I don’t know if street art ever really works indoors. If you domesticate an animal, it goes from being wild and free to sterile, fat and sleepy. So maybe the art should stay outside.
Banksy
For this week’s challenge, we’re exploring art–outdoors, in the park, on the street–for all to enjoy. When we travel, I often notice murals, graffiti, new public art on display. In Chicago, for example, you can see works by Picasso and Chagall. In London, you might see Banksy’s work. In Florence, the local artist Blub tucks away his posters in alleys and in quiet corners. How’s that for a visual thrill?
To get your creative wheels spinning, here are some samples of street art captured in various places close to home and around the world.
This marvelous mural was on display in the Marais District in Paris. After passing it several times, I had to stop and photograph it.
A giant crystal chandelier was recently installed under the Burrard Bridge in Vancouver. No ordinary lighting fixture, it lowers, spins, and lights up before returning to its original position. Crafted from stainless steel, LED lamps and over 600 polyurethane “crystals,” this art installation weighs over 7,000 pounds (3,401 kilograms).
An anonymous artist named “Blub” has been papering the streets of Florence, Italy with his whimsical and funny portraits of famous people wearing scuba goggles. (You can see the water bubbles around Mozart’s head and his pen.) Why submerge them underwater? In an interview in Artribune, Blub was quoted as saying time stands still underwater. By plunging these characters into the sea, Blub makes them eternal.
This colorful installation brightened up a street corner in the Soho neighborhood in London around Christmas.
Chinese artist Yue Minjun created an installation called A-maze-ing Laughter for the Vancouver Biennale, which has become a famous landmark. Fourteen giant bronze statues of the artist who is hysterically laughing are set in a circle in Morton Park.
This week, we invite you to join us for LAPC #170: Street Art. Show us your captures of street art in places near and far. Be sure to include a link to this post and use the “Lens-Artists” tag so we can easily find your post in the Reader.
A special thanks to I.J. Khanewala of Don’t Hold Your Breath who hosted “The Ordinary” challenge last week. Many people commented that the photos you shared were examples of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. I couldn’t agree more! They were a delight.
Next week, it’s Ann-Christine’s turn to lead LAPC #171, so please stop by her site next Saturday at noon to join the fun. In the meantime, have a joyful, safe, and inspiring week.
Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography
P.A. Moed 
Great, Patti. the first one, from Paris, is also on my disk. Therefore I skipped that one. Unfortunately, I have not yet developed all of my images from Lisboa. I found a lot of fantastic murals there.
https://solaner.wordpress.com/2021/10/16/lens-artists-photo-challange-170-street-art/
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Hi, André. Oh, so we took the same shot! Isn’t Lisboa fantastic? I loved our visit there and want to go back. I’ll look at your post next. Glad you like this theme. 😀
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Thanks, Patti. Yes, Lisboa has a lot of big murals created by famous artists.
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Patti, I love that chandelier and the laughing self portrait. All are beautifully photographed. And more–I’m in the process of blogging on the new murals in Sacramento, so my post for this challenge will be part of that series also.
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Hi, Anne. I saw your post this week on Sacramento. Perfect timing! The two images from Vancouver are a lot of fun. The chandelier is a bit controversial, but the laughing statues is dearly loved here. Looking forward to your post!
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Blub’s concept is funny. Love your street art finds, Patti. 😃
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Hi, Jane. I love his concept, too. I just did a little digging on him/her this week. I love that he’s an artist of mystery…remaining anonymous. I’m so happy that you stopped by and took a look! I hope you have a good weekend with photo opportunities. 😀😀
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Wise words from Banksy on domesticating animals. (Where’s the BEEF?!) Great photos! Game on.
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Banksy’s words are a great expression of an artist who is free and never wants to be “chained up.” So true, John! I’m always delighted by your enthusiasm! GAME ON!
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These are all wonderful examples Patti. I enjoyed seeing the art installations in Vancouver back in 2010. There is something really interesting about art outdoors.
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Hi, Jude. That’s right. You visited the year of the Olympics. I imagine that was very exciting. I’m always on the hunt for great street art. I love the “rebel” quality of it. 😀😀
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Ah, I LOVE Street Art!
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Wonderful, Sue!!
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😊😊
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Thanks for the opportunity to see public art from all over. The Chandelier made quite an impression.
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Hi, Marlene. The chandelier! Yes, it has quite an impact. I’m happy you stopped by and shared your thoughts. 😀
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Terrific post and a great challenge Patti – I’m expecting lots of fun responses! Loved your colorful opener and the laughing statue especially. What a joyful expression – one cannot help but smile back!
