Ka'anapali dreamin'

This colourful scene decorated the wall of one of the lanai buildings we passed on the Ka'anapali (Maui, Hawaii) walkway where we got a bit of exercise each morning before the sun got too warm. 
 

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Happy 100th - Calgary Stampede!

These murals from the Calgary Stampede grounds helped celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede, July 6 - 15, 2012 (photos recently in from my Alberta correspondent / mural chaser, Ramona Heikel)

Murals from the Calgary Stampede grounds 2012 (Photo © 2012 by Roman Heikel)

(Photo © 2012 by Roman Heikel)

(Photo © 2012 by Roman Heikel)

(Photo © 2012 by Roman Heikel)

These murals were only a portion of the public art on display at the Calgary Stampede this year. The Stampede Public Art site features many other pieces. Clicking on the images on that page will, in most cases, whisk you to pages of large photos and descriptions of the mural or sculpture featured.

Other Calgary Stampede murals found on Flickr:

• Mural on Big Four Building

• Concrete Mural

Maui vineyard

I snapped this mural on our vacation in Maui this January. I believe it was in Paia. 

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Japanese style

This colorful nature mural is a beautiful draw for Japanese Noodle.

Mural serendipity

I stumbled on this mural in a Saskatchewan town on our vacation last year. I'm not even sure which town it was. It may have been Outlook. If you're a mural chaser, keep your eyes open and camera at the ready during your summer travels!

Mural on wheels

Need a drawing surface for your mural? How about your car?

This blue station wagon looks like it's enjoying its life as a traveling picture book.

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Orgosolo murals - 3

Our final two murals from the village of Orgosolo, on the Island of Sardinia, Italy.

It would be interesting to know the story behind the mural directly below. It appears to be a strong message, not completely lost in translation.

Photo © 2012 by T. Fisher (Used with permission)

 I love the mother-earthiness of these stylized women. On another site, this mural is captioned:"Botero-style painting devoted to women, mothers and workers."

Photo © 2012 by T. Fisher (Used with permission)

Orgosolo murals - 1

Orgosolo murals - 2

Orgosolo murals - 2

More murals from the village of Orgosolo on the Island of Sardinia, Italy.

I love the feeling of family and community these communicate. Though different in style, they both exude stability, tradition, determination, stoicism, and, the bottom one especially, a little outrage? 

Photo © 2012 by T. Fisher (Used with permission)

Photo © 2012 by T. Fisher (Used with permission)

See Orgosolo Murals - 1

Two more murals from Orgosolo next week.

Orgosolo murals - 1

A friend of mine recently traveled to the Italian island of Sardinia. She came back with some mural photos from  the village of Orgosolo. Many thanks, T.,  for allowing me to post some of them here!

First, a little bit about the Orgosolo and its murals:

Orgosolo's mural emerged in the late 60's. It was during the time when Italy’s “economy miracle” collapsed by massive strikes and social unrest. Especially, the later 1973 oil crisis abruptly terminated this economy boom. Thus, murals became a major expression of the social discontent.

The first mural in Orgosolo was carried out in 1969 by Dionisio, an anarchist theater company in Milan. She questioned: "What is the role of the island in the Italian government's policy?”

After the idea of mural spread into this small village, a local teacher, Francesco Del Casino, played an important role. The early works were carried out by his students. Later on, more experienced workers took the job, making the murals more elaborate both in the style and in the content.

Francesco Del Casino will be the instigator of most paintings of the village of Orgosolo. One of his major motivations was to get students involved in politics. Therefore, murals were featured by the oppression of Nazism, struggling for liberation, unemployment ratio and education problem. Even though many kinds of topics were introduced, political events are still the major topics of the mural. - From the Wikipedia article "Orgosolo Mural in Sardinia" (paragraphing added).

"Enjoy Orgo-Solo" - Photo © 2012 by T. Fisher (Used with permission)

Photo © 2012 by T. Fisher (Used with permission)

See more Orgosolo murals in this photo essay.


More Orgosolo murals next Monday.

Temple of the modern girl

Eye-catching geisha decorates the wall of the Temple of the Modern Girl Boutique in Vancouver.


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Waves and whales

This coloring-book-style mural once decorated the side of one of the utility / washroom buildings along the White Rock promenade. The last time I was by, the mural had disappeared, however.



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Doorway whimsy

This mural adorns an entrance way with a light touch. I'm not positive about the location, but I think it's White Rock, B.C.


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Playtime at the mall

I love the soft colors and the picture book feel of this mural that decorates the children's play area in one of our local shopping malls.


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Branching out

 This tree mural, painted on the side of a shop in Ocean Park (South Surrey) is only visible at an angle because of the nearness of the building beside it.

 The grapevine detailing is a nice touch.


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Sandcastle fantasy

This mural depicting sandcastles by Elizabeth Hollick was painted on a wall facing Marine Drive in White Rock B.C. It recalls the glory days of the White Rock Sandcastle Festival.

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Nothing without effort

This inspirational mural is painted on the south-facing wall of Langley Secondary School in Langley, B.C.


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The Resurrection Mural

The Resurrection Mural by Ron DiCianni at 12 feet high x 40 feet wide is the largest mural depicting the resurrection of Christ. This March 2010 press release describes the work:

"Commissioned to be the signature piece of a newly opened museum in Dallas, TX, internationally acclaimed Artist Ron DiCianni describes the work to be his Magnum Opus, capping a half century long career. Standing at 40 feet long by 12 feet high, this oil on canvas mural represents the largest known contemporary depiction of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The mural, entitled Resurrection, has many distinct features and includes a twist on the typical portrayal of Christ’s resurrection by showing several past “Heroes of the Faith” in attendance, including John the Baptist, Moses, Abraham and Isaiah.    Modeling for these characters were some of the other top artists in America, including Morgan Weistling & Thomas Blackshear..." (Read more....pdf)

Go to this page to view a video of the artist talking about the process and the characters in his mural.

The mural has its own web page, if you're interested in exploring more, perhaps even buying a poster or print.



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Prairie Sunset

I snapped this mural on a downtown street in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a couple of summers ago. The artist has done a good job of  turning a solid wall into a scene with depth and perspective.  (Sorry, I don't know the exact location or the artist's name).


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Polo Match

"Sunday Afternoon at the Polo Match" by Stan Phelps, 1991 (Photo © 2007 by Ramona Heikel)

This is another mural in the High River Albert mural series. Below is the story of the mural as told in the Historic Murals Walking Tour brochure:

And that completes our abbreviated tour of the historic murals of High River. Thanks to Ramona Heikel for sending me the photos. And what fabulous murals they are! I have put a visit to High River on my bucket list so that I can view them for myself.

"Chuckwagon Races"

"Chuckwagon Races" by Paul Van Ginkel, 1993 - 1 (Photo © 2007 by Ramona Heikel)

"Chuckwagon Races" by Paul Van Ginkel, 1993 - 2 (Photo © 2007 by Ramona Heikel)

The first view of this mural gives us a feeling of its size.

When I look at the second, I have the urge to get out of the way of those galloping horses—a feeling achieved, I think, by the artist's perspective.

This is another mural in the High River Albert mural series. Below is the story of the mural as told in the Historic Murals Walking Tour brochure: