Monday Mural: heart felt

Fabian Marquez did this piece on a wall in Chinatown.  He seems to be fascinated by the human heart, since I've seen a number of these in the downtown area.  I can't tell you why, but I like this.

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

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

Monday Mural: almost caught

Another Chinatown mural but I'm not sure if it is by the Dragon School or not.  What I am sure of is that this composition is full of cultural references that I am ignorant of.  See the woman who is almost in the creepy guy's grasp?

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

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

Monday Mural: Won Kee Supermarket

Walking about Chinatown, this mural caught my eye because it's so different.  Surrounded by a multitude of dragon images, kung fu masters, and charming portraits of women, this one seems out of place.  It seems gentle and sedate among the more energetic murals.  Is it a guardian dog?  A tiger?  A zodiac symbol?  I don't know; you tell me.  Didn't see a signature.

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

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

Monday Mural: rabbit carp

Along the edge of Chinatown near the 880 freeway stands a running frieze of colorful murals.  This one caught my fancy because it blends two animals.  Wouldn't you love to see this in the wild?  It's also pretty cool that the artists did not cover over the old Ballantine's ad.  The sticks define a traffic lane for vehicles zooming onto a freeway on-ramp.   I had to look out for traffic from all directions to get a shot without cars.  Makes you wonder how the heck the Dragon School artists painted this wall since stepping back to look at your work would definitely be hazardous. 

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

“ Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Rev. John Watson. Oops, the Linky didn't load. Here it is albeit quite delayed.

Monday Mural: eye full of dragons

Above the black and gold dragons, which are somewhat obscured by thoughtless tagging, is another dragon.  The style is way different and this dragon looks lean, angry, and hungry.  Pretty scary dude.  I did not see a signature but I don't think it's from the Dragon School.  This dragon gathering is found on the edge of Chinatown on a street that faces a freeway on-ramp.  Maybe the constant rumble of traffic has gotten on his nerves.

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

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

Monday Mural: Year of the Rooster

Happy Lunar New Year, you all.  I found this auspicious mural by Omael Macasa on a Chinatown utility box.  He's done a number of murals in Oakland; this one is in association with Dragon School.  I think the rooster is crowing "Gung Hay Fat Choy" or 新年快樂.

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 your mural finds posted this week.

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

Monday Mural: monkey shine

Another mural by Omael found in Chinatown.  I showed you this one in September.

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

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

Monday Mural: samurai

Another mural from Dragon School.  To my eye this looks like Toshiro Mifune from one of his classic samurai movies directed by Akira Kurosawa.  I think Okazaki is the artist, although there is a well-known soccer player with that name as well.  But that top knot says samurai to me.

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

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

Monday Mural: Malcolm X

Dragon School creates more than dragon images.  This portrait of Malcolm X is particularly impressive even though constrained by the black and gold this street mural group typically uses.

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

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

Monday Mural: fly like an eagle

Another dramatic mural on the edge of Chinatown.  And more trash bins obscuring the signature.  Not that I could read it anyway.  Again, the angle and composition create strong movement.

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

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

Monday Mural: show me those pearly whites

I know, too bad about the dumpster, the phone on the wall, and the seeming tagging.  But check out the dynamism of the image.  The dragon is awesome and the beauty in his mouth is unconcerned.  She must have some serious powers.  This is another creation of Dragon School, whose name is what looks like a tag under the carp.  Below left are the artists who contributed to this composition in 2015.

Wait a minute, did I say phone on the wall?  When's the last time you've seen one of those?  I should have taken a photo of it just to document what now seems like a disappearing artifact of contemporary life.  Going the way of VCRs, dial phones, and transistor radios.

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

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

Monday Mural: owl vs. viper

Who do you think will win this face off?  This multi-artist effort can be found in Chinatown.  I recognize some of the names but don't see Nite Owl on the list.  I've always associated his name to this owl design.  So maybe I've gotten it wrong all these years.  Someone enlighten me, please.

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

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

Monday Mural: ARF

Meet Andrew, who I ran into while he was working on a new mural in Chinatown.  His initials are ARF, which he thinks may explain his fascination with dog images.  His vivid red dog is being painted with the permission of the restaurant on the other side of the wall.  I found him to be a warm and charming guy and it was fun talking with him as he worked.

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

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

Monday Mural: dragons everywhere

On a recent trip through Chinatown, I was startled to see dragon murals everywhere.  They are distinctive due to their predominate colors of gold and black.  All are signed Dragon School or Dragon School 99.  Google tells me this is a local organization dedicated to teaching art to youth and to beautifying the walls of Chinatown.  All murals are painted with permission of the buildings' owners.  They started out with the idea of painting 99 dragons and easily surpassed that goal.  Now they've started to add more colors to their compositions and are planning to take on additional subjects.  Walking the streets felt like falling into a treasure trove.

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 your mural finds posted this week.  Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.  Thanks.  I'll be gone for a few weeks and won't be able to leave comments on your posts.  The meme will still go up weekly via auto-posting.

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

Monday Mural: cock fight

At first all I saw was a swirl of color.  It took me a while to see the composition of two cocks fighting.  The delicacy of the colors and lines is distinctly different from the surrounding murals.  Omael often works as part of a crew but this small piece is all his own.  Found on the edge of Chinatown.

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 your mural finds posted this week.  Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.  Thanks.  I'll be gone for a few weeks and won't be able to leave comments on your posts.  The meme will still go up weekly via auto-posting.

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

chillin' in the park

You can tell it was a warm day.  Most people were clustering under the shade trees.

Monday Mural: what?!

I found this mural on the side of an art gallery on the edge of Chinatown.  I couldn't find a signature, but I'd lay down money that at least the wolf is by Cannon Dill.  The meaning is ambiguous especially with all those extra hands and eyes.  Had to laugh at the cassette tapes on the house.  Of course, one of the tapes is all messed up.  An example of technology that deserved to become obsolete.

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

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

Chinatown park

A community building in a Chinatown park.

Monday Mural: Panda on the wall

This charming panda, by Crayone, was found on another Chinatown wall.  His website says he's a San Francisco artist, but his phone number is for the East Bay, so maybe he's moved to Oakland.  Either way, his composition is quite striking and puts a smile on your face.

Welcome to Monday Mural.  I apologize for being late in putting up today's meme; I just spaced out. If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  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 your mural finds posted this week.  Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.  Thanks.

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

Chinatown grocery

On Saturdays and Sundays Chinatown is really hopping.  You can find just about any vegetable known to man.