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Hi, Tina. Many thanks! The laughing statue has 14 variations–including thumbs in his ears and that big smile. It’s a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to your collection, too. Um…where in the world will you pick from??? Enjoy the weekend. Golf anyone??
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Pleasing images to look upon. These are rather easy on the eyes and visually interesting.
I like the first one the most due to its intensity. I think the shooting angle makes it that slight bit more too.
Here’s mine for this one:
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Hi, SH. I’m delighted you enjoyed this challenge and like the giant mural. It really caught my eye. I enjoyed your post, too. A great choice. Enjoy the weekend.
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WELL! When I lived in Vancouver the Burrard Bridge had nothing as unique and interesting as that chandelier! What a great collection of street art and artists Patti!
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Hi, Anne. It’s very new…and a bit controversial. I think it’s safe to say that we won’t see another one like that anywhere else in the world. 😀. Enjoy the weekend, too, Anne. Are you doing any riding?
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Yes I am getting back to riding again after my lower back strain. I now warm up Biasini and then Belinda gets on and does some work with him and I get on again at the end. This week I am hoping to do an entire lesson!
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I’m glad you’re back and hope you make a 100% recovery. Enjoy your ride next week.
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an interesting mix of street art patti that you photographed for us, I like all the photos very much. here is my contribution to the challenge theme https://wp.me/p2AvI7-3W9.
many greetings robert
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Hi, Robert. Thanks so much! I enjoyed your collection, too! Great choices for black and white images.
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86 / 5000
Übersetzungsergebnisse
I’m very happy patti that you like the pictures and for your great comment.
many greetings robert
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What an eclectic mix you have for us today, Patti! That chandelier is fascinating and I like that bright installation in Soho as well. I’m trying to imagine that many statues of one man (the last one) in one place. Seems a bit odd to me. How big were they?
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Yes, eclectic, Janet! I was aiming for that!
They weigh a lot. They are over 8 feet tall and 551 lbs. Here’s some info and pictures from a Biennale website: https://www.vancouverbiennale.com/artworks/a-maze-ing-laughter/
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Thanks for the link, Patti. Very interesting. I’m just ready to post my entry which is about neighborhood street art, rather than large a/o famous pieces. 🙂
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Great. I’ll take a look.
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Here’s a bit of neighborhood street art I came across walking around Redondo Beach on a recent visit.
janet
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I enjoyed your street art, Janet! I like “collecting” smaller murals, too.
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Great theme, love your post!!!
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Hi, Ana. I’m delighted you enjoyed this one! I loved your post, too! I hope all’s well and that you’re enjoying time in the mountains.
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A great gallery, and lovely to see an offering by the wonderful Blub in there. I’ll be along later …..
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Hi, Margaret. Oh, you know about Blub? Wonderful! He/she is great. Looking forward to your post, too.
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One of my favourite themes! Great examples too. You can get a good feeling for a city by the street art it has, I think.
Here is mine:
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Hi, Sofia. I’m delighted you like this theme! Your collection is fantastic. I still can’t get over the baby!
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😀
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A great challenge, I love murals I might post some again
The chandelier is magnificent 🙂
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Hi, Alison. I hope you join us! The chandelier under the bridge really is startling, isn’t it? I haven’t seen it spin and light up yet, but I will. Have a good weekend, too.
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🙂
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One of my favourite subjects for photography! I love the sound of that chandelier in Vancouver and the laughing statue there too. Also that quote from Banksy 🙂 I was already putting together a selection of street art from a day trip to Brighton last week for the Photographing Public Art challenge, so I’ve doubled up this week – and it even includes a Banksy!! https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-the-colourful-street-art-of-brighton/
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Wonderful, Sarah! Perfect timing! I’ll look at your post next. Brighton is a lot of fun. I enjoyed our trip there a few years back.
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I love street art!
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Hi, Geriatri’x! I enjoyed your murals “hidden” under the bridge! I’m happy you joined us!
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I’ve started collecting images of street art we’ve encountered on our travels. This genre has taken on new growth all over the country.
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Hi, John. I think you’re right. It is growing. I love the dissident-artist vibe, but is street art becoming more mainstream?? It feels like it.
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A wonderful selection and variety of street art Patti, I especially love the work by ‘Blub’. I spend most of my time walking in nature rather than streets and as luck would have it I had just found and photographed something that fits the brief two days ago: https://tranature.com/2021/10/17/silent-sunday-community-spirit/
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Hi, Xenia. I enjoyed your post and the story behind the tiles! And yes, Blub’s work is great. I always look for it when we’re traveling. Glad you enjoyed his work and that you joined us!
