“Nothing exists until or unless it is observed. An artist is making something exist by observing it. And his hope for other people is that they will also make it exist by observing it. I call it–creative observation–creative viewing.”     –William S. Burroughs

Art is everywhere—if you’re open to it. This week, I have the opportunity to explore the theory further—in Northern Russia, and the UK. My head won’t stop spinning over the onslaught of images bombarding me, not only inside the hallowed halls of historic institutions, but virtually everywhere on the street.

I have 24 hours in London before flying to St. Petersburg and  the minute I leave the Northolt Jet Centre I’m assaulted by  an explosion of abstractions. I couldn’t resist documenting some of them. These funky street level bridge panels (Pic #2 left) were diazepam begging me to make them famous.

On my walk over to the Tate Modern, I take a short cut through Blackfriars Road, and slip into an alley to find this (Pic #1 top) quirky old basket by a gorgeous red wall with cerulean blue doors.

Then, across from Buckingham Palace, in Green Park, I discover a few of the 258 elaborately painted pacaderms–public art benefiting endangered Asian elephants and their habitat–sponsored by  elephantfamily.org.

Finally, I spot some new construction, adjacent to the Tate Modern that mystified me. (Pic # 4 – below)  Those massive crossbars that stretch across and block the windows on both sides of the structure, are apparently intended to be architecturally “decorative.” That cracked up one of the workmen, who told me the new owners of these exclusive 750K condos are investing in “rooms without a view.”