Monday Mural: nothing is good enough for me

This downtown parking lot wall was painted last year by Mr Never Satisfied.  It was apparently sponsored by the LeQuiVive gallery which represents many of the well known street artists in Oakland.  I have no idea what it means but Mr. Owl appears to have serious self-esteem issues.  The little section at the lower right is a small offering by Irot who did the wonderful Indian chief portrait shown a few weeks ago.  Too bad it wouldn't fully fit into the photo.

Welcome to Monday Mural:  if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

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Arrowhead Marsh

Arrowhead Marsh is so named due to the shape made by the marsh grasses.  It's always soothing to walk the shoreline of ML King Shoreline Park.

abandoned shoes

Found these near the lake.  There's got to be a story behind this vignette.  Any ideas?

Monday Mural: solidarity with Palestine

The official name of this mural is Oakland Palestine Solidarity Mural.   Painted by 13 artists, it was finished and dedicated at the end of August.  As you can see, it is quite massive so I've added a couple of shots showing greater detail.

I happened to run across this mural as it was being completed.  To my surprise no one was using aerosol cans, but instead were using brushes.  The styles vary from panel to panel with each image being quite detailed.

Welcome to Monday Mural:  if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.  Thanks.

wind-up bus

This life size wind-up bus was photographed behind a fence in West Oakland.  It looks like a project that needs protecting.

J is for jammin'

These two seasoned performers tore up the blues stage at this summer's Art and Soul Festival.  The joint was jumping.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: poppies by the freeway

I was driving up West Grand Avenue and found this highly decorative mural near the freeway on ramp.  It's by local artist Oliver Black and decorates the Blüm Oakland building.  What's that you ask?  I wondered too.  So I walked across the street to get a better idea.  First I admired the mural and its wonderful detail with an arts & crafts flair in the use of dark outlines.  Then I noticed the security guard.  Hmmm.  Then I smelled the distinctive sweet aroma of cannabis.  Oh.  It's a marijuana clinic.  That explains the razor wire along the top of the fence.  Who knew?

Welcome to Monday Mural:  if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.  Thanks.

alternate mode of transportation

Snapped on Mandela Parkway in West Oakland.  He rode confidently and wasn't thrown off balance by the cardboard container he carried.  I'd end up on the ground with head trauma.

post office downtown

One of the stately lighted urns that flank the entrances to the main post office downtown.

I is for insouciance

Most dogs would not put up with being costumed.  But this mellow dog at Oakland Pride didn't seem to mind or worry about what the other dogs were thinking.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: TDK mural

There's a new mural in West Oakland by the TDK crew.  (Thanks to Sage for tipping me off).   It covers a block long building belonging to the West Coast Ship Supply and wraps around to the back part of the building.  I videoed the length of it but it is so laughingly jumpy I won't post it.  Yet another learning curve to climb.  Below are a few more shots of the wall.

Welcome to Monday Mural:  if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.  Thanks.

fine day to walk the lake

 

It was a fine day to walk around Lake Merritt.  The pelican chorus line was in fine form as they paddled around the southern shore.  In the background is the county superior court building.  It's called deco but to me it looks like post-war Stalinist.  The skies are blue but the light is changing just like the seasons.

Oakland Pride

Sunday was Oakland's gay Pride parade and music festival.  This is the first parade in the 5-year old event.  It definitely had a home grown feel and lasted only about 20 minutes.  In an amusing nod to the much larger San Francisco event, this parade was started by Tykes on Trikes (rather than Dykes on Bikes).  These are some of the tykes that participated in the parade.  The Oakland event is family oriented, generally G-rated, and focuses on our city's large population of gay households with children.  One more example of the diversity we're proud of.

H is for henna

The henna decoration booth is always a popular stop, especially for teens and young women.  It seems like a magical process that connects the participants to a deep tradition many centuries old.  Seen at the Temescal Street Fair.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Theme Day: rust and ruin

The first of the month is Theme Day in the City Daily Photo world.  This month's theme is "rust and ruin."  Here are rusty lockers up at Joaquin Miller Park.  Some seem to still be in use, but the look of abandonment permeates the air.  For more takes on the theme, visit CDP and see contributions from around the world.