Kensington Market Mural and Artist

I've just returned home to Manila from a frenetic month in Toronto and Los Angeles. It was an unexpected trip, in countless ways terrific, especially for being able to reconnect with old friends and family long not seen, as well as to connect with new friends, including fellow bloggers Halcyon and VioletSky! 

But while I did almost always carry a camera, I didn't have a spare moment to compose, post or blog hop these past weeks.

I accompanied my lovely friend and hero Ruth on a number of her exciting explorations for her calendar of free multicultural activities in Toronto and her blog. If you live in the Toronto area, these are quality sites to subscribe to.

On one of our excursions we dropped by Kensington Market, one of the city's most vibrant and multicultural neighborhoods. That is where I saw this artist painting on canvas on a mural-filled wall. Thinking that his style looked similar to the mural, I asked him whether he had painted the house and was surprised to hear him say no. So I can tell you no more about this colorful mural I post for Mural Monday.

Toronto, 2012

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.

Lao Temple: Mural and Burial Stupas

Most of the temples we saw in the Buddhist nation of Laos were noticeably less ornate and decorated than the many I've seen in Thailand. I found them serene and appealing.

The first photo shows you the intricately carved door of a small unassuming neighborhood temple we walked by in Vientiane, the nation's capital. I failed to find out its name (and googling came up empty).

I also regret cutting off the bottom of the door in this photo; my focus back then in 2002 was clearly on the wonderful mural (better seen enlarged) painted directly onto dry stucco. I've learned since that this mural most likely depicts scenes from the ancient Jakata Tales that Buddhist monks tell to develop the moral values of their listeners.

Vientiane, 2002 

Near the temple were a cluster of typical burial stupas. We saw many of these in Laos; around temples, in nature along the road we traveled, and in the gardens of private homes. And yet I was not able to discover any information at all about them.

Upon death, Lao people are generally cremated following Buddhist rituals, and so these would not be graves for bodies in coffins the way we often bury our dead in the West. I conclude, until I learn otherwise, that these funerary stupas are memorials erected for loved ones.

The only view of the entire temple building I photographed was this one from the back.

I am linking with the blogging communities at Monday Mural and Taphophile Tragics.

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.

Chinese Bacchanalia Mural

Wuchuan, 2012

Not a mural subject one would expect to see on an otherwise very ordinary tile house in this rural town of Wuchuan.

But this is no ordinary revelry.

This painting depicts the legendary Eight Immortals. These ancient folk heroes possess knowledge and powers that combined encompass the secrets of nature. They are revered by Daoists. Still popular today, they are often depicted together as a symbol of good fortune and longevity.

Linking with Monday Mural.

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. 

Zodiac Mosaic Mural

Ulaanbaatar, 2007

The entire wall of a building in the capital of Mongolia was covered with this mosaic mural with the Chinese zodiac. From the close-ups you can see it was made in squares and somehow attached to the wall.

Below I recognize the yin-yang symbol of complementary opposites in the center. There are other symbols on the mural I'd like to learn more about.

Have not been able to find out any details about this mural.

Since last week was my birthday as well as the birthday of the City of Oakland, CA, home to our kind host for this meme, I thought it a fitting contribution to Monday Mural.  

Andy, this one is for you. Wish I could've given you a piece. :-)

International Workers Day

Tomorrow, May 1, is International Workers Day, a non-working public holiday in over 80 countries in the world.

In recent years, at least in the developed world, May Day has mostly been a day to celebrate the value of workers and the many rights the labor movement has earned for workers, as well as a day to remember the many martyrs who died for the cause.

Although the United States celebrates Labor Day in September, the holiday was inspired by the riots that occurred in Chicago in May, 1886. American and immigrant workers demanded an eight hour work day with demonstrations in Haymarket that turned very ugly, in large part due to the aggressive reactions by police.

Since then, May Day throughout the world has seen many organized public events, street demonstrations and even violent riots to demand improved working conditions for workers.

I was fascinated by this very interesting and fair PBS account of what lead to the Haymarket riots (Part 1). And then with what happened in Haymarket on May 3 (Part 2) and the tense and unjust events that followed (Part 3).

What struck me most about this program are the echoes of what we are hearing and seeing today with the Occupy Movement. From what I read in the news, Occupy Wall Street is indeed gearing up for a massive day of protests, rallies and marches in New York and around the world tomorrow to spread its anti-greed message. With police and bankers reportedly joining forces to respond, I fervently hope the events stay lawful and peaceful and we don't once again see tragic history repeating.

This mural in the lobby of a building is my tribute to workers everywhere. By happenstance, I found it in New York City, but I can't remember exactly where.

This is my contribution to Monday Murals.

New York, 2008

PS. There are some humans who should not work at all. That would be young school-aged children. Help me reach my goal of raising US$500 by chipping in $5, $10 or whatever. Together we can sponsor two children to STOP working in the filthy unhealthy coal factory in a Manila slum and START going to school. Details and secure chip in form on top of my rght sidebar.

My heartfelt thanks to those who have encouraged me and contributed.

A gift of education is a gift of hope.

And it's the only key to change their world.

Project PEARLS: Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smile.

[Featured in National Geographic.]

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion." 

                                                     - The Dalai Lama 

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.

Pretty Factory

Say mural and I think of compelling wall art; you know, a painting or a tile mosaic image. So now you tell me, is this a mural?

Hong Kong, 2010

We can agree it's painting, yes? It's on the walls of what I can only call gigantic storage drums (anyone know a more correct term?) of some kind of plant (cement, perhaps, although it looks too clean). 

