Rockabilla-Que Mural

David Boatwright mural, North Charleston, SC 

I took a detour to the Park Circle area of North Charleston the other day to track down mural artist David Boatwright's recent Rockabilla-Que mural and was not disappointed.

See more of the artist's work here: luckyboyart.com

Pull right up, my friends. Boo!

Halloween Mural, Charleston, SC 

Pull right up, my friends. We've saved you a spot.

Yikes!

Mural artist Douglas Panzone is painting a new mural on DB's Cheesesteaks at the corner of Savannah Highway and Avondale Avenue in anticipation of the premier of the Halloween movie staring Jamie Lee Curtis and filmed locally, opening this month. 

Mural Monday

Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 

The Park Circle neighborhood of North Charleston benefits from hosting artist Patch Whisky's studio. 

Mural Monday

Mural - Pancito & Lefy, Charleston, SC 

 I keep my eye out for new murals around town and was pleased to spot this one. No wonder I liked it - it is another one by mural artist David Boatwright who has been such a creative and colorful gift to Charleston. The restaurant is Pancito & Lefty on upper King St. Worth a visit for the food as well as the ambiance!

Got my eye on you:

Murals of Avondale, Charleston, SC 

I like the way the eyes looked out under the window. There are a few new murals behind the shops in Avondale. I walk through periodically to see what is new. 

Let's all move here

St. George, SC   

Everyone wants to live in a friendly place! Clearly that is St. George, SC. They have it painted right on a wall in their park so it must be true. 

Although you've missed it for this year, St. George is the home of the Grits Festival and the crowning of Miss Grit and an opportunity to roll around in a giant tub of grits. 

History of the World Grits Festival
In 1985 The Manager of the St. George, South Carolina Piggly Wiggly Supermarket,  Bill Hunter was giving a broker of a large grits company an order.  The broker made a remark that his company sure shipped a lot of grits into St. George, considering how small the town was and its meager population(around 2000 at the time).  A week or two later another broker from another major grits company made a similar remark about his company shipping such a large amount of grits into this small town.  The Manager spoke to the two Owners of the Piggly Wiggly, John Walters and George Axson.  They all agreed that if it proved to be true, that we did consume a disproportionately large amount of grits, that they would do some research to find out just how much we did eat.
As it turned out, the people of St. George actually ate more grits per capita than any other place in the world!  We were the GRITS EATING CHAMPIONS!!!  Thus the World Grits Festival was born.  

Keeping up with the murals

Mural - Willow Salon, Liberty St., Charleston, SC 

Look ma! No more snow pictures. How about a colorful mural for a change? This spot has seen a few different murals through the years but I had to wait to catch this current version when a car wasn't parked in front of it. Thanks for the bright spot Willow!

Swamp Fox Murals - Summerton, SC

Swamp Fox Mural, Summerton, SC    

After Friday night lazing at on the banks of Lake Marion, Summerton was an easy day trip. Summerton is one of the towns on the Swamp Fox mural trail and we spotted quite a few of them in town each telling a part of the American Revolution fought in South Carolina with our hero Francis Marion the Swamp Fox. Please do click on the link for more information and listen to the Swamp Fox song while you do!

Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society in Clarendon County, SC: The Swamp Fox, General Francis 
Marion and his engagements with the British in 1780-81 in St. Mark's Parish,  now Clarendon County,  depicting history on Historic murals in Manning, Paxville, Summerton & Turbeville.  
Every mural tells a story of the events of the American Revolution in South Carolina. 

Mural fun

Home Team BBQ, Williman St., Charleston, SC    

What a fun mural I spotted on the side of the downtown location of Home Team BBQ just off Morrison Dr. on Williman St. You know how murals and sidewalk graffiti bring me joy. I am almost too easy to please. Thanks Home Team! 

Back alley color

Charleston, SC  

Mural Monday! This was a colorful find. I used to live in a historic Charleston single house and often felt it was the thick layers of paint that held everything together. Happy Monday, kids.

Downtown color

Liberty St., Charleston, SC   

I take my responsibilities as Sidewalk Curator very seriously. Click here to see the earlier murals in the same spot.

In other news, who is this?

Mural honoring Reverend Clementa Pinckney

Redux, Charleston, SC   

"Across the south, we have a deep appreciation of history. 

We haven't always had a deep appreciation of each other's history." 

