The Kelpies, Falkirk, Scotland
We could see the pair of them from the highway, rising up in the distance, tossing their silver heads with steel-ribbon manes. Their whinnies, though silent, would surely have shaken the car if they’d been audible. After we parked and walked a short distance to them, they rose even higher—100 feet into the sky. Their power and motion were evident from every view.
This massive horse head sculpture in Falkirk, Scotland, represents mythological shape-shifting horse-like spirits called kelpies, said to exist in lochs in Scotland. From the stories I’ve heard, you do not want to meet one, believe me.
In addition to the mythological kelpie, sculptor Andy Scott also wanted to honor “Scotland's horse-powered industrial heritage.” The sculpture is a landmark and a must-see on any tourist’s itinerary.
One of my favorite types of art is outdoor art. As the name implies, this is art in public open-air spaces in places like parks, gardens, pavilions, streets, and plazas. The beauty of this art is that it is accessible to everyone. It usually doesn’t require admission, tickets, or reservations. It’s simply there to be interacted with and enjoyed. It’s often permanent, and over time, becomes as much a part of a park or plaza or community as benches or landscaping.
Outdoor art can be serious or fun. I’ve seen important historical monuments as well as serious art pieces in museum gardens. I confess, I remember the witty and whimsical ones the most.
For example, a few years ago, Mart and I visited New Orleans for a few days to see some family. One morning, we went to City Park downtown. After stopping at Cafe du Monde for beignets (yummy!), we walked to the New Orleans Museum of Art. It was closed on Monday, sadly, as many museums are, but we’d planned to go to the outdoor sculpture garden behind it anyway, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. And I discovered one of my all-time favorite sculptures there.
Deborah Butterfield’s Restrained.
Deborah Butterfield’s Restrained stands beneath a tree, the perfect placement for it. The sculpture is a perfect complement to the trees around it and even looks as though it sprang from the branch just above it. I love the play of the shadows on the grass, which seem to be part of the horse, too. This fellow is made of bronze, not branches, but you certainly can’t tell unless you’re up next to it.
Glorious Winged Woman, Savannah, GA.
Another sculpture that caught my eye and imagination is the Glorious Winged Woman statue at the JW Marriott on River Street in Savannah, GA. The figure’s stance and the drape of her dress hints at movement—she is leaning over, preparing to take off, perhaps to fly over the river or the historic district. When I look at this, I feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. It makes me wonder: What would it be like to soar high above the earth with those wings?
Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh, Scotland.
If you spend more than a few days in Edinburgh, you will hear the story of Greyfriars Bobby, a dog who was so faithful to his master, John Gray, a nightwatchman, that he guarded the man’s grave for 14 years, until he died too. Bobby’s sculpture is located in Old Town near Greyfriars Kirkyard, where Gray is buried. Although there are various versions of the story, one thing is constant—the dog’s lifelong faithfulness, which charms both young and old alike.
Incidentally, in this photo, Bobby’s nose shows as a shiny gold because tourists have been told that rubbing it will bring them good luck. But all of those people rubbing it have worn off the protective finish off Bobby’s nose and caused permanent damage. Attempts to restore it have not been fully successful. So, if you do ever see Greyfriars Bobby, please resist rubbing his nose, cute though it may be.
Gibbs Garden, North Georgia
This little girl with her butterfly friends sits near a line of crape myrtles in Gibbs Garden. Other little children figures frolic nearby.
This stack of books with birds in flight invites patrons to find their next stack of reads inside the library just beyond it.
Of course, sculptures are not the only kind of public art. Murals on buildings often honor local heroes, foster community pride, or add a touch of whimsy to the skyline. These flowers,, dahlias perhaps, decorate a historic property on State Street in Savannah.
This lovely young woman blows dandelion seeds across the back of an old warehouse that was once part of the River Arts District in Asheville, NC. Sadly, the arts district was destroyed—and likely this building and mural, too—when Hurricane Helene devastated the area a few years ago. While it lasted, though, the mural no doubt inspired and delighted passersby like me.
Not every piece of public or outdoor art pleases everyone. And not every piece would be considered successful or even good by art scholars. But outdoor art does allow people to see and interact with it, people of all ages and walks of life who may or may not have access to art museums and galleries.
And who knows what future beauty might come from that?
Have you ever enjoyed or been inspired by outdoor art? Is there any art like that in your area? I’d love to know. Leave me a comment below.
At Glimsen, I share glimpses of the beauty around us in nature, the arts, and the unexpected. Click the button below to get my posts delivered to your inbox once a week, and you'll also get a little printable gift of beauty just for signing up.