Monday Mural: furry little critters

Lots of newer murals are adorning walls in Uptown, mostly on car repair businesses.  Many of them are primarily intricate signatures which I still haven't learned to read.  This comical wall is more accessible, regardless of whether or not you like it.  Frankly, all those smiles and sharp teeth make me laugh.

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 the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: someone's watching you

Another mobile mural found in West Oakland.  This one on a hippy bus that appeared to be someone's traveling house.  Shades of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters.

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 the mural finds posted this week.

W is for weaver

Spotted at last year's Temescal Street Fair.  I'm always impressed with folks who dedicate themselves to preserving and promoting traditional crafts.  Spinning and then weaving are not easy.  This year's fair is coming up soon in July.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: more panthers

This mural is next to the one shown last week.  The distinguished man along side the Black Panthers is A. Philip Randolph, a civil rights leader, who organized and unionized the railroad porters.

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 the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: all power to the people

This West Oakland mural commemorates the Black Panther Party which emerged in the late 60s and endured until the early 80s.  It was a self-determination movement born in West Oakland with a more radicalized agenda than the non-violent civil rights movement of the time.  While it devolved into armed conflicts, it also had a significant impact on the social zeitgeist of the time that moved forward the cause of civil rights for many disenfranchised groups.  Although long dissolved, West Oakland continues to be proud of its history in this 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 the mural finds posted this week.  

I'll be away for three weeks but the meme will still go up every Sunday (unless I screw up).  Wifi will be scarce so I'm unlikely to be able to leave comments.  Ciao.

Monday Mural: surf's up

It's been a long time since I've seen a California raisin.  Back in the 80s when the advertising campaign was hot, you could find every manner of California raisins including toys, t-shirts, and decals.  Now, not so much.  So imagine my surprise to find a surfing raisin on a new mural.  I think the signature says Mick.  The brown waves and sea monsters spell out his name.  So clever.

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 the mural finds posted this week.  

I'll be away for three weeks but the meme will still go up every Sunday (unless I screw up).  Wifi will be scarce so I'm unlikely to be able to leave comments.  Ciao.

Monday Mural: mystery woman

This mural was found on Poplar Street in West Oakland.  If there was an artist's signature, I couldn't read it.  This and a partner mural are the first I've found with veiled women.

Addendum:  Greenkozi tells me this is by artist Jihad.

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 the mural finds posted this week.  

I'll be away for three weeks but the meme will still go up every Sunday (unless I screw up).  Wifi will be scarce so I'm unlikely to be able to leave comments.  Ciao.

 

Monday Mural: White Elephant Sale mural

Last week you saw this mural in progress.  Here is the finished product.  To the Women's Board, the gigantic white elephant is the pièce de resistance of the mural.  The bicycle gives you a sense the scale of this mural.  Below is the bird you saw sketched in last week's post.

Below are two more sections from the far end of the mural.

The artists are great guys who were more than willing to talk with folks who stopped by.

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 the mural finds posted this week.  

I'll be away for three weeks but the meme will still go up every Sunday (unless I screw up).  Wifi will be scarce so I'm unlikely to be able to leave comments.  Ciao.

Monday Mural: mural in progress

The White Elephant Sale, an annual event that supports the Oakland Museum, has commissioned a mural on the side of its warehouse.  Doty, Griffin One, and Vogue, well-known street artists, are seen here creating the mural.  Next week shots of the finished product.

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 the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: Jurrasic park

Another Craig Stuckey mural very near last week's post.  I'd swear the dinosaur on the left is related to the dodo in Alice in Wonderland.

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 the mural finds posted this week.

low tide

Low tide reveals more than shore birds.  Usually in celebration of Earth Day, the tires and other junk get plucked out of the estuary.

Theme Day: squares

While looking for murals in West Oakland I came across this building off Poplar Street.  Granted it's not a pretty one, and neither is the photo, but you've got to admit this facade screams "squares."  I'm guessing this building dates from the 30s and the door and tile were installed fairly recently to upgrade the look.  The recycle can adds a certain je ne sais quoi.  Click here to see City Daily Photo's participants in this month's Theme Day.  Thanks, Jack for the heads up.

