The Flickr Showingonesmettle Image Generatr

Back to the gate images again, this is one of the metal ornaments fixed to the metalwork panel of the gate. Last of this series, this fish with rust makes a fine contrast of color and texture to the large backing panel. There are about 9 images total in my stream of this amazing and beautiful artwork found while driving around downtown central Phoenix. See links in the first images for more on the artist, John Peirce.

Today I've put together a set I've been working on for over 4 years, "Showing One's Metal". A slideshow view is fun.

Back to the gate images again, this is one of the metal ornaments fixed to the metalwork panel of the gate. I kept crouching around at different angles to try to get the distant colors of the house so show a human pink "mouth" and a twinkle in the "eyes". There are about 9 images total in my stream of this amazing and beautiful artwork found while driving around downtown central Phoenix. See links in the first images for more on the artist, John Peirce.

Back to the gate images again, this is one of the metal ornaments fixed to the metalwork panel of the gate. This flower medallion must have bronze for the patina is different than other ornaments fixed in place. I wonder about the composition of the metal panel, for I see the patina and wonder if it has copper that has provided the patina or if there was a flux used. In any case I am sure that over the years the artist had planned that the rich metals used would age in a certain way.

There are about 9 images total in my stream of this amazing and beautiful artwork found while driving around downtown central Phoenix. See links in the first images for more on the artist, John Peirce.

6th image of details from "Marta's Dragon Gate".

A fine sculptural and architectural work made as a gate for a home, by John Peirce. The metal panel is applied directly to a cyclone fence and transforms the security fixture to a grand work of art. Details of the artwork, neighborhood and artist are in the descriptions of the images in this series. One of the first images shows the detail of rooster feet along the top of the panel!

A larger image of the gate is seen in Desert Bug's photo.

Like the previous 3 images, this photo is another detail view of "Marta's Dragon Gate", a large metal sculpture/gate seen at a home, F. Q. Story Neighborhood Historic District. This is in central Phoenix along the I-10 freeway downtown.

A larger image of the gate is seen in Desert Bug's photo.

An amazing architectural detail on an ironwork gate, central Phoenix. At this home in the F. Q. Story neighborhood historic district, this sculptural treasure was found, called "Marta's Dragon Gate" and labeled by "John Peirce, 2001".

I don't have images of the whole metalwork gate but plan to go back there at some point to get them. Found by chance while roaming around the central Phoenix area between Grand Avenue and 7th Avenue, immediately south of the I-10 freeway. I searched online and found so very little. But please do look at this one link for the artist in "Ken's Blog". If you do this you will understand why I simply must return to the neighborhood and look around with new eyes...

A larger image of the gate is seen in Desert Bug's photo.

An amazing architectural detail on an ironwork gate, central Phoenix. At this home in the F. Q. Story neighborhood historic district, this sculptural treasure was found, called "Marta's Dragon Gate" and labeled by "John Peirce, 2001".

I don't have images of the whole metalwork gate but plan to go back there at some point to get them. Found by chance while roaming around the central Phoenix area between Grand Avenue and 7th Avenue, immediately south of the I-10 freeway. I searched online and found so very little. But please do look at this one link for the artist in "Ken's Blog". If you do this you will understand why I simply must return to the neighborhood and look around with new eyes...

A very large wall decoration at a Spanish church in central Phoenix, this lion was made to work as a fountain with two basins, one above the head and one below. It was mounted on an exterior wall of a small building, but the plumbing never hooked up. It's near the large church being remodeled at this time, La Luz Del Mundo (The Light of the World). For those who travel through Phoenix on I-10, this is the church with the giant dome to the south, just east of the 19th Avenue interchange.

This is the 4th of 4 images in a row taken from some of the panels. The circles, dots and lines signify routes. Decorative metal panels are placed around the Central Avenue hub of the Light Rail, each a transportation map of other major city Light Rail systems. This gray metal panel detail is my favorite of the set.

This is the third of 4 images in a row taken from some of the panels. The orange circles, dots and lines signify routes. Decorative metal panels are placed around the Central Avenue hub of the Light Rail, each a transportation map of other major city Light Rail systems.

Of course it is superior rust, seen in Superior, Arizona on a bright and sunny day. These security grills over the storefront windows look to have been in place a very long time. Many former enterprises in the main shopping district are vacant and boarded up. Since I like subjects with rust, crust and such interesting texture, the light and shadow here was irresistible. Best view is large and then you will also see the grid pattern in the left portion of the image.

Another view of the back of the buildings in an alley off Roosevelt Street. See the previous image and "the door to nowhere", one of the second story doors on the building to the right, here. Phoenix, downtown.

