Monday Mural: The Gardener

A new mural has appeared on the Haley Law Offices building in downtown.  Created by the Manentes, a father and son team,  this is the second in a series on homeless folks.  Their previous work, which they painted over to create this one, was The Carpenter.  I find their work to be incredibly sensitive and beautiful.  It really makes you look into the eyes of people you might otherwise ignore.  How I wish they could find more canvases in order to preserve each piece they create.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week. 

Monday Mural: Jules Verne was here

It's amazing what you can find when you leave your well traveled routes.  Found this Jules Verne octopus painted across the front of this apartment building.  One of the residents told me it's been there at least 3 years.  Couldn't find a name or date.  This is found off Telegraph Avenue and 38th Avenue facing the MacArthur freeway.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: Leaning Tower of Pizza

Don't ask me why a place called the Leaning Tower of Pizza would have a mural of Venice; but it is what it is.  Hey, it's all Italy, right?   It's a fun canvas in a lakeside neighborhood that primarily has apartment buildings and private homes.  This mural, done in 2001, is in the neighborhood where most of the gnomes live.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: Maxwell Park

On Friday I showed you a shot of Maxwell Park.  Today I'm featuring the mosaic mural that covers all four walls of the restroom building on the site.  Pretty cool, huh?

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: two celebrations today

Two years ago I posted a mural on an alternator shop.  This bilingual mural is inside the entry of the same business.  The style is naive but the wishes are heartfelt.  The quotation reminds us of  Dr. King's famous speech as we honor his birthday.  The mural, which supported Obama's initial candidacy, now serves as a reminder of his second inauguration today.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: drumming shaman

This is only one section of a large mural on the side of a Smart & Final warehouse in East Oakland.  As this section suggests, the mural illustrates scenes of Latino culture from several countries.  I'm assuming we're observing a shamanic ceremony that bridges the corporal world with the spiritual.  I have to hand it to Smart & Final for permitting the use of their walls for this vast mural.  Unfortunately, I could not find a title or signature.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday mural: Straus Carpets

Straus Carpet has had their warehouses faced with eye catching murals.  So far their name is on a placard rather than on the building.  This attractive and colorful scene anchors a decidedly industrial corner here on the edge of Jingletown.  Pretty elegant, if you ask me.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday mural: mosaic man

This warehouse in Jingletown is decorated with mosaic murals that have evolved over the past few years.  They use several sizes and shapes of tile including mirror tiles that add both sparkle and definition.  I couldn't find a signature but hope someone will fill me in.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.  Happy New Year.

Monday Mural: Oakland Riviera

Jingletown attracts artists and kindred souls.  A collaborative effort among them created multiple murals along this wall.  Drolly named the "Oakland Riviera" (referencing the estuary that runs the length of the neighborhood), this section of mural captures the local view.  These murals line a dog run dubbed rue de merde.  On the left you can see a glimpse of the section dedicated to local canine friends.  It's always interesting to visit this wall, as the murals continue to change and be refined.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.  Also, wishing you all happy holidays.

Monday Mural: green eyes

This is a new mural in West Oakland just off Mandela Parkway.  It is a large collaboration between three artists.  This section is by Ernest Doty whom you've seen in a previous post.  There is something unsettling yet oddly compelling about these faces.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: V is for La Virgen de Guadalupe

This is a section of a mural devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe in the Fruitvale district.  Her feast day in Mexico is December 12.  You'll find her image in murals, churches, tattoos, bumper stickers, tee shirts, and more.   She is ubiquitous and beloved in Latino communities.  Last year I posted a mosaic mural in honor of her day.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.  Also linked to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: Peoples' Grocery

This mural adorns the back of the People's Grocery which recently opened in West Oakland.  It is another work by the Community Rejuvenation Project, frequently featured in Monday Mural.  The bright yellow is the sun breaking through the clouds.  I like the way the words of Wangari Maathai are highlighted.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week. 

Monday Mural: Do NOT Park

This garage door mural is a companion piece to a second mural on the other side of the doorway.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: third eye

Here's one last mural on canvas I'm showing from Peralta Junction.  I like the mystical vibe, the 3rd eye, and the essence vapors featured in this piece.  For some reason it makes me think of Jimi Hendrix, whose music continues to be magical.  This traveling carnival closes soon, and then all the murals that border the site will be taken down.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you'll find them everywhere.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: myopic walrus

Another canvas mural from Peralta Junction.  Don't ask me what this has to do with an old timey "traveling midway of curiosities," but it is amusing.  Now that I think about it, a monocle toting walrus would be a curiosity.

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.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: folk art design

We've all found murals on various surfaces---walls, freeway piers, utility boxes---why not on a mail box?  Spotted in East Oakland in the Allendale neighborhood.  The artist had fun painting so many colibrí among the flowers.  Such a cheery sight.

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.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.&nbsp

Monday Mural: avian depression

Captured on a fabric wall surrounding Peralta Junction, a temporary art installation and community event in West Oakland.  Community developers and local artists have created a magical area on a previously empty lot where games, movies, and special events will occur until mid-December.  I recognize the artist's style but can't tell you his name.

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.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: post-apocalyptic giraffe

Throughout much of Oakland, utility boxes are canvases for local artists.  This one is located in the Uptown area and was captured during an Art Murmur event.  It looks like the giraffe wandered into a Godzilla movie.  Lots of detail and layering in this piece.

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.  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.  It was due to a posting error.

Monday Mural: Peralta hacienda

The Peralta Hacienda Historic Park is the last remaining parcel related to a vast land grant that once included most of the East Bay.  As part of their education program is a series of murals showing the annual cycle of life on the rancho.  They were painted by Maren Vanduyn and installed in 2007.   She collaborated with the Friends of Peralta Hacienda Historical Park’s executive director and Ohlone culture bearer Linda Yamane to conceive the murals.

While there are too many to present here, this close-up gives you a feeling of the detail included in the mural sequence.

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.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Monday Mural: more Uptown art

Another piece of wall art in the courtyard of Sausage.  It's by GATS (Graffiti Against the System) who is a prolific street artist in the area.  His distinctive style can be found on many walls around town.

See?  Interestingly, the nose on each face looks like it's decorated in exotic script or maybe tattoos but actually lists the names of street artists he respects.

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.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.