Obama

I can think of a few better ways to express like- or dislike, I can't really tell- of our President.
I took this shot last year in the Smoky Mountains, but this week seemed an apt time to post it.

Vibrant and alive!

We spent some time in the arts district in Asheville, NC, by the river where it's kind of like a constant version of the Riverwest Art Walk here. You can tour artists' workspaces- it's pretty neat. This was inside a mazelike building full of different art spaces. I got a little lost inside.

This one below was on an abandoned building by the train tracks. Creepy, and cool.

More graffiti- much more.

I have no idea why I love graffiti as much as I do, but I do.

Graffiti adorns every bridge section on this train trestle.

I love the way color is layered upon layer here.

"Stop going over our (stuff) and we will stop going over yours."

You are here, love is here

This weekend I went hiking with a longtime friend in the Kettle Moraine (Southern Unit). This was carved into a bench on a scenic overlook.

This weekend brought three rainbows- actually, four, since the one above was a double arc- the photos I got of both weren't as bright. It was indeed amazing though.

And here's a spider chillaxin'. Neither of us could identify the plant, but I wonder if it was an invasive. As it was, I personally exterminated several Emerald Ash Borers.

Do art NO WAR

"Neutijo" sent me this picture. It is part of her 53215 photo series- things she sees in her daily life. The graffito in the bottom right corner is what she called my attention to- "Do art NO WAR." I've been pondering this for a few days now.

Note its juxtaposition with what appears to be a gang identifier. That's irony for you: a different kind of war; a war at home, so to speak. It's a concept I've actually been pondering for years (hobbies as a means to self-confidence and self-worth rather than troublemaking and gang affiliation).

On a lighter note, Riversplash is this weekend, but after last year's mayhem Brain and I will not be attending. Going to a summer festival is not worth going through a security checkpoint.

Graffiti wars

I saw this today on 2nd street, just north of National Avenue. Nice rebuttal! Rather than paint over it with an almost-matching color, the building's owner chose to affix a permanent sign.It's all the more awesome when you see this (below) just across the street.

Public art, part III

This particular graffito always makes me smile. It's on the south side of the river on a defunct train trestle, just below the Estabrook Dam. Got the pic in January of 2008.