We love public art!! Culture, expressed through public art, gives us a taste of the collective personality of a city. And the City of Manizales, Colombia has much to offer in the personality department.
Manizales
We have spent almost three weeks here in Manizales, and want to share with you some of our impressions of this beautiful mountain side city. Manizales is the capital of Caldas district, better known as “My Manizales of my Heart”, located in Mid-western Colombia, on the Andean cordillera. Manizales is tucked into the heart of ‘coffee country’ and drinking coffee here, is equal to breathing air. It’s just second nature. Manizales is located close to major cities, just one hour from Pereira, two hours from Armenia and five hours south of Medellin.
In my opinon, the social and physical atmosphere in Manizales very much resembles a small San Francisco with it’s hillside communities and steep streets spanning a variety of barrios. Manizales is a university rich town, the home to 8 higher education institutions, lowering the city’s median age to around 20.
Perhaps the high altitude, the population of young excited students and lots of caffeine is why the this city’s public art is whimsical, wacky and playful!
One beautiful day last week, Miro and I attempted to capture images of all of the wonderful public art that can be found throughout the city. We loved the challenge and discovered some unexpected surprises.. like a bull waking down the side of a building!!
Take a look:
This worker is squatting in the middle of town.
Sculpture of a person riding in a cable car above the town.
Bucking Ox, with cable car in the background.
Man riding a horse (or is a sea horse?) on the side of a building.
Women with dog and stick. I’m not sure what the dog was doing, but hopefully she’s about ready to play fetch with the dog, not hit him with the stick.
Ode to goat with hearts.
I am not sure about this one, woman riding barrel with a jug of moonshine? Maybe she just came from the Home Town Pub across the street?
Bull defying gravity, walking down a side of a building. Yep, they do that in Manizales.
Um, man with stick?
Floating robed man offering a written document, or maybe a spell! I think this guy stepped out of a D & D game.
Two figures. Wonder if the man with the stick is wondering why he’s not as colorful as the woman?
“Help me!! I am loosing my balance!”
And there’s a running dog. I don’t quite get the symbolism here.
Pope with an axe. Um…ok…
Ninja with an iron cross and two sticks. I’m at a loss.
Little boy and a dog. I’d guess the boy is waiting for his really large dog to poop?
Bull, cow and dog retreating from fountain. Yep, an every day scene here in Manizales.
Biologically correct, naked man pondering where he left his clothes, as he looks out a suspended window frame off onto the beautiful city.
How much is that doggy in the window?
Cloud walking girl.
This is the town’s only historical relief, found in the center of downtown. It tells the story of the Spanish settlers and the interaction with the indigenous population.
Man in bondage, with chains.
This guy is totally suspended in the middle of downtown, along with his white horse and sword.
Skinny couple, Modigliani style.
This very contemporary sculpture is found in the center of park, just in front of a gothic church.
Girl in dress, riding a skateboard?
This is part of the monument of Manizales, which attempts to tell the city’s history.
Lainie Liberti is a recovering branding expert, who’s career once focused on creating campaigns for green – eco business, non-profits and conscious business. Dazzling clients with her high-energy designs for over 18 years, Lainie lent her artistic talents to businesses that matter. But that was then.
In 2008, after the economy took a turn, Lainie decided to be the change (instead of a victim) and began the process of “lifestyle redesign,” a joint decision between both her and her 11-year-old son, Miro. They sold or gave away all of of their possessions in 2009 and began a life of travel, service, and exploration. Lainie and her son Miro began their open-ended adventure backpacking through Central and South America. They are slow traveling around the globe allowing inspiration to be their compass. The pair is most interested in exploring different cultures, contributing by serving, and connecting with humanity as ‘global citizens.’
Today Lainie considers herself a digital nomad who is living a location independent life. She and her son write and podcast their experiences from the road at Raising Miro on the Road of Life.
