Posted on September 2, 2023 by Mark

I love fake-tree cell towers. They symbolize so much about our hang-ups about “nature.” Apparently they’re crazy expensive, yet for some reason they always look cheap, like plastic Christmas trees from Target. The towers often appear completely out of place. The ones above are fake magnolia? and fir? trees, which of course don’t grow in Tucson. Next to the fir is a real com tower with zero camouflage. What are we doing here? Do we actually believe that our urban centers still resemble some idealized form of nature? Are we embarrassed about our cell towers? Scared of 5G? Why try so hard to create fake nature?

More on fake-tree cell towers . . .

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Mark
Everybody who enters the glass-flower exhibit asks the same question, “Are these really glass? The stems? The leaves?” Then their mouths fall open as they realize, yep. It’s difficult to fathom the amount of work and attention to detail needed the create these botanical treasures. Mind blowing!

The naturalists and consummate glass artisans, Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka, created the nearly 4,400 life-size models, entirely of glass, between 1886 and 1936.

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Mark

These beauties surrounded an outdoor eating area at a Thai restaurant in Tucson. Notice the zig-zag ridges on the leaves and the black plastic receptacles. True art!