Clementa C. Pinckney

The colorful mural honoring Reverend Clementa Pinckney painted  by artist Trip Barnes on the side of Redux studio was unveiled last week and I paid a visit on Saturday morning.

More info on the artist here: Trip Barnes

Trying to turn a carrot into a chocolate egg

Mural - Folly Rd., Charleston, SC  

Mr. Rabbit is eating carrots and trying to figure out how to lay a chocolate egg. It is bewildering.

I thought I'd catch up on some tv this evening but on second thought I can't. I do believe that more people will cancel their land lines and cable tv during this political season. Watching regular news channels is simply unbearable for more than ten minutes lately. Groan. 

On the road: Miami, Wynwood Walls

Wynwood Walls, Miami, Florida

I am taking you off the Charleston peninsula again for a field trip to Miami's mural district Wynwood Walls. When I travel with my daughter she usually does the background research and leads the way but I had seen friends Pamela and Brandon post so many pictures of this location that I was determined to get there. We had a stop in Miami as we made our way to Cuba and made the most of our time there.

The Wynwood Walls was conceived by the renowned community revitalizer and placemaker, the late Tony Goldman in 2009. He was looking for something big to transform the warehouse district of Wynwood, and he arrived at a simple idea: "Wynwood's large stock of warehouse buildings, all with no windows, would be my giant canvases to bring to them the greatest street art ever seen in one place." Starting with the 25th–26th Street complex of six separate buildings, his goal was to create a center where people could gravitate to and explore, and to develop the area's pedestrian potential.

Needless to say I danced around the neighborhood with my mouth open in awe and my camera clicking. I only saw a very small portion of the mural district in my limited time. What a wonderful, colorful place that now has coffee shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Pony up to the Hat Man

Hat Man at Broad & Church St., Charleston, SC  

The blinders might keep the horse from being startled by the Hat Man mural at Church and Broad St. Boo! 
The Hat Man mural was painted around 1892 and is made up of 16 different hats in 12 different styles. It probably promoted a hat store but happily for us it remained to become a favorite landmark and is freshened up periodically. 

It's been a big day in South Carolina. May tomorrow be a good and peaceful day. 

Prom time!

Tunnel Road

Years of paint. The most recent artist gets attention for their message until someone else paints over it. I took my life in my hands getting the pictures hoping no one would race through the tunnel as I focused my camera. Alyssa loves Gregory, Bradley loves Amanda, I love Ken. I wonder how many of the couples are still together. Long live the moment!

Darwin's Secret

Darwin's Secret, Avondale, Charleston, S.C.

The Darwin's Secret mural by Sean Williams has been one of my favorites tucked in behind the shops at Avondale. The back alley is a mural wonder world and one of my frequent shortcuts. Darwin doesn't look the same anymore because he has been defaced with random red spray paint and graffiti tags. Sad, isn't it? The original artwork was commissioned and listed as one of "100 Most Beloved Street Arts".

Apparently the vandal was clearly identified on security video and his identity is public. I am glad. I have always been disgusted by deliberate vandalism and the destruction of property. It is proper that someone has to face the music even if it is just that of public opinion and shame. Read the West Of article here. The original artist has already been promised donations to repair the damage. I might offer to chip in myself.

New murals in Avondale

Murals, Avondale, Charleston, S.C.

It's always worth a detour behind the businesses in Avondale and this time I caught up with quite a few fresh mural works. I even spotted a couple of gentlemen unloading cans of paint so I'll need to check back soon. Check my smugmug album for more photos of Charleston mural art.

I hope everyone has had a good Saturday after we dried out from the downpour we had this morning.

God Bless America

Elloree, S.C.

I had a couple more pictures to share from last weekend's day trip to Elloree, S.C. Tada! Here is a little fixer upper for you. It comes pre-decorated and even the Caterpillar is for sale.

I've had a busy week, kids. Let's run away. To start with I am running up to North Charleston for a meet up with a long time blogger buddy. Those are always fun.

New mural colorfulness West Ashley

St. Andrews PSD, Hwy 61, Charleston, S.C.

Hello there! You can't miss the fresh color on the St. Andrews PSD building on Highway 61.Thank you folks!

I offered to help out at the medical mission project SC Mission tomorrow morning. We will be offering free medical, vision and dental treatments at the North Charleston Convention Center and anticipate a huge crowd. I'll be interested to see how this works out. Wish us luck!