Friday, June 2, 2017

Mosaics in Spain



Barcelona is a city of mosaics.

Over 20 years ago my sister and I went to Barcelona to look at Antoni Gaudi's mosaics. What a charming city---kind of sleepy then. Very art nouveau, a great place to live it seemed.

Times have changed.

The curving bench in the Parc Guell, built a hundred years ago.
(The pictures of Gaudi's work are from online sources.
 The other mosaic photos I took.)

The decorated bench is on the roof, supported by columns.

We wandered around Gaudi's Parc Guell for a couple of hours back then.

No one there.


We went back last week. Still a charming place but you have to buy timed tickets to see the Gaudi mosaics now. The tickets sell out early every day. I heard on NPR that 30 million tourists go to Barcelona every year now.--- a city of a little over 1 million residents.


A fake mosaic in a shop selling sunflower tiles.
Marking pen grout.

We took pictures of other mosaics and tile work and remembered our quiet morning at the Parc Guell.


Ceiling in a shop in Barcelona.

Tiled stair case in a Mediterranean town.


Saint Roche, the patron saint of dogs

The roof of the Gaudi's Palau Guell features these chimney pots.
He was a master of chimney pots.

Across the street you can buy mini-chimney pots.
Painted to look like mosaics.


All kinds of fake mosaics are for sale.
If they were cheap I'd have bought a bunch to break
up and put in mosaics back home.

Gaudi

Moi

I wouldn't advise you to go to Barcelona to see the Gaudi mosaics in the summer. But do look up Antoni Gaudi mosaics on line.

A book preview:
https://books.google.com/books?id=kJPJDCHG6J0C&pg=PA62&dq=antoni+gaudi+mosaic&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjN8dKChJjUAhWFWSYKHXWoAM0Q6AEIOzAE#v=onepage&q=antoni%20gaudi%20mosaic&f=false

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6 comments:

  1. Suzanne AJune 2, 2017 at 7:46 AM

    I've seen many photos of Gaudi's building from the street, but did not know about the mosaics. They'really amazing, thanks for showing them to us.

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  2. kristieJune 2, 2017 at 9:13 AM

    I've always have loved mosaics and wish I could create some myself in my garden...but not talented in that art.
    Those chimney pots are the so cool!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wendy Caton ReedJune 2, 2017 at 10:46 AM

    They are all sensational. Especially that last one! Nice job.

    ReplyDelete
  4. DonnaJune 3, 2017 at 7:08 AM

    Yes, there have been changes in Barcelona. When we visited the Gaudi Cathedral in 1964, there were no tourists. Two years ago, it was mobbed with tourists. Gaudi's works are inspirational whatever the circumstances.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JustGailJune 3, 2017 at 9:09 AM

    I had been taught that Gaudi's work is where the term "gaudy" comes from, which is NOT right - the word gaudy has been around long before Gaudi! But I have to wonder if the similarity between "gaudy" & Gaudi's name might have influenced his work. I also have to wonder if the fake mosaic tourist trinkets shouldn't be called Fauxdi.

    Thanks for sharing your photos.

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  6. belarminaJune 3, 2017 at 9:41 AM

    Barbara Gracias por compartir estas fotos.
    Soy española de Gijón-Principado de Asturias
    y me fascina Barcelona, en nuestra ciudad mas cosmopolita (pienso)
    soy entusiasta de la obra de Gaudí

    ReplyDelete