P is for pergola

Mt. View Cemetery has a wonderful old pergola on stone pillars near its entrance.  It supports an equally old wisteria vine that now entwines most of the pillars.  The flower display is incredible but I guess you'll have to take my word for it since I never remember to get a picture of it.  Sigh.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Fruitvale Railroad Bridge

The Fruitvale Railroad Bridge spans the Estuary from Oakland to the island town of Alameda (on the right).  To my eye it looks like a 1930s construction but it was actually built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1951.  It's a vertical lift bridge with railroad tracks on it that is lowered into position when trains need to cross the estuary.  The Miller-Sweeney Bridge it the drawbridge next to it that carries car traffic.  It was designed to raise to full height it only 66 seconds.  The truth is that locals  call them both the Fruitvale Bridge.  Bridge fans will be happy to know there is a website for the bridges!  For a picture of the bridge drawn up, go here.

Monday Mural: hero

Found this dramatic mural by Craig Stuckey in West Oakland on Poplar Street.  I think it's called Super Hero.  Lucky for me Poplar Street is a treasure trove of murals that are new 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 the mural finds posted this week.

Sorry for the delay.  Snafu.

Port of Oakland

Along the estuary shoreline near dusk.  Linking to Weekend Reflections.

tulip time

It's tulip time at Mt. View Cemetery.  An added bonus is that the cherry blossoms are also on view.

downtown skyline

Walking downtown the other day I hit upon a view of our two government buildings.  The nearer buildings with the peaked roofs are the Dellum's Federal Building complex.  Down the block is the State of California building.  The morning fog had burned off to reveal blue skies.

Old Oakland

Old Oakland is the original downtown area that grew up around the train station where the transcontinental railroad ended.  It's primarily Italianate buildings were renovated in the 1970s and it is now popular for the many restaurants that dot the area.  Linking to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: condo jewelry

Spotted this mosaic adornment on a condo facade downtown.  Rhythmic colors and shapes.

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

p.s.  Goggle+ contributors, please configure your comments page so those of us not part of Google+ can leave comments when you post.  Thanks.

Monday Mural: a brief history of Oakand

There are scads of mural panels on what would otherwise be a monolithic wall for a large power station in the Temescal neighborhood.  This panel shows certain highlights in Oakland's history beginning with the Ohlone Indians who inhabited settlements around the SF Bay before the coming of Europeans.  The train represents Oakland as the terminus of the transcontinental railroad.  The Palazzo Vecchio tower is our local newspaper's headquarters built in 1923.  I'm not so sure about the guy with the horse unless it's a nod to our agricultural past.

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

p.s.  Goggle+ contributors, please configure your comments page so those of us not part of Google+ can leave comments when you post.  Thanks.

Monday Mural: radiance

This is part of a very large mural that wraps around the building.  You've seen part of it previously.  There's a lot going on in this panel, but for me it is the woman's radiant face that makes the composition.  Found in East Oakland on International Blvd.

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

Sorry about the delay.  Broadband issues.  Grrr.

p.s.  Goggle+ contributors, please configure your comments page so those of us not part of Google+ can leave comments when you post.  Thanks.

A laundromat

Just in case the washing machines and dryers didn't make it clear enough, this is a laundromat.  Found on Piedmont Avenue and linked to ABC Wednesday.

Theme Day: triangle

It's the first of the month, which means Theme Day in the City Daily Photo world.   Triangles a-go-go in this shot.  Taken along the estuary where multiple small marinas can be found.  For more takes on the triangle, visit CDP.

Monday Mural: un-stable

Found at American Steel, the artist collective in West Oakland.  I imagine that scary looking unicorn behind the fence has fiery eyes when it visits Burning Man.

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

p.s.  Goggle+ contributors, is there a way to configure your comments page so those of us not part of Google+ can leave comments when you post?

¡ay, chihuahua!

Who wouldn't love this little guy sitting on their chair or sofa?  Shot through a store window in Temescal Alley.

Oakland marathon

The 5th annual Running Festival was Sunday and 10,000 people participated in the events.  It's a big deal and a point of pride for all Oaklanders.  I couldn't attend this year but am posting a photo from last March to commemorate the event.

Monday Mural: we do dirt

Murals can be found everywhere.  Even on trucks.  DFM probably stands for something like "dirt for money" or a more clever variation on the theme.

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

giant bird feeders

An amusing installation at the Oakland Museum.

hair of the dog?

Just in case you need hair of the dog, here's a place that will do the trick.

