Thursday, July 9, 2015

The Brick Master

Last fall, great piles of multicolored brick began appearing in our neighbor's yard. They arranged themselves into tight stacks according to color - red, brown, orange, tan, gray. So many colors! We were intrigued.

Our neighbor began bricking in his home in the evenings and on the weekends. He bricked in the edges of the walls with a pattern of gray-on-red "X" shapes. It was such a strong pattern! I wondered if he would fill the walls with X'es! What I didn't know then was that my neighbor, Armundo Davilo, was a Master Brickmason. He would make something beautiful.

Through the winter and into the spring, Mr. Davilo formed his piles of colorful bricks into beautiful borders around the front door and all the windows. The X patterns became columns decorating the edges of the walls. The work was clearly from the hand of an expert, created with love.

In the summer we began to see that a new pattern was forming on the side of the house. What would it be?! It was subtle, with bricks breaking out of the plane of the wall ever so slightly. It was hard to see through the pine trees that edged the road.

Then one day we drove by and the sun was just right. The pattern pulled together and we realized that it was a horse. Mr. Davilo had created an image of a horse's head on the side of his house!

It's lovely and we are so proud of our talented neighbor and his work!




Monday, October 14, 2013

Fire House 5

Every fire house should have a dog!


Dalmatian fire hydrant
Fire House 5
Paces Ferry Rd. at Paces Mill Rd., Vinings

Friday, October 11, 2013

Halloween Decorations at the Barnes' House

When the holidays roll around, my husband and I like to go by the Barnes' house in Marietta to see the decorations.

All I can say is: "You can't make it up!"


The Barnes home with Halloween decorations
Whitlock Rd, Marietta


Balls of orange lights hang from trees in the front and side yards. Giant, plastic blow-up black cats with lighted eyes crouch on either side of the front walkway. Strings of orange lights grace the front porch railings in spider web stylings. A Christmas tree filled with orange ornaments and lights is visible in the front left window. A row of giant, plastic blow-up Halloween figures stands to the right of the garage. Live Christmas trees with white lights twinkle in the back yard (though they are not visible in these photos). 


I think I will have to return in the daylight to see what "more" I have missed... 

Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Second Atlas

One evening, not long after I photographed the Atlas in Buckhead, I spied a second Atlas. He was perched on the crest of a hill along my daily commute. I was surprised to see an Atlas "in the middle of nowhere" and quickly turned my car around to take pictures. None of the other drivers seemed to notice. You would think he'd have been more of a spectacle - he's pretty large! But, no. We daily commuters focus only on the road... or our phones... or the radio... or the food we've spilled in our laps... not the spectacular.

When Atlas first appeared in Buckhead (many years ago), there were actually three individual Atlas sculptures. One was near the center of Buckhead at Roswell Rd. and Irby Ave. The Second Atlas was placed on Pharr Rd., a block from Peachtree St. He carried a globe and advertised a gym. I believe that this Second Atlas is the sculpture I saw on Windy Hill Rd. The Third Atlas was installed at Spring St. and Linden Ave. and is still there. (I will have to take a picture!)

The three Atlases have different gestures and personalities. The First Atlas is somber and introspective. The Second Atlas has curly hair and an 80's style. When I saw him on Windy Hill Rd., he was chained in the holding yard of a construction firm, held in place by a crane and surrounded by fences. His only company was a billboard for the Pink Plumber and the occasional passing bird. I felt that he was ready to party, but that he didn't have a lot of options.

The Second Atlas has moved on since I took these photos. I meant to ask permission to take pictures from inside the fence. I wanted a closer shot of his face. I wanted to see if he was made of mesh and if he was somewhat transparent like the First Atlas. Too late. Sometimes these perfect subjects get away before I can ask all my questions.


Atlas from the roadway
Windy Hill Rd. at Dixie Ave


Atlas and the Pink Plumber billboard


Closer view


A quiet moment between a man and his billboard


Atlas from another angle, showing the crane behind him


Atlas with his chains and the crane


Closer view of Atlas' head and hand


A peaceful place for birds to rest

Caterpillar Garden

The Caterpillar Garden is a public sculpture just North of Lake Nickajack on Hwy. 24. Created by sculptor, William Ralston, it is located in the rest stop where it charms and lifts the spirits of weary travelers.


Entrance to the Caterpillar Garden


South side of the sculpture


Center caterpillar


Caterpillars posing


Close-up of the expression of the caterpillar on the left


Group shot


Extreme posing for the caterpillar on the right


View toward the the rest stop building


View of the sculpture and the highway

I love this sculpture!

Frosty Caboose

Fabulous frosty treats in the heart of Chamblee!


Peachtree Rd, Chamblee


Ramp to the front window


Frosty treats and friendly smiles!
The owner is on the left


Street-side signage


Track-side view



Back 'o the caboose