Postcard: Juxtaposition of Art and Religion

Arts District, Dallas, Tx

Picture this: A foggy morning in downtown Dallas – and figures, sculpted from cast iron and aluminum, by Icelandic sculptor Steinunn Thorarinsdottir. I was completely unaware that this art space even existed, and happened upon it one magical morning when the fog beckoned me outside with my camera.

I like the way the fog adds a mystical element. The standing figures seem to be looking toward the heavens (symbolized by the church), while the seated figures (arms folded, eyes closed) appear to be disconnected from everything around them.

The church in the background is Cathedrale Sanctuario de Guadalupe (Cathedral Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe), the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas. The first cornerstone was laid in 1898. The bell tower was not completed until 2005, when the entire church received a makeover as part of the Dallas Arts District project.

The art installation called Borders and the church are both located in the Dallas Arts District.

Dallas Architecture Walk – Main Street

Pegasus in Dallas

The Pegasus is a landmark in Dallas. This one, across from the Kirby Building, is a replica of the original, which can now be seen at the Dallas Farmer’s Market. When I was growing up here, you could clearly see Pegasus from almost anywhere in the city but now it’s blocked by all the other buildings that have gone up. I took this shot from a bridge just east of downtown.

The Adolphus Hotel is just around the corner. It’s an elegant historic hotel, built by the beer magnate Adolphus Busch, who also built the Kirby Building. The oxidized green turret is just a detail, seen from the rooftop of the Kirby Building.

One of the great things about blogging is the people you meet. As a result of my post
Architecture Walk – Dallas, I met up with a fellow blogger and expat, Ana O’Reilly, and took her on a mini tour of Main St. I have always wanted to see the inside of the Kirby Building, and as you can see, we did! The beauty of the architectural details and materials used makes me want to tour more of these old buildings.

Adolphus Hotel

Rooftop view

interior Kirby Building

interior Kirby Building

Exterior Kirby Building

I took this photograph one night when a big storm was moving into the area. This was really the color of the sky.
The only editing I did, is a bit of sharpening to give the clouds more definition. There were lots of wind, lightning, and thunder, but I wasn’t able to capture it.

Dallas storm clouds

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