Unusual, out of the ordinary, impressive. “I like the jolt of finding art unexpectedly,” Sandy says. Oh yes, so do I. Coming up!
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As soon as I started collecting my examples, I had 40 photos immediately. I narrowed them down to 25 with a heavy heart.
They are from Italy and Slovenia as usually, with Croatia thrown in for good measure.
Some of the art is by family members and that has been the most surprising of all.
Step right up!
Possibly the most impressive work of art that I have ever seen. Niki de Saint Phalle’s Oracle, Il Giardino dei tarocchi, southern Tuscany. She is blind but her snakes know. 
In Ljubljana they know about public art. I loved everything about this place. ZRC SAZU. 
I love it the most when the wall speaks my mind. Well, enjoy them! I clearly don’t. Ljubljana. 
In Mengeš, Slovenia, they have artified all their manholes. This was in 2015, I hope they keep it up. 
Motovun is a surprising Croatian arty town in a great elevated position. This mural looks somehow Slavic to me. 
Whereas this is in Pisa. We parked far from the tower and took a surprising walkway to the city centre. It was full of great street art. I love what this one says: “All what I want: stop all wars right now” 
Metelkova City, Ljubljana. They have great fantasy there. 
Grožnjan, Croatia, is another little town on the Istria peninsula, famous for its art. 
In Piran library there is always something to see. 
This was a temporary display in the port of Piran. She-He by Jakov Brdar. 
A surprising squirrel party in the garden of the Miramare Castle near Trieste. 
Omg! Can it be? I was here with my atheistic family and we wondered. Koštabona, Slovenia. 
Whereas no one knows exactly what this was good for. Mysterious Krkavče stone, Slovenia. 
One of the first things I spotted at our beach on my first visit in 2012. By now this house is refurbished and a mighty posh club is in operation. I preferred it then. 
On the floor in Pitigliano. 
By amore’s elder daughter during her first visit. 
By mom’s cousin, after my photograph. I didn’t know she knew how to do that! 
Her second present. Not as surprising any more but getting better and better. This one is done after Google Maps. She started painting at 60! It’s never too late! 
By my mother. Her heart art. Much love! I have the top left one. It looks like a flag of a loving country. 
My friend comes on a visit, picks up some shells and sand on the beach, and creates these in an instant. Basil nods her approval. This was in 2013 and the spiral is still in our bathroom. 
This is the winner of our 2015 garden card tournament. Sadly I didn’t write down the artist’s name but I chose this painting in a Rome gallery for the first prize. He seems to love it as much as I do. 
I was in Florence only twice, both times in a hurry. Sometimes the by-product of art is art itself. 
I’m always happy to pass by these mermaids in Piran. These are bestia’s hind legs, but I have a similar photo with our first dog. 
Živa and Aleš had a painted stone exhibition on the beach in Piran. It reminds me how we painted stones on the beach too. We never made such a specimen though. 
And the really surprising bit about the Oracle? She is hollow. You can climb in and predict the future. Do you dare? And now as always, I invite you to click on the photo and view them again in a gallery with the colourful background.
For Friendly Friday Photo Challenge hosted by The Sandy Chronicles: Art unexpected
Manja Mexi Mexcessive (closed) 
Nice selection Manja. Your 60 year old relative gives me hope – maybe its not too late yet!
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Absolutely, Sandy! Thank you so much, it was a great pleasure doing this post.
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I so enjoyed seeing the mysterious stone and the squirrel party. What fun.
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Thank you, Amanda. 🙂 I like going through my archives and coming upon stuff I forget I have.
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We both like to take photos and lots of them. Both of us derive a lot of enjoyment from looking at them. But I suspect you might have a lot more than me. But then, you live in a very photogenic part of the world.
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Oh yes, in Italy photos take themselves. 😉
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Ha. That is the reason!!! Lol.
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This was great. I spent most of my time in Bg last year taking pics of my son next to street art.
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Ahh, these must be precious, Bojana. You don’t post your photos anywhere, or do you? I’m very interested in Bg street art. And thanks!
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No, I don’t. You’d love them. If they are not political, they are art-related, mostly portraits of famous actors, musicians and so on.
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Great gallery Manja 😀
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Thank you, Bushboy. 🙂 I’m happy to have my archives. No mood to go anywhere right now.
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Nice and upbeat! 🌺
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Thank you, SMSW. I’m trying…
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A wonderful selection – you are part of an artistic family. There are too many highlights to mention them all, but my favourite was your mum’s heart art.
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Thank you so much, Susan. 🙂 I hope she sees this! I’m that much more amazed at this side of my family because I always thought we were more word people.
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