Yard Art?

As we have been walking we have run across some odd yard "art".  Now these items we find are not the cutesy little items people find at craft fairs.  You will not see a cow with a sprinkler tail, a plywood fat lady/man picking weeds or wooden ducks with propeller wings. Here in Oak Cliff those items are few and far between I am happy to say.  We have our own unique way of expressing what we think art is.  For us this is far more interesting than any mass produced craft project.  The three photos above are great examples of Oak Cliff's creative voice.

This picture was taken early one morning on a quite busy street.  It was an old trophy that had been taken apart and stuck a top a 5 foot pole.  The pole was right against the chain link fence that was bordering the property.  As we passed I immediately stopped and took a picture.  I would like to think this represent someone's pride at an accomplishment. However when we went back a few weeks later the object was moved to another spot in the front yard.  So maybe it was just a toy or maybe in was performance art.

This picture was taken on another busy street.  The yard was filled with cars in all stages of working condition.  There were garbage cans, weeds and a basketball hoop in other parts of the yard but the area immediately surrounding this sculpture was pristine and clean.  It also had its own makeshift base.  I think it is a image from a Greek myth but I could not tell which one.  This was a take the picture and run shot.  There were dogs in the yard and even behind a fence I did not want to stay around and chat.  I just thought the contrast of this sculpture that you might find in a European country estate and the surroundings it was in was great.

This last picture was the most original one I have ever seen.  This was taken on another busy street.  I think I am seeing a trend here.  As we came down the connecting side street we noticed this basket hanging in a tree.  At first we thought there was some live animal in the cage.  Then as we got closer we thought it was something they had trapped and had died there.  My husband said, "If there is a real animal in there I am calling SPCA."  When we finally got close enough we discover that it was a stuffed gorilla.  We really could not believe our eyes. WHY would anyone put a stuffed gorilla in a cage, in a tree and in their front yard.  Oh they yard is covered with cinder block tiles.  I guess that is one way to not mow.  This place cracked us up!  When I up loaded it on Facebook my friends were just as amused.

• Michael: What the heck is it?
• Sara: ummm.....stuffed monkey in a cage?
• Dixie: interesting
• Alison: They change things around in the cage. But I have never seen a real animal in there. Thank goodness :)

You would never see something like this in other parts of Dallas.  Life would be so boring without the Cliff. :-)