Tony the Greek Mural

Meet Tony the Greek. (No, not the infamous contract killer turned snitch.)

This part of a brick wall mural is a commissioned portrait of Tony Kiriakou, owner of the building and a diner called Wexford on Lawrence corner Warden in Scarborough (now part of amalgamated Toronto). The diner was first run by his immigrant parents and has been open for breakfast since 1958.

Toronto, 2012

This post is not intended as a recommendation for the diner, which I did not even see, let alone eat in, when I drove by a few days ago. I got my mural details by calling a Lebanese bakery shown online as being at this address and the now former tenant was wonderfully informative.

It IS intended to join Monday Mural, where you'll find links to more fun and fantastic murals around the globe.

Reposo Mural: Hermes Alegre

Hermes Alegre is an artist who likes his women... to paint them, that is. 

This internationally recognized Filipino talent is known for his sultry and exotic women surrounded by lush fantasies of tropical foliage (click to see more of his wonderful work).

In 2006 I chanced upon Hermes contributing to the Reposo fine art wall (featured earlier on my blog here, here and here). Although most of his canvasses are a delicious profusion of colors, this spot on the wall seems perfect for this black and white portrait.

 Manila, 2006

I recently drove by the wall and was saddened to see that new construction had all but demolished most this amazing fine art. I'm so glad I have a digital record of much of it.

Joining the community at Monday Mural.

Our Family's Future Mural

Cebu, 2011

This is another values-oriented mural (better seen enlarged) in my Visayas series linked with Monday Mural. Another piece of art soiled by a tagger.

Moving towards green and sustainable economies, and poverty eradication were key themes discussed at the Rio+20 conference in Brazil a few weeks ago. While the outcome document The Future We Want is a lofty read, many, including me, were disappointed that it contained no measurable targets or timelines to guide governance.

It's hard for me to fathom how our one and only earth - and we humans on it - can survive in the long run if we don't take more proactive action to protect it and to live in harmony with nature.

Face on the Fence

Cebu, 2011

This face was painted on the same metal fence as the whimsical double-headed ostriches last week, but I felt it deserved a post of its own. It doesn't look to me like it was created by the same artist; does it to you?

This is for Monday Mural.

Whimsical Birds Mural

I don't know anything about this mural painted on a corrugated metal fence in Cebu, but I know I liked it as soon as I spotted it. Click.

Cebu, 2011

Then I took a closer look and saw how whimsical - and odd - it is. Click.

And as I walked past it, I realized what a challenge it would have been to paint on this surface. Click.

Linking with Monday Mural. Go check out other marvelous murals from around out globe.

Monday Mural - Reposo III

This is the third of the Reposo fine art murals. The first post explains the setting and the second post is here.

Today's beautiful painting is by Aileen Lenozo.

Manila, 2006

About this multi-awarded artist:

Lanuza made a name for herself painting realistic works of women in traditional garb but set in a highly conceptual context. Her interest evolved into portraying women as super heroes in their own right but set in highly interesting, conceptual and oftentimes amusing circumstances.

See some of her recent paintings and read more about her here.

I dedicate this post to all mothers - whether or not your corner of the globe celebrated Mother's Day yesterday. Here in China it was.

And I link with Monday Mural. 

But the Future Is Yours to Choose - Mural Visayas II

Cebu, 2011

As my small tribute to Earth Day 2012 (yesterday, April 22) I post this mural found on a public wall in Cebu. The future is ours to choose, indeed.

It's my second mural from the Visayas region of the Philippines. I provided some background information on my first post here.

Joining Monday Mural where you'll find links to beautiful, creative, funny or thought-provoking murals around the world.

Holy Mosaic Mural

This large mosaic mural of Christ lying on a bed of thorns graces the wall beside the basement parking lot ramp for Alliance Française de Manille that promotes French language, culture and friendly relations with Filipinos through art and educational programs. Unfortunately, I can't tell you who the artist is.

This mural is across the street from a wall mosaic with a lighter subject I posted on this blog before.

Makati, 2008

For those of you who observe it, I hope you had a joyful Easter.

Linking with Monday Mural.

