Monday Mural: public portraits

Frank Rowicki did these oil portraits of iconic Oakland scenes around Lake Merritt.  He donated them to what I assume is the Grand Avenue business district association.  They are mounted on the side of a building on Grand Avenue at the entrance of a public parking lot.  They can easily be seen as you drive up Grand.  Frank now lives in Spokane, having moved there in 2005.  It looks like the beating sun is taking its toll on these pieces.

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 your mural finds posted this week.  Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.  Thanks.

Dear mural enthusiasts--I apologize for the Linky problems.  I'm working to straighten them out, hopefully by next Sunday.  Apparently it's related to the new Google feature of sending all visits to our blogs to an encrypted https format.  I say that like I know what it means.  Ha!  The recommended fix is not doing the trick regarding Linky.  If you have any ideas about what to do, please contact me.

“ Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Rev. John Watson

Monday Mural: Venice up the alley

This one is from the archives.  This Venice scene adorns the side of an apartment building along the driveway and then around to the back.  Way back when, I showed you the back parking area.  This view can be spotted from the street.  I guess the building's owner is an aficionado of La Serenissima.

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 your mural finds posted this week.  I apologize for not commenting last week; time just got away from me.

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

cloudy but no rain

The local movie theater sign from a different angle.  On weekends, the sign is animated and full of color.  Previously shown here.  We've had rain this week but are expected to have mostly sunny days through the weekend.  Post is linked to Skywatch Friday.

Monday Mural: Keeping Tobacco Sacred

I found this large, interesting mural on Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt.  I couldn't figure out why such an intricate mural was on the wall of a parking lot.  Until I realized the lot belongs to the American Indian Child Resource Center next door.  Oakland has a diverse population including many tribal groups.

Made in 2004, this mural was part of an anti-smoking health education campaign calling for tobacco's use only in sacred ceremonies as had been done for millenia.   I was impressed by the inclusion of symbols from many different tribes and how bright the colors remain. 

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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: Calvin Simmons

This mural decorates the north support structure of the 580 freeway on Grand Avenue.  Parts of this massive mural have been featured previously.  The focus here is  Calvin Simmons, conductor of the Oakland Symphony until his premature death in 1982.  This mural is located kitty korner to the Grand Lake Theater.

Weekend Reflection: Venice in the courtyard

The owner of a local apartment building has covered the side of his building and the back courtyard with a Venice mural.  There is no attribution to the artist.  Or the motorcycle.  But there is a reflection in there somewhere.  Be sure to visit James' meme for other reflections.

ABC Wednesday: Z is for zoot suit

With a reet pleat?  Siegel's is a tuxedo rental store on Grand Avenue.  Turns out they make custom zoot suits too.  Probably for those who are into swing dancing, which is big on the west coast.  Pretty snappy, wouldn't you say?  For more Z photos, check out ABC Wednesday.  The alphabet starts all over again next week.  Woohoo.

ABC Wednesday: M is for Maison Monet

Maison Monet is located on the short street that leads into the Rose Garden.  This duplex is very well kept and its paint job is no doubt an homage to the owner's favorite Impressionist.  For other "M" photos, visit ABC Wednesday.

Grand Lake Theater

The sign mounted on top of the Grand Lake Theater is the largest rotary contact sign west of the Mississippi River. It measures 52 feet high by 72 feet wide and consists of 2,800 colored bulbs and was designed by Theodore Wetteland. The firing sequence is controlled by a device much like a music box. The sign is typically lit Friday and Saturday, from dusk until the start of the last show of the night.  The display goes through two sequences, one with red lettering, and includes a simulation of fireworks.  It's an eye catching display, to be sure.

Grand Avenue church

This Seventh-day Adventist church is located on Grand Avenue very near the Lake.  I could find no information about when the church was built.  I liked the shadows cast by the afternoon sun.

Grand Lake Theater

The Grand Lake Theater has been located on Grand Avenue since 1926.  Over time it has developed into a small multiplex and also houses a display of antique projection equipment.  Two days a week they turn on the big rooftop sign made of hundreds of light bulbs, the largest west of the Mississippi.  (A photo of this sign will be featured in a later post).  Mondays through Thursdays they offer discounted tickets and free popcorn!

Smitty's

Smitty's is an old time watering hole on Grand Avenue just east of Lake Merritt.  It has always drawn a wide age range of clients.  This is the place if you like a good game of bar shuffleboard.

 Hope to post other old neon signs over the next several weeks.