Face in the Sidewalk

I came across this anonymous portrait while walking back to my house from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  The fallen leaves add another layer, so to speak.  Don't miss the hair at the top of the head, just where the break in the sidewalk to the street occurs.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Garbage Truck

Through the hallway window.

Photo: Marz Haney

NW corner of Whittier

Around 5pm.

Photo: Michael Wright  

Summit Ale and Leaves In Synch

Golden fall colors are picked up by this image on the truck at 26th and Lyndale.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Blue Light Special

Have you noticed the building downtown that displays different colors is putting on the prettiest blue light show this fall?
Seen here from Blaisdell Ave. S.

***What's this building's name, anyway?
[Jo Ann says it's the Target Building.]

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Crossing Guards

Crossing guards are out at 4:00 every afternoon to help people cross the street. Thank you crossing guards!

By: Nadine 

Looking at Lucretia

"Lucretia," by Rembrandt, painted in 1666

From the MIA (Mpls. Inst. of Arts) site:
"According to the Roman historian Livy, Lucretia, the wife of a Roman nobleman, was known for her virtue and loyalty. She was raped by Sextus Tarquinius, the son of the ruling tyrant. The next day Lucretia revealed the crime to her husband and father and, in their presence, took her own life..."

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Another Robust Witch

This one really looks mean.  She needs to go to MIA for some stress-relieving art, maybe the Edo Pop exhibit of Japanese prints.

Photo; Jo Ann Musumeci

Hand Writing

Esther, working on her novel for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month: you too can sign up to write 50,000 words in November) at Bob's Java Hut.

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

warmly wrapped dog walker

 

 1 week later, the trees are barer, the clothes warmer and the dog walks faster. An overcast day where you had to search for the beauty of life.

Photo: Michael Wright  

El Dia de Los Muertos

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El Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday to remember the dead. This altar is filled with offerings and items that celebrate the memories of a loved one who has passed away.  With this celebration, Mexicans are showing the community that they are not in denial of Death, but are, in fact, jeering at it, kind of accepting it and challenging it at the same time.  There is a photo of the departed near the top of the altar, and the obligatory skulls (or often decorated skeletons) on 3rd tier down.  This one is a the Midtown Global Market.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Preparing for Trick-or-Treaters

5 PM: Jenise puts up last-minute decorations to welcome the incoming hordes of treat seekers.

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Climbing Wall

 The owner gave us an impromptu tour of the  new climbing place, Vertical Endeavors,
 going in on the Nicollet alley, near 26th St.  Opening Nov. 12

Photo: Marz Haney

Phillips' Namesake

In this time of Occupy Wall Street, it might be interesting to recall activists of former times.

Phillips Neighborhood, for instance, is named for activist Wendell Phillips (1811–1884, click to link to Wikipedia). 

Here he is, pictured below. [Candy corn frame, for this Halloween weekend, courtesy of free photo editing site picnik.com.]

Phillips worked for Native American and women's rights and for the abolition of slavery.

 Phillips said:

"Revolutions are not made: they come. A revolution is as natural a 

growth as an oak. It comes out of the past. Its foundations are laid far back."

Photograph taken between 1853 and 1860 by famous Civil War photographer Matthew Brady;
from the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (click for link).

Post by Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Ghouls and Dolls

I think Halloween is great fun, a chance for all of us to be kids again.  I reaally enjoy looking at how people decorate their houses and yards.  This one shows off severed hand, foot and head.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Guerrilla Knitting: Hot Tea & Cupcakes

 

Some local examples of street art that is called, variously, knit graffiti, yarn bombing, or guerrilla knitting.

LEFT: Yarn tag from the HOTTEA Project, on 22nd St. near Lyndale Ave.
RIGHT: "Cupcake," Unknown Artist, on 26th St. near Blaisdell Ave.

Yarn artist "Hot Tea" says of his work [click here for full interview]:

"I have always been close with my grandmother and have always had a spiritual connection with her. She taught me how to knit at a very early age. The HOTTEA project’s foundation are my relationships with the people closest to me which is why I began using yarn. 
I pulled from my cherished childhood memories to create the meaning behind the project and was inspired by the medium. I am very shy and non-confrontational which is why I wanted to project to be non-destructive as well to stay out of legal trouble."

Photos: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

impressionistic tree

There is something about the blur and the color which appeals to me, there are still a wide range of leaf colours, some green some yellow and some red. Some trees are looking a bit bare. Tis the season.

Photo: Michael Wright

Seafood Always Fresh

These ocean creatures seem to be ready for Halloween, dressed in their everyday outfits.

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Christmas in California

Photo: Marz Haney

Nest of Leaves

What made this nest, birds or wind?  Can you tell?

By: Nadine