Circus Circus

Hi friends,

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the onset of the holiday season! I am looking forward to spending some time with my family and friends, indulging in delicious meals and Christmas cookies, and having a week of paid vacation so I can relax, hit the gym, and get some painting and writing done. It has been far too long since I've done anything creative, and that saddens me. Sometimes life gets in the way. One thing that I've learned recently is that no matter what is going on in your life, good or bad, you have to continue making time to do the things you normally do, the things that make you who you are. Whether that means going to yoga or a spin class, making art, playing the guitar, building furniture, taking your pooch to the dog park, watching football, practicing martial arts... whatever your hobbies may be.When you allow outside influences to determine how your time is spent, you're pushing a part of your soul away into a dark corner. It's easy to get bogged down with work or swept up in a new romance, but making time for yourself is crucial to your personal happiness and fulfillment.

I took these photos while in the midst of an early morning run last week. The mural is located on Ashland, somewhere between Augusta and Division, I believe. I love the surreal, dreamlike circus imagery, combined with the swirling graffiti lettering in the background. Murals like this make the city so much more vibrant and beautiful, and they make me so happy!

Anyway, I'm definitely ready to say goodbye to 2012. It's been a year full of exhilarating highs and devastating lows, a real roller coaster. 13 is my lucky number, so CHEERS TO 2013!

Fading

...or is it?

Dancing in Squares

Combover

I don't feel so hot...

Woodland Creatures

Hey, friends. Here's a bit more of the huge mural project I stumbled across in Bucktown. I need to spread out beyond the neighborhoods west of the loop, but I don't leave this area much, except to head to work on the north shore... and there's certainly no street art there. I wish it was warm enough to bike around, I find the best spots when I'm not even looking!

Trio

Late Morning Light

Taking Flight

Hibiscus

Four Square

Hello, beautiful people!

Yesterday was an extremely productive day for me, as I finally had the time and opportunity to photograph some of the art I've been seeing in passing and making mental notes to re-visit. I was driving southeast on Milwaukee, right before six corners, when I noticed these four large murals next to one another. I pulled over, left the car running, and snapped these photographs before hopping back into my vehicle and driving away. The mechanic standing outside on a smoke break looked a bit bewildered by my behavior, but I just smiled and went on my merry way. I also found a treasure in Bucktown, a HUGE mural project spanning damn near a city block. I took so many photographs that I will be posting them in installments, so stay tuned for that!

Other than that, I am beginning to prepare for hibernation mode, as I watch the crimson, orange, and yellow leaves fall, and spindly, empty branches begin to dot the horizon. I have never been much for winter, and although I enjoy autumn (and especially Halloween), it’s almost like watching a slow death of everything I love: sunshine, swimming, bicycling, outdoor concerts, sundresses and sandals, and just the general splendor that is summertime in Chicago. And yes, winter in Chicago can also be beautiful, but the holiday lights, Macy’s window displays, and giant tree in Daley Plaza simply do not make up for the vibrancy of the city during the summer months. I feel more alive in summer than any other time, even if being alive means sitting in more traffic than usual and sweating my ass off.

Happy Halloween!

Homo Riot

As seen near six corners in Wicker Park

Dia de los Muertos

On Fullerton, just east of Western Ave

Black Hole

On California, south of Augusta

Bleu

As seen on North Avenue, just west of Six Corners

Hands Up

Spotted in the industrial district near Ashland and Grand

Big Sky

Hiya, friends!

I apologize for my lack of posts lately. Life has been extremely kind to me as of recent, and I've been too busy enjoying the moment to focus on anything other than work and play. This blog falls somewhere in between. I have seen a ton of great street art lately, but it has all been in passing, while driving through the city or riding public transportation. I plan on spending some time this week visiting the gems I've spotted and taking photos for the blog to share with all of you lovely people.  

These wheatpaste murals are located on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. I went out last night to celebrate my friend Johannes' birthday at Lilie's Q on North Avenue. I had already eaten dinner at a work event, but I did try a few bites of my friends' food- fried pickles, sweet potatoes, cornbread, and brisket. Delicious! I washed it down with an American Muscle New World Double IPA, which has a whopping 12.5% alcohol content. Me likey. Sarah made a cake for Yo with purple and green icing, so all of our teeth had a strange purplish tinge to them afterwards, but it was worth it. Birthdays are a great excuse to do my favorite things- eat and laugh with friends.

