I used to think anyone doing anything weird was weird. Now I know that it is the people that call others weird that are weird.
~Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney raises an interesting question. What is weird and who is weird, really? Artists like Van Gogh never sold a painting while he was alive because his style was so different from the established artistic norm at that time. Now of course, we consider him an artistic genius.
Creative people often push the boundaries of convention and tradition and can delight, surprise, and shock us. This first sculpture, exhibited during the annual Art Prize competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is called “Wired.” This statue made out of circuitry and loose wires was also holding a giant cup of coffee in his hand. I love the social commentary here.
I couldn’t resist re-posting this comical skeleton sitting down to dinner wearing his top hat. He was on exhibit in Melborne, Australia in the National Gallery of Victoria.
Turning to nature, I was startled to see this vulture who posed for me on a visit to Florida. The poor bird. Its looks are….how should I say it….weirdly ugly. But in a strange way, this bird is so unique it’s wonderful, too.
Weird? Maybe. But wonderful, too. This metal sculpture is on permanent display at Meier Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a world-class art collection. This piece, comprised of 5 separate sculptures is called “Visitations: Majorette, Hand Stands, Gifts, A Slight Lapse of Purpose, Yea,” created by American artist Joseph Kinnebrew. I love the playful and whimsical mood of this piece.
This last sculpture, “Head with Horns,” was on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum in California. I love its startling weirdness. At the same time, it’s wonderful, too. This work has a weird history, too. It was wrongly attributed to Paul Gauguin for many decades, but recently, it was revealed that this isn’t the artist’s work. The sculptor is still unknown.
In closing, I’ll circle back to Paul McCartney, who questioned what and who are weird. Certainly, people who were once considered weird, like Van Gogh, Alfred Hitchcock, and Albert Einstein, have become over time cultural icons and recognized as geniuses in their respective fields. A special thanks to our wonderfully creative Ann-Christine who has challenged us this week to find photos that are both weird and wonderful. I had fun exploring my archives for things that surprised, delighted, and startled me with their uniquely weird qualities.
As for your “Street Art” collection last week, it was simply wonderful! I loved your discoveries from around the world and the questions you raised about the difference between street art and conventional art. Your unique and diverse finds were a real visual treat.
Next week, it’s Amy’s turn to lead the challenge, so be sure to stop by her site next Saturday at noon.
Categories: Photography
You nailed weird and wonderful. Cool post Patti 😀
Thank you so much, Cee! I’m delighted!! Have a good week, too.
Hi Patti, Excellent choices, a very nice mix. The first one, weird and wired, indeed!! It must take tremendous time to wire this statue. I’m glad you re-post the second image. I don’t recall seeing it. 🙂
Hi, Amy. Thank you! It must have taken months to wire the statue. It’s true! Glad you like the skeleton, too. I had fun with this one! Thanks again and have a great week.
Weird and quite wonderful!
😀😀😀. Thanks, VJ!
Welcome
well done of course Patti! The Wired sculpture is fantastic and that poor bird! I supposed he’d be thought beautiful by another vulture tho! Loved the mis-identified statue too. Terrific
Hi, Tina. Thank you! I agree. That poor bird. I’m sure other vultures find each other attractive??? As they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!! Thanks as always for your thoughts. 😀
All very weird and wonderful, especially the wired man!
Hi, Alison. I’m glad you like them! Have a great week…with plenty of “wonderful” and not much “weird”!
Wonderful examples and great photography for this challenge. I especially like “Wired.” Although we can’t see the cup of coffee, it certainly fits. Although, for some of us, coffee winds us down.
Hi, Anne. I’m delighted you like this one. I heard about people who get calmer after coffee. Not me! Are you one of them? “Wired” is a lot of fun. Glad you enjoyed it!
Cheers to what you did with weird and wonderful :0 …. Thumbs up! 😀 😀 😀 Well done, Patti.
Hi, Frank. Why, thank you very much!! (Big smile.). I’m delighted to hear that! Wonderful to hear from you, too.
Aaargh! Weird and wonderful alright!
Hi, Sue. Glad you like them!! Thanks.
Well done, not sure what I’ve got
You selected the most interesting weird and wonderful captures, Patti!
Hi, Miriam. I’m delighted you enjoyed my “weird” collection!! Thanks so much for your thoughts on this one.
You’re welcome, Patti! 😊
Wonderful selection, Patti! And your quote is perfect! All great examples, but I must say I have an absolute favourite here – Wired. What a fantastic, weird and wonderful piece of art!