:::::::

On a very different note, I am supporting a fundraising drive for a very special group of children. This is my appeal to YOU to CHIP IN to help get ONE child like Resty here to elementary school.

Meet Resty. At five years old, he must have already experienced life at its worst than most of us do. But poverty doesn't stop this amazing boy to dream big and to work for his dream to get out of Ulingan.

Resty is the youngest entrepreneur I have met in my life. He collects nails from burned wood for hours just so he will have enough money to buy himself soap and shampoo. He collects empty... cardboard boxes to help his grandparents put food on the table.

Resty, a very proud nursery graduate, is on his way on fulfilling his dream.  (~Melissa Villa founder of Project Pearls)

 
Ulingan (which means charcoal) is a small squatter community in Manila where many children subsist by working to make charcoal.

With your help of $5, $10, $20 or more we can raise the $200 to give ONE child in Ulingan the gift of education and make a huge difference in his or her life. Please go to the form on the top of my right side bar and securely chip in. I'm happy to answer questions or concerns. 

Project Pearls helps the poorest of the poor children in the Philippines have a better life by providing them with PEARLS: Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smile.  You can read more details about the PEARLS Scholarship Program.

Manila Street Scene Murals

Last fall, President Noynoy Aquino declared the third week of October and March Design Week Philippines. On the CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions) website it explains:

A national celebration that fosters local and global awareness on the importance of creativity and design capability of the Filipino people. It aims to promote the Philippines as a design hub in Asia and a leading knowledge center in design, as well as a premier tourism destination in art, culture and heritage.

I say amen to that.

Design Week is timed to coincide with the Manila FAME show, a trade fair showcasing exporters of furniture & furnishings, holiday & gifts, and fashion. Although I now no longer work in this industry, last month during the fair I went to say hello to my many participating friends.

Here inside the trade halls I found creativity in action, as art students painted murals on walls to depict "various popular facets of street life in the metropolis."

This is like no street life I've seen, but hey, we did say creative, right?

Manila, 2012

I'm linking with Monday Mural.

Monday Mural V - Reposo II

This is the second of the Reposo fine art murals.

The artist is Eddie Cabisada. The only information I could find about him is from his social media profiles: he is a self-described muralist who works in acrylics, oil and water colors, and he "doesn't like people who are liar and cheaters."

I like his bold use of colors here.

Manila, 2008

Find more murals here, here, here, here, and here. Our little mural group is expanding. How about you, you have a mural to share next Monday?

Monday Mural IV - Visayas I

Mural paintings in Philippine towns are often created as part of local competitions designed to encourage urban beautification and/or awareness raising. I've noticed that often there is a theme to a group of paintings; popular ones being environmental protection, family values, education, and ethical development. 

Stretches of fence wall are donated by municipal governments or private companies to organizers who entice art students to participate with cash prizes. The quality of these murals span the spectrum from wonderful to what is that!?

 

This Monday's mural is in the Visayas, one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, the other two being Luzon to the north and Mindanao to the south. On this map, the Visayas is in blue.

Walking around in the cities of Cebu and Dumaguete last week I spotted a good number of wall paintings and I photographed some to share with you on Mondays when a handful of bloggers play along. So this series is called Visayas.

I thought this mural in Cebu was one of the better ones I saw, with a strong feel of traditional Filipino subject and painting. Lots to look at [better enlarged].

Cebu, 2011

More murals here and here and here. 

Monday Mural III - Reposo I

Today's mural could start a sub-series under the heading Monday Mural that I will name Reposo. 

I have in my photo archives a good number of interesting outdoor wall paintings that were created as part of an annual art and culture festival in Manila. For the past seven years the art party has been held the last weekend of May on what was formerly called Reposo Street. I've attended the street party twice, in 2006 and 2008. (If you're in Manila, go check out the street and the art and lifestyle studios in the LRI building.)

Besides the painting of a wide range of murals on a long wall by well-known as well as not-so-known Filipino artists, the festival offers a full schedule of live performances (singers, dancers, story-tellers), an arts/crafts/food bazaar, body painting for children, portraiture, movie screenings, lectures on art and culture, and much more.