Monday mural: MSK crew

Another mural on Honest Al's wall near the devil featured two weeks ago.  This looks rather sweet especially in contrast to some of the darker images on the wall.  But give it a look and weird images start to pop out.  I spotted angry birds, a crazed Woody the Woodpecker, and lots and lots of eyes.  Not so sweet after all.  By the MSK Crew (Mad Society Kings).  To make things even more interesting, it's quite likely that a signature is hidden among all those swirls.

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

Temple Sinai

Temple Sinai is a reform synagogue located on the edge of the Uptown area.  The congregation was established in the late 1880s after European Jews settled in the area subsequent to the Gold Rush.  This building was built in 1910 and proudly sits on the corner of Webster and 28th Street.  The most recent rains did not appear and we are now doomed to sunny skies for at least another week.  In the meantime, trees are leafing out and spring blooms are everywhere.  Linking to Skywatch Friday.

when you're out of planter boxes...

What can I say?  Those wacky guys at Automania Studios are starting their spring gardening.  Found in the artistic enclave of Jingletown.

Monday Mural: West Oakland beauty

This charming lady is next the buxom beauty from two weeks ago.  I like Deb's pop art style of outlining the blocks of color.  Not your typical street style and waaay different from Bode's representation of female pulchritude.  Deb has been featured here before. 

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

blue skies again

We've had some much needed rain but there will be fair skies for the weekend.  This ship-like observation deck is at Arrowhead Marsh in the MLK Jr. Shoreline Park.  Linked to Skywatch Friday.

industrial West Oakland

West Oakland has a long industrial past that is now on the wane.  It looks like this factory is abandoned, but one can never be sure.  Much of the area is now filled with artist workshops and gentrified housing.  One can only hope for a resurgence of the area that still has wonderful Victorian era houses.  Last week's mural can be seen in the far distance.

Monday Mural: the devil's in the details

Honest Al's wall in West Oakland has new murals.  This one really caught my eye.  Scary good.  Don't know if "Chucky" is the artist of this image or the one next to it.

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

lilliputian library

This little house is a free service from a local home owner.  Just walk by to take and leave a book.  Pretty nice if you ask me. 

Monday Mural: green eyes

Bode is the street artist who also brought us the Mermaid.  Did you notice that this lovely lady has two tattoos?  Found in the industrial section of 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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: the vendor

The People of Oakland is an ongoing series of murals by father and son team Mike and John Manente. The murals feature various homeless people in Oakland, and are painted on the side of the Haley Law Office building at the oddly-shaped intersection of Clay, 17th Street, and San Pablo Avenue.  The Vendor is the 3rd in their series.

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

E is for estuary

Early evening along the estuary.  Runners, walkers, and bikers like to take the trail along the estuary as it runs through much of East Oakland.  This guy warned me not to snap the shutter yet because he didn't want to spoil my picture.  I thought, "Are you kidding, you make the picture."  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: zombie babes

The official title of this mural is Murals and Girls.  But I don't think it tells the tale, do you?  Found downtown in a parking lot near all the Oakland Love murals.  Lots of initials of the artists, but I have to confess I couldn't put them together with the names I know.  My bad.

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 get to 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 the mural finds posted this week.

D is for doorway

Spanish-style architecture has been popular for a long time in the Bay Area.  As in LA, it dates back to the 18th century land grant era.  This old 4-plex, possibly from the 1920s, has many of the style's components:  tiled entries, wrought iron, arches, and terracotta roof tiles.  Lovely, don't you think?  Spotted in the Bella Vista neighborhood.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

playtime along the estuary

This family was having a great time playing on the the sculptures at Arrowhead Marsh at MLK Jr. Shoreline Park.  The metal for the sculptures looks like it came from a mothballed boat or ship.  Don't know for sure but I like the idea.

Monday Mural: Irie Lion

Infinite Artistry painted this mural in 2010 on the side of a liquor store just off International Blvd.  Couldn't find anymore information about this artist/business.  Wiki tells me that "irie" is connected to the Rastafarian movement and means feeling alright, powerful, or excellent.  This elegant lion has familiar Oakland landmarks in the background, including the now closed and defunct Bay Bridge.

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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and to visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Theme Day: entry

...to eternity?  It's the first of the month, and members of City Daily Photo publish photos related to the month's theme.  This month it's "entry."  This photo was taken at Mt. View Cemetery.  To see other Theme Day photos click here.

chopped Chevy

I wish I had asked the owner more about this car.  I have no idea if this is an original design or it has been modified to cultivate a cool look.  Taken when there were leaves on the trees.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.