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That Soho street corner art work is dazzling! I’d like to meet the artist that created it! Great photos of street art!
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Hi, TC. I didn’t see any name posted on that street corner in Soho, but I never saw anything like it! I wish I knew who did it. Thanks for your kind words about my collection. 😀
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What an incredible street art collection around the world. 7,000 pounds chandelier, wow…!
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Hi, Amy. Yes, imagine that! Over 7,000 pounds! I have to check the schedule and see the next time the chandelier is going to spin, light up, lower, etc. I want to see it in action! Glad you liked it, too.
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Love this idea and your images. I might start exploring the streets again now that we’re coming out of lockdown. Here’s my postthis week: https://cherylroth.com/2021/10/17/lens-artists-photo-challenge-170-street-art/
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Hi, Cheryl. It will feel so liberating when you can come out of lockdown. I think that’s a great opportunity to do some exploring. I’m delighted you enjoyed the challenge and my images. I really enjoyed your collection, too.
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Great angles, expressing art with art is a beautiful idea, all across Florence and even to Vancouver! Incredible shots.
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Hi, Alivea. Thank you! I’m delighted you like the theme and my collection. I appreciate that!
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Thanks Patti for this wonderful challenge. As you may already know…i love streetart! ❤️
So here is mine for this week: https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2021/10/18/rediscovering-melbourne/
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Hi, Teresa. I’m delighted you like street art as much as I do! I enjoyed your collection!
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That installation with the chandelier must be quite a sight. I would love to see that. Blub’s work has been appearing in social media a lot, and I like it. Florence has had guerilla artists for a long time. A decade ago, when I stayed in Florence I chased the work of an anonymous artist across the town. He was decorating all no entry signs, adding to them to show a prisoner in stock. I wish I could trace the photos. In any case, a good challenge and great pieces to go with it.
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Now you’ve got me wondering which artist it could be. Is it Clet? https://www.romeing.it/florence/street-art-in-florence/
I’ve included a link to an article on him. And yes! I want to see the chandelier spin and lower and light up. There’s a schedule of times when this happens. I will look it up and go! Thanks again for your thoughtful comments, IJ.
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Hi Patti
That Louis Vuitton art in London seems like it really made a statement – wow
And I am glad you finally decided to grab photo of that Paris mural because if has personality- the eyes look
Right At us
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Oh! Is it Louis Vuitton? You know about it? It was really startling and remarkable. Glad you like it, too! And the eyes….(for the mural in Paris)…you are right. They look right at you. Thanks for your thoughts and joining us this week!
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Hi Patti- I am not a Luis Vuitton fan – just never my taste (or price range – hahah) but the LV did stand out to me and have friends who used to have entire sets of LV
Anyhow – zmhope your week is off to a nice start
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It is! Thanks! LV is out of my price range, too!
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And even if it was in my price range I don’t like the status labels and obvious things like that/ and even had a small LV wallet gifted to me in 2008 and gifted it back
– the print was not my style either – in the last few years I have really liked the “simply Vera” options – her line has an all black line that makes for a lightweight and subtle clutch that can be washed in the washing machine (oh how win win) hahah
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I am not a label-conscious shopper either. It’s pointless, I think!! I haven’t heard of “simply Vera,” but I will check it out. Thanks!
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Well it might not be simply – I think it is just Vera Bradley and she had a line of all black – not like her famous prints – and here is one example – https://www.amazon.com/Vera-Bradley-Hipster-Crossbody-Shoulder/dp/B011GNMHZU/ref=asc_df_B011GNMHZU?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80676783844171&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=m&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584276309001961&psc=1
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This has been fun. Here I am at last: https://margaret21.com/2021/10/18/street-art-a-tour-of-berlin-spain-and-ending-up-in-england/
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I loved your post, Margaret. It was a lot of fun!
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Ah, thanks. It was fun to put together.
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Great street art. I love the one from Blurb and that installation in Soho.
We have a Chinese artist (Chen Wenling) that exhibits his gigantic Chinese statues at our Sculpture by the Sea at Cottesloe beach in Perth in March each year. He usually paints them red.
I have a Monday Mural meme and hope I can also enter your Street art photo challenge.
https://sami-colourfulworld.blogspot.com/2021/10/monday-mural-sistergirl.html
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Hi, Sami. I’m delighted you joined us! Thanks for your kind words about the art here.
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Lovely theme!
Love the colourful Soho neighborhood.
