Photo Of The Day: Man Who Could Walk Through Walls

by Meg Nesterov on

You know you’ve found a popular tourist attraction when you see a statue with a shiny spot. From Ireland‘s Blarney Stone to Istanbul‘s “weeping” column in Hagia Sophia, visitors love any place that has brought luck to others. Today’s Photo of the Day, by Flickr user Kumukulanui, is from Paris‘ Montmartre, and of Jean Marais’ sculpture “The Man Who Could Walk Through Walls.” Based on a short story, it’s believed that if you touch his left hand, you might be able to pass through some walls yourself, or at least take some zany pictures giving him a high five.

Add your lucky travel photos to the Gadling Flickr Pool and we’ll choose the shiniest for a future Photo of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Lincoln Memorial

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Whether you haven’t yet been, or you’ve visited it many times, Washington’s Lincoln Memorial never fails to inspire and amaze. Today’s photo, by Flickr user Christian Carollo Photography, provides a unique angle on this most famous of American monuments. The photo’s black and white color palette, artful use of light and shadow and interesting “behind the pillars” angle creates a feeling of mystery and significance for this otherwise highly recognizable landmark.

Taken any great photos of your own in our nation’s capital? Or maybe just down the street from your house? Why not share them in our Gadling group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Where Do I Go From Here?

by Jessica Marati on

There comes a moment in every great voyage when one finds the need to sit and reflect. That sentiment is captured perfectly by Flickr user Jason Rodman in today’s Photo of the Day. Taken on a recent trip to Basel, the image depicts the Statue of Helvetia, mother of Switzerland, as she contemplates life from a perch overlooking the Rhine at sunset.

Does your contemplative travel photograph belong here? Upload your favorite shots to the Gadling Group Pool and your image could be selected as our Photo of the Day.

SkyMall Monday: Super-Sized David Statue

by Mike Barish on

I don’t profess to “get” art. Show me cherubs and I just see a bunch of babies that could use some diapers. A painting of a horse? I’m going to assume that the artist really admired those equine thighs because I do not see any deeper meaning to that portrait. Here at SkyMall Monday, we have one piece of art, and it’s simple enough for me to understand (Calvin, on the other hand, is a member of the family and not an object). So, when I see Michelangelo’s David, I just see a dude with great abs who likes to hang around the locker room naked. Man, don’t you hate that guy? Put a towel on, buddy! Not only that, the statue hardly seems realistic in 2012. Who has time to develop great abs other than half-baked reality TV stars? We need art that reflects the people of today (or at least the People of Walmart). Thankfully, SkyMall is here to help us stay sophisticated with an update of Michelangelo’s classic work. Feast your eyes on the Super-sized David Statue.This modern sculpture looks like someone you might actually know. Maybe it resembles a co-worker or perhaps even your husband. Modern David is a man of the people. He enjoys macaroni and cheese inside of his patty melts. He’s just like us…except with an intense hatred of pants.

Think that David was a masterpiece that needn’t be updated? Believe that gluttony should not be celebrated? Well, while you paint by numbers, we’ll be reading the product description:

Classic art is busting out at the seams! If Michelangelo’s famous David was resculpted today by someone who’d recently been to a fast food joint, he just might have conjured up this super-sized fellow!

Hand-cast in quality designer resin, complete with modesty fig leaf for display in home or garden…

If only ancient Rome was blessed with a few more Friendly’s locations, the original David might not have needed to be plumped up for modern times. Thankfully, the “modesty fig leaf” allows you to display this statue inside or outside without offending guests or neighbors. However, we kind of think that his junk should have been covered by a greasy Taco Bell wrapper.

You don’t need to be an art history major to understand this modern man. Finally, art that doesn’t make us feel dumb or inadequate. It just makes us feel thinner when we stand next to it.

Check out all of the previous SkyMall Monday posts HERE.

Child on rocking horse is the latest statue on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth

by Sean McLachlan on


The Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square has gotten its latest adornment–a giant bronze kid on a rocking horse.

Trafalgar Square is one of London’s most visited spots. In fact, it’s hard not to go there since it’s right in front of the National Gallery and is a nexus of several important roads. Three plinths flanking Nelson’s Column support statues of a king and two generals, and a fourth plinth, originally constructed to carry a statue of King William IV, is now used as a space for temporary installations.

This latest statue is called “Powerless Structures, Fig. 101” and is meant to reflect a different take on the heroic equestrian statue. You can read the full artist’s statement here.

As a regular visitor to London I’ve always enjoyed seeing what’s coming next to the Fourth Plinth. Personally, though, I don’t think any of the statues have been as good as the very first, put up in 2005.

“Alison Lapper Pregnant” showed an English artist born with no arms and shortened legs. The giant marble statue, seen here in a photo courtesy Vards Uzvards, showed her nude and pregnant. It caused quite a stir when it went up, with some people saying Lapper’s condition was being exploited for shock value. I didn’t think so and, more importantly, neither did Lapper. Instead, it showed a brave woman who wasn’t afraid to get on with her life despite a terrible birth defect. That’s much more impressive than a cute kid on a rocking horse.

No public domain image of the statue was available at press time. This photo of a model is courtesy Loz Pycock.