I didn't plan it that way, I swear!