The Righteous Gemstones

DB'S Cheese-steak Restaurant, Avondale, Charleston, SC 

I walked down to Avondale in between the thundershowers and got a look at the new murals promoting the Righteous Gemstones - HBO series being filmed locally and beginning tomorrow on HBO. John Goodman is the star and I believe Danny McBride the producer. Some of my friends have been extras. Sadly I don't have HBO so not sure when I'll get the chance to see it.

Mural Monday - Faces of Avondale

Murals of Avondale, Charleston, SC

I love these faces in the murals behind the shops at Avondale

even more now that the vegetation has overgrown them. 

On the road - murals in Norway

Oslo, Norway

I've been on a trains, boats and bus adventure in Norway resting my eyes with the sight of beautiful mountains, waterfalls and the enjoying the deliciousness of crisp, cool air. I arrived back to the stressful watch and wait to see what Hurricane Florence brings our way and it's hard to get in the mood to post fun travel shots when I am glued to endless news updates and trying to figure out if I am hunkering down or making a dash inland.

Meanwhile here are a few fun Norwegian mural and graffiti spots I discovered in my travels. Most are from Oslo with a few from Bergen. More to come after things settle down and we can think of something beside wind speed.

Stay safe and dry my friends!

Oh, oh, oh!

Murals of Avondale, Charleston, SC 

Oh! I started to notice a trend! 

Have I missed any? 

Who is the OH! artist?

Riding the rails in St. George, SC

Train mural, St. George, SC  

St. George has a lot of murals. I had taken pictures of this particular one years ago and on a recent drive was happy to see it looking bright and refreshed on the main corner next to the gas/convenience station.

Something was missing though. In my earlier version of the mural, the train engineer had been painted in and was the image of the gas station owner. As it changed hands through the years he was painted out of the engineer role. Below are the earlier shots:

Mural puzzle

Coming St. Grocery, Spring St., Charleston, SC   

What is going on with the faded old mural on this building, kids? Any idea? Small patch left but it is brightly painted. Are they refreshening the entire building? The bottom photo is from a few years ago.

(Shots below are from earlier views)

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!

Colorful wheels in Avondale

Colorful wheels, Avondale, Charleston, SC     

This looks like one of Patch Whisky's murals behind the Mellow Mushroom restaurant in Avondale. It was a bright splash of color only improved by the scooter parked in front of it.

I only caught the shot because I went out marching the very minute I got home from work to get my walk in before dark. I'm not a fan of this daylight saving time. 

Avondale mural update

Avondale Murals, Charleston, SC    

This morning's walk took me behind the shops at Avondale so I was able to update my mural collection. Carry on folks! You delight me. 

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! 

Before & After Spring St. Hold me while I cry.

Spring St., Charleston, SC   

Before and after Spring St. Hold my hand while I cry. This colorful decorated and quaint barber shop is now a white box. I hope the owners are happy.

This, is now. Sob.

1st Class Cuts, Spring St. Charleston - before

Whatever, Spring St., Charleston, SC   

Moe's Mural Woes

Moe's Southwestern Grill, Mt. Pleasant, SC 

I visit mural districts when I travel, I try to keep up with most local displays and I knew I had to track down this one since it may not survive the Mt. Pleasant zoning department. Painted by artist Odeith, it is considered larger than an allowed sign in that part of town. 

Sadness. It will be very painful to see this painted over. Check out his website for other international examples of his work. Hopefully there will be some way to save it. 

The work, a portrait of Marilyn Monroe, Al Capone and John Lennon by Portuguese artist Odeith, was cited in July by Mount Pleasant’s zoning department for exceeding the maximum allowed signage. Businesses in the town are allotted a certain amount of signage per square foot of commercial frontage.
But while oversized, garish or low-quality signs might indeed visually pollute Mount Pleasant, it’s tough to argue that a mural by an internationally known artist is an eyesore. The town ought to encourage public artwork rather than stifle it.
Unfortunately, the Mount Pleasant Board of Zoning Appeals made the wrong choice on Monday, when it voted 4-3 that the mural should be removed.

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?

ChArt mural project update

ChART mural project, Avondale, Charleston, SC 

It's worth a now and then detour through the ally behind the shops in Avondale. 

Murals come and go. Luckily most of my favorites remain. 

Blank canvas

1st Class Cuts, Spring St., Charleston, SC   

Quick, someone who lives downtown needs to drive/walk down Spring St., take a picture 

and show me what has been done to this tiny barber shop. The murals always made it a 

favorite but the last time I was there it was painted over and a blank canvas. 

I need to know what has been done! 

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

Charleston Strong

Charleston Strong, Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC  

Heading to a spot for my morning walk I was trying to dodge special event crowds. I headed up the peninsula to avoid the March of Dimes walk and I ended up in the lap of the Boat Show at Brittlebank Park. Ooops!

I've often driven past the Charleston Strong mural but this is the first time I walked along that stretch of flying doves painted after the shooting at the Emmanuel AME church last year.

To prepare for the Charleston Strong mural, the twelve foot high, 293 foot long wall lining the college’s former baseball field along Rutledge Ave., was repaired and given a double basecoat of paint. The first elements of the mural were painted by cadets who attend fine arts classes at the college, to enable members of the community to paint their doves around it.“The Nine Doves image is over ten feet tall and dark Citadel blue with the words "Charleston Strong" painted next to it in red,” said Tiffany Silverman, director of The Citadel Fine Arts Program. Silverman created the mural concept, then engaged the college’s Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics to help move it forward.  “Doves are not only a sign of peace but also a symbol of hope. We hope that the mural will be a powerful, visual reminder that the spirit of Charleston Strong will continue no matter what challenges lie ahead,” Silverman said.  See more at: http://www.citadel.edu/root/charleston-strong-mural#sthash.hD7drmtX.dpuf

I went to the Lowcountry Voices concert this evening and then out to dinner with my son at Lola's the recently opened Cajun restaurant in North Charleston. The weather was perfect to sit outside and enjoy a late dinner. So far so good on my weekend! Hope yours is going well.