Monday, March 12, 2012

Monday Mural: Honest Al's wall

Honest Al's wrecking yard in West Oakland has become a go-to wall for graffiti artists.  This is not my favorite kind of street art, but I admit I don't know how to look at it.  I Googled CBS, which seems to be a loose confederation of artists in Northern and Southern California.  Defie and Quakes are part of this crew.  Beyond that I'm at a loss.  You can tell that a lot of feeling and passion have gone into this work, but I'm afraid I don't know what it references.  Interestingly, someone has drawn a line beyond which the artists should not go, and this is being honored.

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.

14 comments:

  1. Like you, I am of two minds over this kind of graffiti art - I can see the passion, but I don't always get it.

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  2. I'm with you on this one. This type of graffiti is neither original nor does it look like it is intent on making a point. Art elicits an emotional reaction in the viewer and this fails to move me in any way at all. I can't see any message in this except that someone has lots of time on their hands as well as some cans of spray paint. Tehy are skilful in using the spray paint but what else? Hmmmm

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  3. Good ghat they respect boundaries at least, and it seems fair that they should have somewhere public to out their creative bent. Not sure I get it myself, but could be a generation thing!

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  4. I think the artist have weird thoughts in their minds.

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  5. Perhaps it is just that they all seem to learn from the same play-book. The graffiti that you have posted today, Carolyn, can be found in every Australian major city. Something very similar, at any rate. Including that writing which to these ageing eyes, borders on unreadable. I think some of it is the residual from hemp indulgence.

    Thanks for hosting, Carolyn, and for giving each of us a loan of your soap-box.

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  6. Yes I agree, this is not my favourite kind of graffiti, but you see it everywhere, so some has to express himself I suppose.

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  7. Graffiti-es are amazing art on the streets when done as well as these, !

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  8. Apparently we all don't really get what they are trying to tell us :-). I do like the colors though and I for one could definitely not do this myself, that's for sure! Thanks for sharing this one and hosting this meme again!

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  9. There is honour among some graffiti artists - stay in the lines, don't mess with someone else's work, etc. Nice catch.

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  10. The colors are outstanding. I like the combo of styles too. I saw a similar area by an empty lot off of 110 freeway at Gage Ave...not a fancy neighborhood by any means.

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  11. I like it. The yellow and red guy on the bottom is a classic from the east bay graffiti artist called Gats. Next to it, also on the bottom, is 7 Seas. Both are prolific in our area. Each time they put something up, it is similar to other things that they have done, but always a little different.
    Love this.
    I can't wait to look it up and go see in person!

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  12. it is certainly vivid and fascinating.

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  13. So glad to see this fun meme thriving, Carolyn! :-) I just got out of China yesterday and will have to go back in about ten days, days that will pass all too fast and during which I won't have much time for blogging. My honey and I are well, thanks for asking, and although the consulting work we do is okay, we're not very enthusiastic about the place... and the fact that internet access is limited does not help.

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