Photo of the Day: Young Readers Sculptures, Maywood Public Library, NJ

I took the image accompanying this post more than a week ago, when snow from the late February blizzard was not only still on the ground but obstructing walkways. That meant that I couldn’t get close enough to read whatever inscription appears on the base of these outdoor sculptures, so I don’t know the name of the artist or the date when this was installed. The next time I return to the library, I’ll see if these exist.

But I couldn’t help but smile when I saw these figures. They evoke what so many of us—including current and former librarians like me—know: that the best time to foster a love of reading is when children are young.

Nowadays, it’s even more urgent that we realize this, as so many digital distractions exist, far beyond what our parents and grandparents feared with the rise of television.

Photo of the Day: ‘Pin Cushion,’ Garment District, NYC

Earlier this week, on my way to a lunch appointment, I came across this art installation at the Garment District’s Information Kiosk. I think you can see why it caught my eye, even from down the street.

Patricia Gonzalez and Carlos Franqui of Floratorium, a Wood-Ridge, NJ-based flower and art studio, created the giant Pin Cushion. To say that it is made of wisteria branches and silk flowers doesn’t begin to convey what it took to put this together: more than 50 bales of curly willow, nine wisteria bales, and hundreds of faux hydrangeas, poppies, greenery, and butterflies.

This is one of the street sights that I used to see regularly on my way to and from work, and what I may begin to see more of if COVID-19 loses its grip at last on the tristate area.

Photo of the Day: ‘Grown-Up Flower: Jack,’ at Rockefeller Center, NYC

This image is a counterpart to my blog post from the other day about the “Grown-Up Flower” series of art installations now in Rockefeller Center. As with the “Rose” picture I wrote about and photographed, the work you see here is the product of Playlab Inc.

Photo of the Day: ‘Grown-Up Flower: Rose,’ at Rockefeller Center, NYC

This past week, I became aware of art works just outside my office building at Rockefeller Center. This multi-site installation, collectively known at “Grown-Up Flowers,” is the creation of Playlab Inc. They have imagined nature’s wonders inflated to the point where it’s impossible not to notice them.

This may be puckish and fun, but, during springtime, I’ll still take the smell of the original source of inspiration.