Monday Mural: do not enter

I found this while wandering around West Oakland.  I don't care if the rock has a smiley face on it.  The side glance on the flamingo and the presence of the gator tell me "keep out."  Of course the chain and padlock make the definitive statement.

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.  For some reason, WordPress is keeping me from leaving comments on that platform.  Sorry.

“ 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: Afrikatown

I love the warm expression on this woman's face.  The mural is found in West Oakland and was conceived and executed by several community groups including the Community Rejuvenation Project, which guides so many mural projects in Oakland.  Afkrikatown is part of a larger mural whose theme is community empowerment and self determination.

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: in the shade of a windmill

This very cool oak tree is painted on a wall under the gaze of a very old windmill.  Don't know who painted this but I like its linear graphic quality.  Reminds me of a chalk drawing.  I was surprised to find this windmill remnant that speaks to the early agricultural history of 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.

I'm sorry to report that beginning Feb. 1 I'll no longer be able to host Monday Mural.  If there is anyone out there who would like to take over hosting this meme, please let me know.

“ 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: someone's hungry

Found this fence illustration in the industrial section of West Oakland.  I love that old rail tracks run right in to her mouth.  Painted by Jennifer Korsen, an LA artist, who was on a road trip north in 2016.  The given name is "Gate Keeper."

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: land of the free

This is a pretty busy mural with lots going on.  I would have called it "smashing bear" but Land of the Free is tacked on right below the bear's right elbow.  Once again I have no idea what is the precise message beyond "protest."  I'm pretty sure the zig zags spell out something, but exactly what is a mystery to me.  Do yourself a favor and enlarge the mural to see the details.

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: tree frog

This is part of a large mural in West Oakland.  Quite a while back I showed a different portion featuring a hummingbird.  For all kinds of reasons, my most recent mural finds are not yet available to me, so I'm reduced to combing the archives.  But once finding this one, I realized this little guy is pretty spectacular looking.  He's beautiful if not a little tentative.

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: masks

Found on San Pablo Avenue in West Oakland.  Too ambiguous for me but there's a definite aura of sadness.

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: jump on in

This wonderful mosaic mural decorates a local public pool.  On the other side of the stairway is another mosaic of a girl jumping into the pool.  I don't know for sure, but the murals look like they are based on black and white photographs.  A real change from the more typical aquarium decoration you see around pools.  Sorry, once again I have no attribution for the artist

elcome 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: wild kingdom

Found this wild looking mural on the side of a building in West Oakland.  The animals are not your Disney woodland creatures.  These look like they're hungry and you could be the appetizer.  I like the way there are more eyes than there are critters.  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.  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.

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

skateboard park

It was fun to watch all the guys (yes, almost exclusively boys and men) practicing their sport.  I failed to get a shot of someone in the air but will try again now that I know where the park is.

Monday Mural: Aztec pyramid

Here's another creation from the Community Rejuvenation Project.  They had the difficult task of painting on brick but were undaunted.  This fantasy scene of an Aztec pyramid rising out of the jungle is a cool reminder of the complex history of Mexico and Central America.  This is only part of a busy mural wall, but this detailed panel really caught my eye.  Found on San Pablo Avenue 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.

I'll be gone for a few weeks and won't be able to leave comments on your posts.  The meme should go up weekly via auto-posting.  If there is a glitch, I won't be able to fix it from afar.  Begging your indulgence in advance.  Arigato.

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.

American Steel sculpture

While driving through West Oakland I saw this new sculpture in the holding yard for the work of Karen Cusolito.  I'm not sure this is a new direction for her or the work of a fellow artist.  You can see her mammoth sculptures way in the background of this photo.  I had to hold my camera over a fence to get the shot.  Hence the razor wire.  The tonnage of the boulders is mind blowing.

Monday Mural: foxy lady

This is pretty bizarre, wouldn't you agree?  Catching a glimpse of it,  I immediately pulled over to get a shot.   Actually she looks more like a hedgehog human hybrid but that didn't have the same ring to it.  Unfortunately, I didn't see a signature and it is not a style I recognize.  Found in West Oakland on the wall of a motorcycle club building.

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 should go up weekly via auto-posting.  If there is a glitch, I won't be able to fix it from afar.  Begging your indulgence in advance.  Arigato.

Monday Mural: family tree

This mural appears to be based on family photos.  It's a wrap-around mural that goes around the corner and shows more photos.  Notice that the mighty family tree has sweet birds in it.  Found on San Pablo Avenue in West Oakland.  In my haste to avoid impending rain, I failed to locate a signature.

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: 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