The pleasantly painted image of the green islands in the blue sea under a blue sky blends nicely into the coastal setting of Hong Kong.

And I'd bet the owners of these multi-million dollar condominiums are not displeased with the effort made to beautify their view.

And that made it compelling enough for me to show you this today for Monday Mural. What do you think?

::::::

This past week I have been supporting a fundraising drive for scholarships for the poorest of the poor children in a slum in Manila. The response has been totally wonderful.

If you'd care to chip in $5, $10, $20 or whatever, to help get a child like Cynthia OUT of the charcoal factory of Ulingan and INTO school, please see my earlier posts this week for more details and securely contribute with the form on my sidebar.

Give the gift of education. And hope.

Project PEARLS: Peace, Eduation, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smile.

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.

Face Cream Ad Mural

Just a couple of months ago on one of our walks around Kaiping, on an otherwise unremarkable back street that would not see much traffic, I spotted this advertising painted on a brick wall. Both the ad mural and the jar of face cream sure have a pleasing vintage feel to it.

Yet I'm not very tempted to go look for this face cream touted as ...(f)ace cream dressing table companion....

The three large Chinese characters translate to snowflake cream, a term my honey figures someone came up with in the 20s or 30s to mean lotion.

Kaiping, 2012

A longer view of the street:

This post is linked to Monday Mural.

Lucky Entrance

I've shown before on this blog that in the southern Guangdong town of Kaiping you can still find old time Chinese charm and culture, even if you have to hunt for it, like for a treasure in a flea market. And you're more likely to stumble across charm, even if it's faded charm, in the older villages that are simply surrounded by modern urban sprawl (as you can see in my previous post).

It is in one such village that I found these pretty hand-painted ceramic tiles of plants and nature scenes (better viewed enlarged).

 Kaiping, 2012

Since the painting is not done directly on the wall, I hope I'm not stretching the definition of mural too much by offering these tiles to the community at Monday Murals. (Do click the link and go check out other amazing wall paintings from around the globe.)

If these tiles please you, you may also like others I've posted.

The paintings decorate the main entrance to an early 20th century gray-brick home quite typical in the region. The old wood door may be of interest to the folks at Monday Doorways. (If you like doors, head on over.)

Since we were in Kaiping over this past Lunar New Year (a multi-day celebration, much like Christmas in the West), the traditional chunlian - a couplet with an auspicious message for the new year - flanked the entrance. Reading first the right poster from top to bottom, the text on this couplet says:

Coming in and out safely with everything accomplished
Pursuing wealth without obstacles with profit arriving from all directions

Over the door, the large character (fook) means blessing or good fortune.

These new year posters are offered to seekers of signs at Signs, Signs. (You know the drill, right?)

You may also notice the fresh tangerine orange and lettuce hanging on the hook. Such bundles of fruit and/or vegetables too are customary for Cantonese speakers; the food may either have a symbolic meaning, or the spoken character for the food is close to an auspicious word. Here the character for tangerine (gut) is pronounced the same as the character for luck/propitious (gut), and lettuce (sanchoi) sounds like giving birth (in other words, bearing offspring).

Since I was behind The Great Firewall of China late January, I take this moment to wish you a comfortable ride on the tail of the dragon to good health and good fortune this Year of the Dragon!

A Painted Church and Graveyard in Transylvania

There must be a fascinating history behind this amazing painted church and its graveyard that I am posting for Monday Mural and Taphophile Tragics. It pains me that I cannot find anything about it (online)!

On the start of a long weekend last June my brother and I drove north from Bucharest a bit over three hours, then got off the main road at Boita to explore a string of 18 traditional Romanian settlements in a special area called Mărginimea Sibiului in southern Transylvania. Earlier I posted village scenes from this well-preserved ethnographic area along the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains.

We spotted this little Romanian Orthodox church not far from Boita, driving east toward Tălmacel (map below). Unfortunately, this is all I can tell you about this particular painted church and its graveyard. My photos will have to tell the story.

However, there are a great number of such architectural treasures - painted churches and monasteries - in Romania and Moldova built in the 16th and 17th centuries; many are listed in UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites.

It's quite possible, since we did not see headstones predating the 20th century, that this is a more recent church and graveyard. But it is still a marvel to behold.

Post script: Thanks to fellow blogger Traveling Hawk from Romania, I can now tell you a little more. This church was erected between the years 1775-1784 in Tălmacel, first recorded in 1488 as a small hamlet of ten families. Along with 246 others in Romania, the church was dedicated to the popular Saint Paraschiva. It was built and financed by the community, who made the bricks and transported them to the site on horses. Legend has it the money ran out before winter 1779, but the next spring a woman found a tub of gold coins. With this the interior was completed and painted by local masters. Restoration work was done 1975-80. [Sources: here and here.]

 

 

The main interior of the church was locked, but in the small entranceway we were greeted with a ceiling to floor fresco depiction of hell or purgatory.

Location: You can see all the towns on this map, with the highlighted orange area showing where this church should be.

The orange rectangle on this second map shows the approximate area of Marginimea Sibiului (meaning margins of Sibiu) in relation to Sibiu and Bucharest.

For more marvelous murals and fascinating burial grounds, follow the links in my opening paragraph. (Monday Murals now has a home; YaY!) I will visit as many as I can before I must close down for my trip to China. From there, accessing blogs is very difficult, thanks to an overzealous Big Brother.