2012 Cuenca Perspectives Collage

2012 Cuenca Perspectives Collage
VIVA CUENCA

VIVA CUENCA!

My mission in publishing this blog is first to provide a living history of my settlement and life in Cuenca, and to provide myself and the reader with a journal account delineating my reasons for why I have chosen to settle in Cuenca. Second, the posts are my way of staying in contact with family and friends back in the states, and to provide them with an understanding of a country and culture that most North Americans have little knowledge and awareness. Third, the blog is open to one and all who wish to compare and contrast the experiences of expat bloggers living in Cuenca, so that you can determine whether or not from your perspective Cuenca is an appropriate move for you. Fourth, my blog provides another example of how expats view and interpret life in Cuenca. Ecuadorians and Cuencanos who may read this blog are especially invited to post comments that may enhance all expats understanding and appreciation of Cuneca and its people, or to correct any misinterpretations in my assumptions and perceptions of Cuencano culture. Finally, I hope I can convey the feeling of love and appreciation that grows within me each passing day for this heavenly city nestled in the Andes and its very special people.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

A PROPOSAL FOR THE MAJESTIC BEAUTIFICATION OF CUENCA, ECUADOR

Cuenca in many respects is a beautiful city, and the various posts and photos since the summer of 2010 on this blog site have  highlighted some of these features.  Recently, a friend here in Cuenca, Jack Johansen, sent me an email that I found quite captivating.  I have not seen anything like this since I was in Mumbai, India in the 1970's, and even then nowhere to the extent shown in these slides. 

The slides are of a beautiful meshing of art with plant and flower life.  I couldn't help but think in a city like Cuenca which has so many lovely squares, fabulous parks like Parque Madre and Parque Pariso, not to mention the spectacular greenways along the Rio Tomebama and the Rio Yaracuy; that this use of plant life with wire-mesh arranged in interesting art forms would find a perfect complement to the attractive settings in Cuenca.

Cuenca and Ecuador have a biodiversity of flowers and plant life,  which allow for a wide array of such an enhancement of the overall beauty of the city.  Flowers and plants are also very inexpensive in Cuenca, which should make such art forms financially feasible as well.  Another plus for such a project(s) in Cuenca is the fact that our springlike weather the year round allows for these art forms to transcend simple display during one or two seasons.  

 


How might these art forms be used?  Some of the city and church squares could use more greenery to dilute the concrete appearance.  One such example would be the Santo Domingo Plaza on Gran Columbia.  Some art form examples in the slide presentation would be ideal for such a location.  Possibilities might even exist in the corners of Parque Calderon.  Parque Paraiso would be a perfect site for a large garden of such displays, not to mention locations scattered along the greenways of the Rio Tomebama and the Rio Yaracuy.  This post is just a suggestion to city officials, the Chamber of Commerce, and whoever is responsible for the beautification of Cuenca, both for the enjoyment of its people as well as for the tourists to the city.  It would certainly require the cooperation of the horticulturalists and the artists and student-artists of the city.

While many of these photo slides are of an Oriental motif, a little imagination of the part of our artists could easily give the art forms a more South American flavor.  I encourage you as you watch these slides to click on the enlargement symbol in the lower right hand corner, so you can enjoy the luscious and magnificent beauty of these eye popping photos that bring a sense of beauty to the soul as well.  After viewing, let your imaginations roam as to where such similar sites would complement the beauty of Cuenca, as we transform it into the most aesthetically beautiful city in South America.


http://www.slideshare.net/Tivadar/gartenkunst-china

6 comments:

  1. Wish my backyard landscaping looked like that!

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    1. Well,Jennifer, if you do the work,I'll be glad to come by an admire it. Seriously, do you think this is doable in Cuenca if the powers that be have the vision and the commitment?

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  2. Excellent post! Keep up the infor­ma­tive work!

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    1. Thanks, Robertus. I appreciate that you find value in my blog.

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