Caged Bald Eagle

Posted on April 18, 2022 by vanbraman

Tonight I thought about a picture that I took about ten years ago.

Toronto Zoo, Zoos, Toronto, CanadaI was in Toronto, Canada and one of my students dropped me off at the zoo on the weekend. I had a great day wandering through the zoo and observing the many animals.

However, one exhibit has always stuck in my memory.

bald eagle, america, toronto zoo, zoo, cagedAt the zoo there was a Bald Eagle in a cage. It was interesting to see the National Bird of the United States in a cage.

I had seen many Bald Eagles in the wild in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. This was mainly when they were still on the Endangered Species list.  However, I had never seen one in a cage.

A lot of thoughts went through my mind of seeing the Bald Eagle in a cage. I often thought of this as Caged Freedom.

However, I knew that many visitors to the zoo would not have the opportunity to see a Bald Eagle in the wild, so it was good that they could see one there.

My favorite memory of seeing a Bald Eagle in the wild was driving down the highway in Kansas while following a Bald Eagle that was flying just above and in front of me.

Steven

 

 

 

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Reading Sculptures III

Posted on April 17, 2022 by vanbraman

While looking back through some posts I noticed that it was nine years ago when I wrote a post about Reading Sculptures.

I had been to the Pleasanton library to pick up a few books that were on my reading list. I do not go to the Pleasanton library very often anymore as there is now a better inter-library loan system available for me at my home library. However, I always enjoy walking up to their library from the parking lot and seeing two sculptures by Dennis Smith that are in the courtyard area.

Girl Reading - Bronze Sculpture - Dennis Smith - Pleasanton, California - Library - Reading

“Girl Reading” by Dennis Smith

This first one is titled “Girl Reading.” It reminds me of many days when I was young where I would go outside and read a book while lying in the grass or on the sidewalk.

Once Upon a Time - Bronze Sculpture - Dennis Smith - Pleasanton, California - Library - Reading

“Once Upon a Time” by Dennis Smith

The second one is titled “Once Upon a Time.” It also reminds me of my big sister reading to me, or me reading to my younger siblings.

What great sculptures to have in front of a library and for kids to see as they go in to pick out books to read. I can imagine kids stopping to sit on the ledges and read along with the sculptures.

Dennis Smith is a sculptor from Utah and has created many works for public projects. He has a website that highlights some of his work: The Art of Dennis Smith.

Another place nearby with a reading sculpture is the Livermore Outlets.

Taking Flight, Set Vandable, Reading Sculpture, Livermore OutletsThe sculpture is titled Taking Flight and is by Seth Vandable who is an artist from Texas.

Taking Flight, Set Vandable, Reading Sculpture, Livermore OutletsThe sculpture is about the love of reading and where reading can take you. I of course identify with the little boy in the sculpture, but also with the little girl who is Taking Flight with her imagination while reading.

 

Taking Flight, Set Vandable, Reading Sculpture, Livermore OutletsHere you can see the face of the little girl. She looks so happy as her imagination takes flight.

Livermore Outlets, Reading Sculpture, Little Boy ReadingHere is a closeup of the little boy totally engrossed in his book.

Lots of reading memories in these sculptures.

Steven

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