Two 2006 murals by the celebrated artist Egai Fernandez are the first I will showcase. 

In this first image you can see Egai at work on one of his murals, as well as a part of the long wall used for the event.

Manila, 2006

Egai describes himself as "A Filipino Social Realist Artist. Who's hands and art are dedicated to art and placing the word 'fine' in it."

Here is a second mural he was nearly finished painting, one I particularly like.

And finally a charming smile from the artist.

None have committed to post a weekly linky, but there are a few of us playing with Monday Murals. Find more murals here, here and here.

V is for Vandalism

Vandalism can be simply defined as "willful or malicious destruction of public or private property." Few would argue that smashing windows or burning cars is criminal behavior, no less than trespassing or burglary, subject to prosecution and punishment.

Yet when it comes to graffiti - writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place - a debate has raged for centuries.

Bucharest, 2011

On one end of the spectrum are those who argue that graffiti can be an artful expression of rebellion, an acceptable form of individual, political or social commentary by the powerless and marginalized.

Hardliners on the other end firmly believe that graffiti, totally unlike commissioned or requested wall/public art (like yesterday's post), is an unwelcome sign of anarchy, a loathsome act of disrespect for property, a crime, and certainly never to be called art.

What do you think? Can we discuss artistic or social merit when looking at the graffiti in these photos I took in Bucharest earlier this year? Is there a middle-of-the-spectrum position? Or is it all merely vandalism, period?

Of course graffiti filled spaces are nothing unique to Bucharest. Still I see more of it throughout Europe than in North America, and even less in Asia.

What role does culture play in the acceptance or tolerance of graffiti? I don't know; I'm asking.

(Ne Travaillez Jamais = Never Work)

Municipalities and businesses bear significant costs to clean up graffiti (when they can afford to do so at all). So I wonder whether it would do any good to provide clean and accessible walls for people to come and express themselves (sort of like the ill-fated Democracy Wall in Beijing in 1978)? Or is the illicitness of the vandalism an intrinsic part of the message? Again, just asking.

(La Vie Est Ailleurs = Life Is Elsewhere)

I'm linking with the blogging communities at Our World Tuesday and ABC Wednesday with the letter V.

Solid Playmates

 You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long?  Never in his life will he be so busy again.

~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Genevan philosopher, 1712-1778

 We spend the first twelve months of our children's lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve years telling them to sit down and shut up.

~ Phyllis Diller, American comedian, 1917-

Kaiping, 2011

Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play. 

~ Michel de Montaigne, French writer, 1533-1592

I captured these children at play in a park in Kaiping a few weeks ago. Linking with Our World Tuesday.

U is for Urban Art

On my business trips from Asia to America, I am sometimes able to add a a few days to meet up with a friend. One such rendezvous happened in June of 2003 with my longtime friend Leesa, an urban art consultant in Vancouver. 

Leesa works with municipalities and developers to integrate commissioned art into public spaces in order to create significance for the people who use those spaces. (We are not talking graffiti.)

She wanted to check out how the Los Angeles Metro was implementing its highly praised public art program, and I was game to tag along. 

From bus stops to rail stations, streetscapes to bus interiors, construction fences to poetry, Metro’s Art Department has commissioned more than 300 artists since being established in 1989. [source]

We explored the Green Line and were delighted with the way artists had woven their stories into the environment: walls, ground, seats, stairs.

Here are just a few of the photos I got. You can read about the artists and their project descriptions on Metro's excellent website.

[photos enlarge when clicked]

Los Angeles, 2003

Do you agree with me that Metro achieved its goal?

Metro commissions artists to create engaging and thought-provoking artworks to make your journey more inviting and pleasurable. The artworks weave a multi-layered cultural tapestry that mirrors Los Angeles County’s rich contemporary and popular cultures.

[Source: LA Metro Art Guide]

Besides having quality face-to-face time, Leesa and I had a blast riding the Metro. Today you can take a free Metro Art Tour on the first Thursday and Saturday of the month. When next I return to LA, I will surely continue to explore this people-friendly transit system.

U is the letter at Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. Go check out how others creatively play with this letter.