99º

The temps dropped to 89º in the evening, so I sat outside and water-colored this.

Francesca Davis DiPiazza

A Late Valentine's Day Message

Oh well, a week late to show off this lovely mural just off 26th St. between 1st Ave. and Nicollet.

Photo:  Jo Ann Musumeci

Pink Dream In Storefront

Rudy Fig, a self-taught artist, shows her work in the Artists In Storefronts program in Whittier, near the corner of 1st Ave. and 26th St.  In her bio, she explains that her parents were professional toy designers, and she was "a painter, designer, and professional day-dreamer."  I think she succeeds in creating a dream-like work here.

Photo:  Jo Ann Musumeci

Bear

Mural in Quang's parking lot (25th & Nicollet)

Photo: Marz Haney

Aztec Warrior Mural

Taylor Lindgren designed this Mexican Aztec warrior mural on the vacant warehouse, at the corner of 29th St. and Blaisdell Ave. S., Minneapolis.

It wraps around the corner of the wall:

  Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Big Cats

Murals on Blaisdell Ave. S., at 29th Street
(Who made these?)

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

"Before I die I want to___________"

Another fabulous use of an under-used commercial storefront by Artists in Storefronts (on Stevens & 26th Street.)
http://www.artistsinstorefronts.com

A-I-S "purchased a "Before I Die" toolkit from public artist Candy Chang's Civic Center then built and erected it with funds from the Whittier Alliance for our "Whittier Artists in Storefronts" project."

Photo by Francesca Davis DiPiazza
(Before I die I want to drive a cute orange car like this one!)

A Sculptural Offering To You

A whimsical sculpture on the corner in Whittier.

Photo:  Jo Ann Musumeci

Mural, mural on the wall

Actions speak louder . . .  Mural at the Loon Grocery.

Photo:  Jo Ann Musumeci

Art In The Park

The Art Institute is experimenting with Art In The Park--in this case, painting benches.  This is another kind of rainbow (the front of the MIA is lit up with rainbow colors at night).

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

MIA Art Perchance Night

This event actually occurred on Aug. 16--all  kinds of art-inspired games to play.

Photo:  Jo Ann Musumeci

Walking In A Mosaic

Mosaic in the hallway of the Whittier International Baccalaureate School

Photo: Jo Ann Musumeci

Sagging Low

This picture by Minneapolis yarn artist Hot Tea has survived the winter, but the once tight and crisp-edged figure is sagging dangerously near the alligator's mouth (or is that a crocodile?).

2500 block of Nicollet Ave. S.

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Lily Liqueur Glass

Hand painted from the state of Jalisco, Mexico.  A little bit of rum in this glass, sipped with a friend at the end of the day, makes all seem right, bringing back memories of a trip to the tropics of Puerto Vajarta.

Photo:  Jo Ann Musumeci

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

Chainsaw bear

On 26th, just south of Little Earth.

Photo: Michael Wright  

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Center

Mural on the side of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Center, 

1113 E. Franklin Ave. 

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Children's Hospital at night

I love this sculpture, I took some of it last week, I love it when the sun falls on it, and under artificial lighting it is pretty awesome as well. I think this new building is very nice to look at.

Photo: Michael Wright 

Painted fence

I often drive past this fence, on 26th Street, and think it is brilliant.

Photo: Michael Wright 

Stag

sculpture across from Franklin Avenue Library
1314 E. Franklin Ave.

"The American Indian Neighborhood Development Corporation (AINDC) is a prominent actor in the transformation of Franklin Avenue ... through ownership control and a strong hand in controlling the built environment and the business mix."
--Corridor Revitalization (click to read)

Photo: Francesca Davis DiPiazza