Brilliant n bright colours indeed!
I wish all the time I could laugh like the Chinese artist Yue Minjun ‘ laughing statues!
The guy in mural art (of Marais District in Paris) telling us not to talk too loudly just shut up and concentrate on the work!
What a great collection Pattiemoed!
Thank you .
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HI, Philo. Thanks for your kind words about my collection. I’m delighted you joined us, too. Your mural was a lot of fun. 😀
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Patti, your photos are great. I adore your colorful Soho photo 😀
I combined my entry with Marsha’s (and my) PPAC challenge. Hope you don’t mind.
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Hi, Cee. I’m glad you joined us! Of course you can combine challenges. Very creative. Glad you like the colorful corner in Soho!
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Hi again – here is my post for this week
https://priorhouse.blog/2021/10/18/street-art-in-austin-tx-lens-artists-photo-challenge-170-10-17-2021/
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I enjoyed your post, Yvette!
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Thanks pattti and hope you have a great week
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You, too.
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That’s an interesting set of street art. The chandelier under Burrard Bridge in Vancouver is probably the strangest thing that I have seen. The “A-maze-ing Laughter” installation by Chinese artist Yue Minjun made me laugh.
I know I will have to work hard to find something for this week’s challenge. There is very very few examples of public art out here in the small town suburbs of New Jersey. I don’t think the art displays on the Princeton University campus count as public art. I might have to dig through the catalog to find something from my past trips into New York City or Philadelphia.
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Hi, Khürt. I’m glad you enjoyed this collection! You can definitely use the art displays on the campus. It is for public enjoyment, so I think it counts!
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You seem to find the most amazing street art all the time! These are all wonderful, and the chandelier is of course a favourite, just like Blub and Mozart! A great challenge for many interesting posts!
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Hi, A-C. Thanks! I am always looking for great street art. The chandelier is really quite amazing, isn’t it? I’m still not sure how I feel about so much money being spent for something so frivolous!
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Haha, well, I must agree on that chandelier, Patti. But beautiful it is.
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Love the laughing sculpture in the last photo, Patti!
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Hi, Siobhan. I wish I could have shown all the different laughing faces–14 of them. 😀😀
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Thank you for this wonderful theme, Patti. Blub is a favourite but I have yet to see any of his work in person. I had much fun curating my subjective gallery of best street treats. Welcome and enjoy!
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I totally enjoyed your collection, Manja and I’m delighted you enjoyed mine, too! 😀😀. Have a great week.
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Some splendid and varied examples of street art, Patti. So much artistic talent on display for everyone to see. That’s great!
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Hi, Sue. Thanks! I have fun “collecting” street art. It is true–it’s great for all to see these artistic projects all over the city. Have a good week1
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I love the angles chosen for photos of street art – I haven’t yet captured the laughing men ‘maze’ in a way I like.
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Hi, Elizabeth. Thanks! I know what you mean about the maze. I’ve taken quite a few shots, but I ended up just focusing on one of the faces. It’s hard to capture the bigger “picture.”
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The last one made me smile Patti 🙂 🙂
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Wonderful. It’s contagious!
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Fabulous – especially that A-maze-ing Laughter sculpture – it certainly made me smile
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Hi, Karina. Now I’m smiling! 🙂 😀😀. Have a great weekend and thanks for your thoughts.
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I love art and I love kitsch. To me, street art is the perfect combination of the two.
Great topic for this week and wonderful images to inspire.
Thanks Patti.
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Hi, Dawn. Thanks for your lovely comment! I appreciate it! I’m delighted you like street art, too.😀
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A reprise on one from a couple years ago.
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Hi, Lindy. I enjoyed your collection! The murals are beautiful and are a window on the past.
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Hi Patti, Sorry I’m too late this week, but I wanted you to know I was thinking about your topic all week. I love your bubbly Mozart. Vince and I stayed in the Marais District when we went to France for his son’s wedding, so this brought back lots of memories. Feel free to link your post to Cee’s PPAC this week. 🙂
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Hi, Marsha. No worries. I’m so glad you joined us and thanks for your kind words too about Mozart and the “Shh-hh” image in the Marais.
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Of course, I felt like you picked that theme just for me. LOL, It’s always fun to see what other people post as well.
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This theme was made for me, Patti….so here’s mine, late as usual: https://suejudd.com/2021/10/23/street-art/
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Wonderful, Sue. I enjoyed your collection. 😀
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Pleased you like it, Patti!
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Very interesting post on street art!!
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Hi, Shawn. Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate your thoughts! I’m glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks again!
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