Spirit of the '70s

I'd been meaning to get out and take photos of the bright new murals that popped up on the corner of Williamson and Few St. just a short while ago, but thankfully muralist and community artist Sharon Kilfoy beat me to it. She was also kind enough to provide information about the work.

This panel includes the Amazement Company playing at the first Willy St Fair, Mona and her Way House Gallery of Light, Dan Yopack, founder of Gallery 853 and the Unicorn Forest and Wildlife Preserve, and the St Vincent de Paul Fashion Show.
The death of DADA / birth of MAMA represented a paradigm shift in consciousness that came to fruition in the 70's. Women, blacks, gays, and other minorities were to be no longer disenfranchised as in the past. Also shown in this panel are theater groups from Broom St Theater and Gallery 853.
This panel pays homage to WORT radio and its early days on Willy St, Nature's Bakery, Peter and Lou Berryman, and Bob Linn, the "Day-Glow Sheriff" who was part of the Natures Bakery collective until he was thrown out for painting their entire parking lot one night after everyone else had gone home.

SOLVE retrospective photo gallery

EHS Retrospective 8
Originally uploaded by qtouch

Click the photo for a gallery of shots from the East High reception and show of Brendon "SOLVE" Scanlon's artwork, courtesy qtouch.

The kids are all right

This mural, on the back wall of O'Keeffe Middle School on Madison's near east side, was originally painted in 1992 and apparently touched up in 2002 by students with the help of art teachers. It's always been a favorite of mine, living in the 'hood as I do. It's just so cheery!

According to photographer >Elab'rãt>'s description, though, "To understand some of the imagery in the mural, it is important to know that in 1832, during the so-called "Blackhawk War," the Native American leader Blackhawk and his people camped in the Madison area and then crossed the Yahara [River] near where the School is located today while they were being pursued by federal troops. That pursuit ended in far western Wisconsin on the Mississippi River south of La Crosse when the troops caught up with Blackhawk and his people and ruthlessly murdered a large number of them, including children."

The mural is, obviously, a depiction of / wish for better times.

Beautiful paint and ink

This is the current mural on the graffiti wall over at Mother Fool's, and I have to say, it's absolutely stunning. I'm fairly certain I've seen work by this artist around before--it's a distinctive style--and it's all been just as good. I'm always amazed at the different technqiues and levels of detail that some folks can reach with the spray can.

Ectoplasmic Spirit

I love it when people make my job easier. Such is the case with photographer Peter Patau, who sent in this submission today, taken in the alley behind Riley's Wines of the World. Seems an appropriate find for this haunted time of year.

The many stencils of Vilas Hall

Vilas Hall, on the UW-Madison campus, does seem to attract an inordinate amount of stenciling. Whatever the reason, it provides for some fun double-takes whenever you walk through its outdoor corridors. This series of shots comes to us courtesy of C & V, who say they love this blog. Well, this blog loves them right back! And all of our other readers and contributors. You make things a little easier when I don't have time to go out and grab photos on my own, and for that I'm very thankful.

The Darker Side of Autumn

Intrepid photographer Peter Patau snapped this shot of a gnarly skull on a picnic table in Wingra Park. The title he gave the photo seems even more appropriate considering the nasty weather we've been having lately. It won't be long before seeking out street art becomes a major expedition. Our local alt-weekly's website also picked up on this one.