Hi, AC. It was about 6 feet tall and had a giant cup of coffee in its hands. It got a lot of reactions from the crowd. I’m so happy you enjoyed it, too. It’s great social commentary. Have a great week, too. Wonderful…yes; weird….no. 😀
♥ The sun has just come out ♥
A lot of art work is definitely weird. You found some great examples! I would however consider ‘Wired’ to be creative and intriguing. And if I was a vulture I’d probably find your one quite attractive.
You know what they say about beauty…it’s in the eyes of the beholder! 😀😀. I’m sure vultures find each other attractive….in their own way! Yes, I agree that “Wired” is more creative and wonderful than weird. Good point, Jude. Enjoy the week, too. I hope it’s wonderful and not weird!!
Lots of weird examples that get me thinking. Though you probably won’t find these art pieces at my house. Well, maybe the whimsical pieces.
Hi, Marlene. Your comment made me laugh! You wouldn’t find them in mine either….but maybe “Wired” would be a nice addition to a kitchen!!
Great weirds Patti 🙂
I love weird!! Thanks, Brian.
👍🤪
Ok, these were all lots of fun but my favorite is the first one, both for its commentary on modern life but also for the fact the “Wired” is an anagram of “Weird” which works perfectly with the theme. 🙂
Hi, Janet. I hadn’t thought of that! Yes, absolutely! Wired and weird! I hope you can join us, too.
I did join. 🙂
Wonderful! I’ll check it out.
What a fascinating post! Love the quote and the direction it took you in determining what is and isn’t truly weird. Can’t help but mention my two favorite pieces of art you shared: the first and the last. Remarkable really. And your post layout was inviting as it balanced your copy and your art in its own artistic way (not weird at all)!
Hi, Rusha. I’m delighted you enjoyed it. Many thanks and big smile. I like those pieces, too. The mystery of the sculptor was news to me. I just read about it as I was writing this. I thought it was Gauguin, but apparently not! Take care and enjoy the week.
So interesting that the head of horns has an unknown artist ! Wonder how the experts determined all that and is so cool how folks track that stuff
And enjoyed your weird and wonderful artsy approach this week
Hi, Yvette. I just did a little more reading about the mystery. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-02-05/gauguin-sculpture-getty-head-with-horns
I’d love to be an art “detective!” Wouldn’t that be fascinating?? Thanks too for your kind words about my post!
That would be fun – sleuthing around about art. But I must admit – i sometimes get up to my eyeballs in art or get some mental fatigue – especially if I visit a huge national museum or whatnot so I break it down and enjoy in spurts.
And of course get my taste and fill when bloggers feature art in some of their posts. So I am now off To check out the link you added in your reply – 🙏
I do the same thing. Break it down. It’s overwhelming otherwise. 😀
😊🙏
Your post fitted the bill of weird but wonderful perfectly. I hadn’t seen nor known about any of the artwork you clicked so each one was a surprise and a treat. Terrific post, Patti!
Hi, Sheetal. Wonderful!! I’m delighted!! Thanks so much! Have a great week ahead.
These are great examples!
Thanks so much, Nora. I’m delighted! I hope all’s well.
It is very interesting to discuss this matter. Many things are relative in our life. Sometimes, people attack a person for he is weak. They can’t attack strong people or describe them weird. on the other hand, some deeds come evil or connected to devil like the “statues with horns”. People are right to describe these deeds as “weird”. Nothing can clear the situation except a description of the reason behind the act. For example, the artist can indicate why the man has the horns! But, if the artist believes that he came with something we need to like, it would mean that he is belong to a dark weird world.
Facts are the world for light and the world of darkness. If one came with something related to darkness and evil, then this person is weird. The rest of things are relatives and has no facts.
You make great points, Landious! Many thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi Patti
Your lead image, the Wired sculpture in Grand Rapids, is amazing. What a perfect fit for this challenge. And I adore your Turkey Vulture. Once, around four dozen migrating flew directly over me while I was kayaking. They are awesome birds.
Here’s my weird and wonderful Dragonfly post:
https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2021/10/24/beautiful-great-blue-herons-guest-dragonfly/
Best, Babsje
I really enjoyed your dragonfly post, Babsje! Thanks for your kind words about the sculpture. I can imagine the sight of dozens of vultures flying overhead. Wow!
Great collection and love your comments !
Thanks so much! 😀😀
Fun spooky images.
Hi, Sherry. Just in time for Halloween?? Thanks for your thoughts, too!
Fabulous!
Love the wired man!
Hi, Philo. I like the social commentary on “Wired,” too. So true. Glad you like him.
Hi Patti
As I mentioned in my earlier reply to your post, your Wired sculpture is an excellent choice. I had no idea that Grand Rapids has such a great museum and art scene!
