Saturday, May 1, 2010

Theme Day: Statues


They said the theme was "statues." They didn't say what the statues had to be made of.

I believe this guy on the Ambassador Campus is beating swords into plowshares. I have a feeling there's a piece missing.

This work (title unknown (Swords into Plowshares), 1992) was created in by J. Kenton Zlab. Zlab isn't the first artist to be inspired by this quote. A statue called Let Us Beat Swords Into Plowshares, created by Yevgeny Vuchetich, was given by the Soviet Union to the United Nations in 1959.

"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares" is a phrase from the Bible, specifically Isaiah 2:4 if my web search is correct. I found a cool website that compares Bible phrases from the different translations. Go ahead and try your favorites.

photo by Pasadena Adjacent
A late update to the post: Pasadena Adjacent furnished me with this photo she took of the statue when leaf man had a sword to beat into a plowshare. Sorry it took me so long to post. Thank you, PA.

There are now 1209 City Daily Photo bloggers around the world. Click here to view thumbnails for those participating in today's theme.

22 comments:

Eleonora Baldwin said...

Very interesting, and what a great idea to interpret both the statue and the theme day out of topiary!!

Jilly said...

Brilliant choice! I posted a golfer once, made of a tree, as it were, but he had nothing on yours. Beautifully made and trimmed or whatever they do.

Hilda said...

I can see him getting crushed if he tries beating swords.

Very interesting topiary and a fun take on the theme!

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

now this is a fun photo for theme day clever gardener

cieldequimper said...

What an excellent take on the theme!

Marie-Noyale said...

Who said all statues had to be made of stones or bronze!!!
good choice

ben wideman said...

I love that biblical concept, and I've often wondered what the deal was with this partially completed/dismantled statue.

City Daily Photo is massive. I hadn't even noticed how large it had become!

Bellis said...

I love living statues, there aren't enough of them around. I wonder if anyone has a picture of how this green man looked originally?

Lori Lynn said...

Thanks for the introduction to the bible phrases website.

I love the green statue!
LL

TheChieftess said...

Hmmmm, he looks so familiar????

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks for your comments today, everyone. Don't you love theme days?

slim said...

This topiary is a wonderful interpretation for theme day. Thanks for the informative post. Yes I do like Theme Day.

Unknown said...
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mark said...

Well done. As my father used to say, "You are using your head like the woodpecker." That line was always meant as a true blue compliment. I continue the tradition.

Louis la Vache said...

Good one, Petrea - nice take on the meme!

Pour le 1er Mai, «Louis» vous donne un bouquet de Muguet.

Mister Earl said...

Lo yissa goy el goy herev. Lo yilmdo od milchama.

And nation shall not take up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks for the comments and the muguet, and for the additional wording, Mr. Earl. That particular translation didn't show up on my Bible link, donchya know.

Tash said...

OH, my! You did get a fabulous sculputer for the theme. Sooooo cute & sooooo creative.

Kim said...

This takes the cake! SoCal topiary trees--it is just SO perfect! Kudos Ms. P!
-Kim

Petrea Burchard said...

For anyone still subscribed to this post (a statue of a leafy many beating a missing sword into a plowshare), Pasadena Adjacent furnished me with a photo she took when the man had a sword to beat, and I've added it to the post. Sorry it took me so long to post. Thank you, PA!

TheChieftess said...

Interesting!!! I wonder what happened to the sword and plowshare??? Who would one go to fence statuary accessories/props???

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't know, Chieftess. PA said something about a time when metal was at a premium but now I can't find the email.