Monday Mural: Ursa Major Ursa Minor

Found in the Laurel District, this is the companion piece to the starry bear posted a month ago.  This one was a little tougher to photograph because it was in the shade.  I was thinking the constellation stars would be found in each bear, but I'm not seeing it.  I find this to be quite inspiring.  By Roger Peet.

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.  Word Press is not allowing me to leave comments on that platform.  Sorry.

I'm pleased to report that Sami of https://sami-colourfulworld.blogspot.com has volunteered to take over the hosting of Monday Mural.  The meme will transfer to her website at the beginning of February.  Thank you, Sami.

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

Monday Mural: California grizzly

I found this mural by Roger Peet in the Laurel District in East Oakland.  Although the grizzly bear is on the California flag, grizzlies no longer can be found in the state.  It and a similar mural on a different building are sponsored by the Center for Biological Diversity, the city, and local residents and businesses.  As you can see, it's massive and mystical.  Perhaps the stars are a nod to the constellation Ursa Major.  Because it is by a freeway exit, it is also a very cool entrance to the Laurel District.

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

I'm pleased to report that Sami of https://sami-colourfulworld.blogspot.com has volunteered to take over the hosting of Monday Mural.  The meme will transfer to her website at the beginning of February.  Thank you, Sami.

Monday Mural: a new GATS

This restaurant must have a new owner.  How do I know?  Because the name has changed (duh) and there's a new mural on the wall!  This is by GATS (Graffiti Against the System) whose style is unmistakable.  He always paints faces with a prominent nose and tattoos that sometimes spell names of artists he admires.  The weird beard thingy used to be teeth and somehow evolved into something more ambiguous.

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'm sorry to report that beginning Feb. 1 I'll no longer be able to host Monday Mural.  I'm hoping one of you will take over hosting.  I'm working on the possibility as we speak.

Monday Mural: magic mushroom

Here's another mystical mural from Ernest Doty.  He's been featured in Monday Murals many times.  What I like about this mural in particular is that he's melded the empty face image with one of his birds.  Sort of a two-fer.

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: crouching tiger

This large tiger and cub mural is found in the Uptown neighborhood on a Korean BBQ joint.  It was done in 2015 by No One.  Unfortunately, it's beginning to peel in some spots.  But it's still pretty dramatic.

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: West Coast Blues

This large scale mural by Griffin One is found on MLKing Blvd. in West Oakland.  As you can imagine, it was hard to get a shot of the whole wall.  I can only suggest you enlarge the photo and check out some of the details.  The colors are actually this dark and it looks as if the entire mural was painted with indigo.  That put me in the mind of the wonderful Duke Ellington song Mood Indigo provided here for your listening pleasure.  In the 50s and 60s Oakland had a lively blues and jazz scene with lots of clubs in town where well-known artists performed.  There's still lots of clubs in town but most are dedicated to current music styles.

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: bandaloop

This mural is found on the West Oakland Studio of Bandaloop, an Oakland dance troupe.  I have no idea how the image relates to the company, especially the mystical radish floating in the air.  It's anyone's guess until otherwise informed.  If you haven't seen or heard of them, check out the YouTube video.  I promise you'll be amazed.

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'll 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 apologize for not leaving comments for last week's contributions.  It's getting harder and harder to find the time.

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

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: Chrome king

This image stopped me in my tracks.  Vogue's chrome skull is so realistic that it's hard to believe it isn't chrome or 3-D.  An incredible tour de force found on a wall in West Oakland.

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: smash patriarchy

Another wonderful mural by Peskador in West Oakland.  He just refuses to be constrained by a single style.  Be sure to check out the geometric details in the afro and the facial tattoos.  They add wonderful depth to the image.  Am not sure how this guy with a blunt smashes patriarchy.  Maybe you have to be high to get the connection.

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.  A bientôt.

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

plein air artist

I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted an artist at an easel set up in the street.  I'm used to seeing spray can work in the industrial section of West Oakland.  Meet John Paul Marcelo.  He was painting a portrait of a VW bus.  He's originally from Chicago but has been in the Bay Area for a number of years now.  Check out his website for more views of his art.

Monday Mural: mujer muralista

I love everything about this mural.  The composition, colors, technique--everything.  For some reason this one just makes me happy.  From this angle you can really feel the energy she's putting into grinding corn on the metate.  Close to the grilled window is a sweet hummingbird and heart shaped cactus.  Come to mention it, her braids are also linked hearts!  Found on a small restaurant on Foothill Blvd in East Oakland.

Welcome to Monday Mural:  if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme is 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: Polly want a cracker?

This large parrot (or possibly a parakeet) head adorns a neighborhood market wall on the corner of 14th Avenue and E. 18th Street.  It is by Doty who has been featured many times on this meme.  His birds are always wonderfully detailed, seem self-aware, and always have a whiff of danger.  The bird seems to be speaking;  I wonder what it is saying?  I think the tiles are original to the building.  Many Deco-era buildings in Oakland have tiled facades that I believe came from local manufacturers.

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: mandrill afoot

Here's the mural accompanying last week's image.  Same building but on the other side of the door.  The mandrill appears in an imaginary landscape not related to its natural habitat.  I think Peskador was letting his imagination guide his spray can rather than kowtowing to reality.  Doesn't the mandrill look fierce and dignified?

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: on safari

This recent mural is done by Peskador, a talented street artist who often changes his style to suit his intention.  It graces the right side of a doorway and has a companion piece on the left side of the door.  We'll save that for next week.

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: spring is in the air

Even though winter officially started only 3 weeks ago, there are little hints of the spring to come.  We've had a few clear days lately, so it's feasible to go out and see blue skies.  This image caught my eye and seemed to radiate warmth in the late afternoon sun.  It is by Caroline Stern who has been in the area for more than 20 years.  This is the first mural of hers I've seen.  For me, it's a reminder of the charms of spring.

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: lady of leisure

Here's a newly minted mural by Lena Gustafson.  It's on the side of a women's wear shop called Dande Lion.  I like the tropical vibe it offers during this very wet and cold (for us) winter.  It can be found in the Temescal district on Telegraph Avenue in North Oakland.

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: Longfellow quote

While out and about in the Longfellow neighborhood of West Oakland I found this newish mural sponsored by the local community association.  It was done in 2015 by Jason Pyrzynski, who is originally from Chicago but now lives in Oakland.  The poem celebrates an openness to life with one's fellow man.  A good thought to begin the new year.

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: 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