Category: Guests

Mandala – Mandala-ish

On By ResaIn Guests222 Comments

Check out this Spectacular Mandala by Graham Stephen of Mandala Vihara!

Mandala – a geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism.

Vihara – a Buddhist monastery and place of religious education.

For many years I have been a fan of Graham’s mandala art. Every so often on my art hunts, I’ll find something that is not a full mandala, but mandala-ish, and I think of Graham.

It was upon finding this mandala-ish paste-up with eyes in the centre, that I considered a mandala theme post, and dedicating it to Graham.

Better, why not involve him?

I asked, he agreed and said “Looking forward to seeing your collection of street mandalishes + 1 gowndala.”

Wait until you see this “Gowndala”! 

Mandala-ishes Collection

We chat with Graham as the collection is shown.

Resa – What drew you into making your gorgeous mandalas?

Graham – The intricately beautiful sand mandalas created by Tibetan Buddhist monks have long fascinated me.  After spending days laboriously creating those wonderful designs, with great non-attachment the monks sweep away the sand in an act symbolic of Impermanence.  

Resa – That is of keen interest to me, as the ephemerality of street art is what drives me to it.

Graham – So, about seven years ago when I happened to come across some mandalas online created from digital photographs, the thought arose that that could be a fun thing to try.  The best part turned out to be being able to lose yourself in the creative process. 

Graham – That applying orders of rotational symmetry to various real-life scenes of nature, architecture, and so on, should give rise to such an endless variety of outcomes is also rather satisfying.  And then there is the aspect of pareidolia — it can be fun looking for unexpected forms such as faces created by the new alignments of the rearranged slices of reality.

Graham – Digital mandalas may seem to be more durable than their Tibetan sand counterparts, but at some stage they too will, inevitably, be long forgotten.  At another level, and as with any image on the web, their existence is only fleeting — being reborn each time the page is viewed and then dissolving back into emptiness when the viewer clicks away…

Resa – You pair quotes with your mandalas. Are the quotes you pair with your mandalas inspired by the mandala?  ie: you have the mandala then search for a quote that works, OR do you have a quote and then are inspired to make the mandala to go with it?

Graham – Actually, neither!  This part of the process is surrendered to chance.  When it comes to drafting a post, the mandala just gets paired up with the next unused item from my collection of quotes.  Sometimes they complement each other, sometimes they contrast, and at other times there may seem to be no apparent connection — the unpredictability of the random juxtaposition is a bit of fun, with echoes of the “cut-up” technique of Dadaism.

Resa – Oooo, I love that!

Resa – Do you purposely take a photo of something because it will make a fab mandala?

Graham – Rarely.  In practice I tend to review all the shots afterwards when editing a series of photographs and select one or two of any that might be suitable.

I began looking for mandala-ishes everywhere, indoors and outdoors.

I have unfortunately been visiting a friend at the Toronto General Hospital over the last couple of weeks. In the hallway is a Mosaic Mural made from 10,000 tabs, lids, pins, levers, screws and connectors collected over 28 years by nurse Tilda Shalof.

Within the mosaic are several mandala-ishes . Those, and information on the mosaic can be seen in the slide show above. Below is the entire piece.

Très ish mandala-ish

Colour Swirl – Acrylic on Canvas – 1968

The above work of art by Gordon Rayner was hanging in a random hallway, in a converted warehouse/factory filled with artsy retailers.

The Most Beautiful Mandala … Ever!

Lilac Fan Dance is Thunder’s (aka Dale) dedicated Art Gown.

Thinking the texture and colours would make a cool Mandala, I sent 3 pics of her to Graham.

He chose the first one saying,

Graham – “as that one had a nice bit of plain background to the left to create a bit of negative space around the result.”

OMG! LOVE THIS!

Thank You Graham!

Visit Graham from MANDALA VIHARA! It’s a beautiful place.

Street art and indoor art pics taken by Resa – 2025-2026

Toronto, Canada

Puerto Vallarta Street Art with D.G. Kaye

On By ResaIn Guests194 Comments

It’s hard to talk about Mexican street art, or Mexican art of any ilk, without massive nods to Frida Kahlo.

D.G. –  You should see all the Frida stuff I have here, from art to books to clothing and a beach bag. Can you tell I’m a huge Frida fan? LOL

Resa –  Yes I can tell! So, let’s see what you’ve captured and then spend some time with Frida! In regards to the pic below, that you have titled“Little Boy Lost in Technology”: It looks like it is painted on a crumbling shack.?