Afterwards, we stopped by Emporium Arcade for some drinks and video games. I had never been, and I wasn't able to stay for long due to work obligations, but what combination could be better than Mortal Kombat and strong drink?! It brought me back to my high school days, getting out of school early and being up to no good at my friend Adam's house, playing N64 with our cronies... FINISH HIM!!!

Anyway, happy Saturday to all of you! I have a great weekend planned, which I am determined to enjoy, despite the cold weather putting a bit of a damper on it. I'm not ready for winter! I grudgingly pulled on a hat and mittens when I left the house this morning... remind me again why I opted not to take that job offer in San Diego? 

Dressed to the Nines

Located in Ukrainian Village / East Humboldt Park

YOLO

Since I'm on a kick of posting street art I've seen outside of Chicago (also because I haven't had time to traipse around the city with a camera lately), I found it necessary to include these shots taken at Bondi Beach in January 2010. I got to spend a month traveling throughout Australia and New Zealand with my pal Amanda, with whom I've been friends for nearly 15 years. Although we only got to spend two nights and three days in Sydney, we did get a taste of what the city is all about, and much of it revolves around the Pacific Ocean. Beach life is a way of life for many Aussies, and I can't say I blame them! 

I'm not quite sure why the color is so dull in these photos... these were taken with my old digital camera- now I generally use my iPhone to take photos, which seems to produce better results.

Happy Saturday!

Spring Street, NYC

In 2007, I took a two week, art-intensive course in New York City with my dear friend and former professor, Susan. It was a fantastic experience with friends and classmates, jam-packed with as much art and culture as we could handle. We spent hours upon hours feeding our souls at the Met and the Guggenheim, the Whitney and the Brooklyn Museum. We feasted our eyes at P.S. 1, MoMA, and the Neue Galerie, along with countless galleries in Chelsea and SoHo. We blew glass in Brooklyn, ate BBQ in Harlem, made paper at Dieu Donne, saw street performers in Times Square, visited Ground Zero, rode the Cyclone at Coney Island, and took the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty (which was still closed to the public at that time because of 9/11). I was brought to tears standing inside a giant Richard Serra sculpture at his MoMA retrospective, and I had my first experiences with real sushi (none of that California roll crabstick crap), stuffed grape leaves, and authentic Italian gelato. Words cannot express the ways in which this trip shaped me as both a human being and an artist, and I am eternally grateful to Susan for this, and many other things.

However, I'm getting sidetracked. One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Spring Street, which has long attracted street artists from around the world. I remember being overwhelmed by the chaos and beauty of it all- I was practically drunk on the juxtaposition of vibrant colors and the grit of the urban landscape. Unfortunately, I had an issue with my digital camera while I was there, so the only photos I have from the trip were taken with a disposable camera. Here's a few shots I do have, including one of me being a dork and a 30 color silkscreen print  of Spring Street that I created upon my return to Illinois.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend!

Psycho Killer

Howdy, y'all. I'm so excited to hear that friends are enjoying this blog! Seeing the pageviews in my Blogger Stats makes me smile. I started Love & Wheatpaste about a month or so ago because I'm constantly photographing the street art that I encounter in my daily life, and have been doing so for years.The city of Chicago is filled with unexpected (and sometimes temporary) beauty, and I want to share the bits of inspiration that I come across with the blogosphere. Too many people walk by art on the street, or glance passively at it through the window of a CTA train without really seeing anything. Or perhaps they're too jaded by the gang tags that litter city buildings to consider street art a form of art to be taken seriously.

This mural is located in Bridgeport, on the south side. Somewhere near 32nd & Morgan, if I remember correctly. I lived there briefly after finishing my BFA degree. It was my first experience of city living, and while I don't exactly miss living there, Bridgeport does have a blue-collar charm and independent art scene that I find endearing. Plus, I've always been more of a Sox fan than a Cubs fan, so living near Comiskey (U.S. Cellular if you want to get technical) was a lot of fun in the summer.

For some reason, this mural reminds me of my Nickelodeon childhood and the Talking Heads. Excuse me while I immediately put Remain in Light into my CD player (yes, I still have one of those).