Seen in Ash Fork, Arizona, this one metal plaque caught my eye in the rain for the color and composition. Then as I looked longer at the image, I wondered what on earth some of the symbols represented. Especially the "dress" called a "Roman cuirass" in the center.

Surprised to learn there is an "Institute of Heraldry" governing insignia, flags and decorations for the US Army!

Background: The traditional seal used during and since the Revolution was redesignated as the Seal of the Department of the Army by the National Security Act of 1947. The Department of the Army seal is authorized by Section 3011, Title 10, United States Code. The date "MDCCLXXVIII" and the designation "War Office" are indicative of the origin of the seal. The date (1778) refers to the year of its adoption. The term "War Office" used during the Revolution, and for many years afterward, was associated with the Headquarters of the Army.

Description: In the center is a Roman cuirass below a vertical unsheathed sword, point up, the pommel resting on the neck opening of the cuirass and a Phrygian cap supported on the sword point, all between, on the right an esponton and, on the left a musket with fixed bayonet crossed in saltire behind the cuirass and passing under the sword guard. To the right of the cuirass and esponton is a flag of unidentified designs with cords and tassels, on a flagstaff with spearhead, above a cannon barrel, the muzzle end slanting upward behind the cuirass, in front of the drum, with two drumsticks and the fly end of the flag draped over the drumhead; below, but partly in front of the cannon barrel, is a pile of three cannon balls. To the left of the cuirass and musket is a national color of the Revolutionary War period, with cords and tassels, on a flagstaff with spearhead, similarly arranged above a mortar on a carriage, the mortar facing inward and in front of the lower portion of the color and obscuring the lower part of it; below the mortar are two bomb shells placed side by side. Centered above the Phrygian cap is a rattlesnake holding in its mouth a scroll inscribed "This We'll Defend." Centered below the cuirass are the Roman numerals "MDCCLXXVIII."

Symbolism: The central element, the Roman cuirass, is a symbol of strength and defense. The sword, esponton (a type of half-pike formerly used by subordinate officers), musket, bayonet, cannon, cannon balls, mortar, and mortar bombs are representative of Army implements. The drum and drumsticks are symbols of public notification of the Army's purpose and intent to serve the nation and its people. The Phrygian cap (often called the Cap of Liberty) supported on the point of an unsheathed sword and the motto, "This We'll Defend," on a scroll held by the rattlesnake is a symbol depicted on some American colonial flags and signifies the Army's constant readiness to defend and preserve the United States.

4 images in a row of some heavy equipment used to construct the new Sky Harbor Airport People Mover (APM) near Washington and 44th Streets in central Phoenix.

Behind security fencing near the construction of the new Sky Harbor People Mover a large roll of yet more cyclone fence is in place just in case another area must be secured. I've got a set called "Complexity" and one for "Filled Frames": this image is a nice addition to these themes I have collected for several years.

This image was cropped from a larger frame captured at the bus transportation hub on Washington Street near 44th Street. Best view is large for the complex detail I find fascinating. If you just press "L" you will automatically view the image large on black.

Concertina wire it is, in this image and the previous two images taken near Sky Harbor Airport in central Phoenix. The lines of the distant power lines show up as contrast to the looping curves of this graceful concertina wire topping barbed wire and cyclone fencing at the border of the bus transportation hub and the construction site of the new "people mover" facility.

This image is taken below the same area pictured in the previous photo at an auto parts junkyard in central Phoenix. I found the play of light and shadow interesting and then the curves and circular shadows caught my attention as well. I've been wondering about the blobs of paint/tape/paper drooping central coil area. It appears the last paint job for the brick wall may have been done by a lazy painter who cleaned his brushes on the coiled wire.

Political statement or just another sign image from Ms. Cobalt? An irresistible combination of rust and crust, weathered metal, shadow play with patterns, and of course touches of appealing color - a recipe for a "cobalt art moment".

Seen at a junkyard in central Phoenix, early Sunday morning along 41st Street at Washington.

A detail view of the new "people mover" construction for Sky Harbor Airport in central Phoenix. Dennis will laugh at this one, as he was with me and of course we both "shot the same things". Yet I am confident he did not plan to crop a frame to just this subject. For those of you who know me, the cobalt blue winch is especially karma for this outing and composition.

Lots of security surrounding the tennis courts at a local high school. This is the same place where previous shots were taken on East Virginia Avenue in downtown Phoenix at the south end of the North High School complex. As I looked at these images, I was struck again by just how much fence and gates are used here. Like I said before, Phoenix folks like their security and fences. In this image, looks like the majority of anything "nature" is obliterated, with only some far-off trees to lend a note of grace.