Looks like you escaped Vancouver before the huge hurricane-like storm this week. I will miss your B.C. photos.
Your observation about VanGogh makes an excellent point. So sad that he couldn’t benefit from any of the riches his works have commanded posthumously. And yet I wonder. If any of his art met with commercial success during his lifetime, would the pieces that sold have influenced his other works? Would he have tried to create more in that same vein in order to sell even more? I sell my photos through a couple of small local venues. Every so often they send me a check. I try to NOT look up exactly which piece was sold because I don’t want to call into the trap of trying to commercialize the Herons. Not sure that makes sense?
Anyway, here’s my take nbr 2 on the LAPC Weird and Wonderful challenge this week with a couple of weird and wonderful experiences at the lake:
https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2021/10/26/beautiful-great-blue-herons-guest-humans/
Best, Babsje
Hi, Babsje. Great point about Van Gogh’s potential success influencing his later work. It’s a question with no answer, but it’s fascinating to conjecture. I can understand your fear of commercializing your work. The danger, I have seen, is to repeat what sells and getting trapped by public opinion. It is dangerous, I imagine. Take care and have a good week.
Hi Patti. You are absolutely correct. There is a danger of falling into a trap of doing the same thing over and over if it had been successful the first time. That stifles growth I think. I could talk for hours about Van Goh, so anyway I enjoyed your very thought-provoking post.
Wonderful, Babsje. Many thanks. 😀
These are truly amazing works of art. Thank you for posting them – I would never have experienced them otherwise! I’m inspired.
Wonderful, Lindy! I’m delighted! Have a great week, too.
Weird and wonderful photos Patti!!
Hi, Aletta. I’m delighted you like my “weird and wonderful collection!” Thanks!
You’re welcome 😊
Hi Patti
I like this challenge of Ann-Christine’s so much that I wanted to submit one more photo. It is an installation by Patrick Dougherty who creates weird wonderful and beautiful stick sculptures.
https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2021/10/27/weird-wonderful-wordless-wednesday-whatzit/
Best, Babsje
What a great selection, especially the Head with Horns. I wonder if we’ll ever know who created it? And I really like that Paul McCartney quote too 🙂
I’m wondering the same thing, too, Sarah. If it’s not Gauguin, who created it? A mystery. The art detectives discovered that the type of wood used in the statue was not from Tahiti…among other details. Fascinating! I’m delighted you liked my selection this week. I hope all’s well and you have a great week.
Thanks Patti 🙂 We have a mini-break planned for this weekend, which I’m looking forward to! Hope you have a great week too 🙂
Have fun, Sarah. I love those mini-breaks!
Very art-istic this time (except the vulture). 👍 choice
That poor vulture!! His mamma loves him, I hope!! Have a great weekend, Andre.
You, too, Patti. Btw. I know a couple of more fledglings, only a mother can love. 😊
😀😀
😊
Lovely collection of sculptures (and a vulture) for the week. I found the wired one and that last horned man specially appeaing.
Hi, IJ. Sculptures and a vulture!! I like that. Those 2 sculptures are my favorites, too. Thanks as always for your thoughts, IJ!
First of all I think the head with horns looks like a human Shreck. First thing the came to mind.
Yes there is something quite majestic about vultures. Lucky that one liked you to give you a nod.
My favorite…Wired. Amazing to see the talent and creativity of artists. A great collection Patti and an even greater read. I agreed it was a nice challenge. A fun one. Donna
Hi, Donna. I always appreciate your thoughts. Yes! Shrek! I agree. As for wired, I agree again. Very creative. Take care and enjoy the weekend.
More than once someone has told me that I am weird … actually, they were the ones who seemed weird to me. 😉
Love your examples!
Great question, isn’t it?? Who is really weird? I’ve been called weird, too, but I don’t care!! I’m happy I’m different! Thanks for your kind words about the photos, too, Ana. I hope all’s well with you.
Hi Patti
Your adorable skeleton top hat at dinner is just in time for Halloween! Can a skeleton ever be “adorable?” And a fop hat “fetching?” Well yours are! Can you believe Halloween is this weekend? Where has the year gone?
Here’s a final one from me for this challenge with a weird and wonderful Goose:
https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2021/10/30/great-blue-herons-guest-flightless-goose/
Best, Babsje
Thanks so much, Babsje! Yes, just in time for Halloween. He is cute, isn’t he? I’ll take a look at your post next.
I’m reading this on Halloween day, and so perfect for the day, Patti! Fab photos to highlight weird and wonderful! Can you imagine a world where everything was perfectly pretty? Thank goodness it isn’t. And thank goodness for the creative genius of artists!