Monday Mural: slam dunk

This fabulous new mural has the quirkiest POV I've yet to see.  For the uninitiated, this is an image of Golden State Warrior Kevin Durant slam dunking during the NBA finals.  It's believed to be inspired by a photo taken from above the basket.  What do you think?

                                       

Now it's on a vertical wall of a new shoe store with the basket near the sidewalk and with Durant looking like he's dropped from the skies.  (Well, to us fans, his joining the team does feel like a gift from heaven).  (Just in case you didn't know, the Warriors won the championship).  Brooklyn born jr.co is the artist and his video of creating the mural can be found here. Check out his other work here.  You'll recognize his slightly cubist treatment of singers and other athletes.

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: the mighty pen

Saw this one while driving down Telegraph Avenue.  It took me the longest time to figure out what was in the hand.  I thought, sword?  gun?  Finally I realized it was a ballpoint pen.  Duh.  The stop sign says "Stop gentrification and speak up."  Gentrification in the Bay Area has driven real estate prices sky high so working stiffs are having real trouble finding housing either to buy or rent. 

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: 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: 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

urban garden

This urban farm in on a busy intersection in the Temescal District.  Long ago a bank and movie theater stood on this lot.  They both remained empty for many years before they were finally torn down.  For a while it looked like condos were going to be built on the land, but they never appeared.  Now the lot is home to this urban farm which looks lusher and lusher each month.  Is it possible that the farm will be a permanent resident on the corner?  Don't bet the rent money.

shop on wheels

This enterprising fashion designer has her shop and dressing room on wheels and can be found at several summer fairs.  There's always activity around her truck as folks shop the latest designs.

job requirement?

It looks like lots of tattoos are a requirement for employment at the Avenue.  Spotted at the annual Temescal Street Fair.

Monday Mural: create

I think this is less an exhortation and more a gentle reminder that we can nurture creativity from early on.   It's a sweet image without the edge that so much of street art has.  Sorry, but didn't see a signature.  Found on Telegraph Avenue in the Temescal neighborhood.

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 sharing the murals 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

Dutch Boy Paints

The hardware store is long gone, but not its sign.  The storefront is now occupied by Pizzaiolo, a very popular and inventive pizza joint.  Good on them for keeping the sign in place.  I've never seen it lit at night but have seen photos of this event.  I think it actually looks better in the daylight.

Intactivists

This is the Bay Area.  You can pretty much find an activist group for any cause important to you. These folks are against male circumcision.  Spotted at a recent street fair.

E is for electric slide

Ever try line dancing?  It's very democratic because anyone can join in since you don't need a partner.  Part of dancing in the street at the recent Temescal Street Fair included the Electric Slide.  Don't know this dance?  Check out this YouTube instruction video on the dance.  Simple yet so much fun.  The ladies got lots more people to join in when they started this dance.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

D is for dancing (in the streets)

The Juan Escovido band was playing up a storm at the Temescal Street Fair.  The lady in the hat was totally into the music and danced with abandon.  She encouraged other women to get up and dance and before you knew it, there was uninhibited dancing in the streets.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: Minion Mona Lisa

This cracked me up when I saw it.  It's printed on vinyl and was pasted onto an apartment building wall.  No one took credit for this comical piece.

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. 

“ Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Plato

singer in the band

Juan Escovido (son of the great Pete Escovido) has an R&B band that performed at the Temescal Street Fair.  Juan plays congas and this guy could tear up a soul song.  Can you believe I didn't get his name?  The band had people dancing in the street.

B is for balance

Stilt walkers are always a hit at street fairs.  Whenever I see these folks I can't help but think, "How do they do that?'  Whatever they do, their balance is always perfect.  And with such confidence, too.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

out for a stroll

This man and his daughter were out for a stroll at the local street fair.  They both seemed to be enjoying the sunshine and mellow vibes.  Cute, don't you think?

Monday Mural: blue elephant

This lovely pachyderm is found on a wall in the Temescal neighborhood.  It took me a while to see the animal; then I admired its fluid lines.  I'm pretty sure it went up in late June but didn't notice 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 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.”  Plato

you find music everywhere

The annual Temescal Street Fair has several music stages up and down Telegraph Avenue.  This group was performing in The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, our local recycle/upcycle/reuse store.  These guys performed in the tradition of Woody Guthrie, singing original songs about injustice and social struggle.  Sorry to say, I didn't get their names.

A is for acrobat

It's amazing what you see at the Temescal Street Fair.  Here we have a demonstration of circus acrobatic art presented by Kinetic Arts Center.  Not only do you have to bend your spine in various directions, but you have to do it 6 feet off the ground.  Uh, no thank you.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.