D.G. – I didn’t even remember titling it that, lol. My interpretation is because so many are lost in their phones like phone zombies.

D.G. named many of the pics she sent in. I’ll put those in blue italics.

But actually, it’s not a shack, it’s the side of a store downtown. I’m not sure but I would guess it was painted on stucco? I mean the brick is exposed and so is part of the board and stucco?

Resa – Is this what it is like in parts of Puerto Vallarta?
I mean is poverty and hi-tech living together?
Is this image reflective of real life there?

D.G. – Yes, there is definitely poverty, just not in the tourist areas. Wall art/murals are permitted there as a medium of social messaging. The artist only needs the permission of the building owner and/or local authorities. Funny though, no matter how poor, everyone seems to have a phone. 🙂

D.G. – This intricate mosaic done in mirrored glass is in the Entertainment Park at the malecon (boardwalk), a square where they have entertainment sometimes and the Saturday morning market is held.

Resa –  It’s gorgeous!

Resa – Is this image on the malecon? Or where did you find it?

D.G – The above shot and the  next one were taken at the La Cruz market. Above, the artist featured paintings. The next one was a mural painted on a storefront entrance.

Resa – Is the La Cruz market the main market in Puerto Vallarta? Is it on the Malecon?Does one buy food there as well as art?

D.G. – Yes, there is a whole area like an outdoor foodcourt where merchants sell home made food and baked goods. Delish! There are several little markets throughout all towns, and yes, the Malecon has little markets as well, and a Saturday market. But the La Cruz market is by far the biggest and doesn’t have typical market items. It’s more artisan crafted – clothing, jewelry, hats, collectibles, lotions – you name it.

Resa – Tell me about “Child Art”!

D.G – The image of the girl is an actual painting, not a mural. I took the shot up in La Cruz outside a booth with an artist doing his art. I didn’t get to speak with him so I don’t know his name. His art was outside his booth on stands. I wasn’t the only one with a camera. 

Resa – You titled the above “Catholic Religious”. Is this image on, or by a church?

D.G. – The girl with the red apron was snapped outside a building on a downtown side street. I’m still trying to figure it out. It looks religious at first, but why would the vegetable be on it? Lol. It’s wall art, but not sure what it represents.

Resa – I get it! The red apron/poncho looks like a “chasuble”, a liturgical vestment  worn by Roman Catholic priests and bishops at mass. Seems like there are a lot of murals/street art in Puerto Vallarta.

D.G. – Puerto Vallarta is a growing art scene with so much talent.
Murals are allowed and have been a common way for artists to express themselves in social justice since the Mexican Muralism Movement. It began with wall paintings in the civic buildings after 1910 to educate the illiterate.

Resa – “Planetary art” Was this found at a trip to the Planetarium, or is it street art that made you think planetarium?

D.G. -As you well know, when you walk along older narrow and/or cobblestone roads, there’s always something to see. This photo was painted on a wall on a narrow downtown street.

Resa –  Where were “Splash of Nature’s Colour” and“Peaceful Art” found?

D.G. – The splash was taken in Punta Mita, another town not far from La Cruz. It was a very short street with a few stores and restaurants and outside the stores you would find art.

D.G. – Peaceful art grabbed my attention while I was walking downtown around the malecon area. We were looking for the cotton store. I remember being disappointed when I looked at it later. I’d cut some of the top off. I was standing across the street from it, and I was trying to snap the photo in between many cars driving by.

Resa – Out of the dozen pics of art you sent, 5  are of Frida. It seems to me inasmuch as Mexico inspired Frida, Frida now inspires Mexico. Am I overstating her influence?

D.G. – No, you aren’t overstating the huge influence Frida had and still stands for in the Mexican culture. Frida is loved and admired throughout Mexico. She is admired for her colourful artwork – all expressions of what she was feeling throughout her life as well as many political paintings.

Resa – I adore this mural of Frida, which you say is on a restaurant. Did you eat there?

D.G. – No I never ate there, so I can’t even tell you what the name is. My bad.

Resa – The important thing is you got the pic!

Resa –  I love this pic of Frida and Diego you took when visiting “Immersive Frida Kahlo”, in Toronto.

Click on the pic below and go to an article D.G. wrote about Frida. It fills in many things not in this post.

A BIT OF HISTORY
D.G. – Frida was born July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954. Frida played a big part in the Nationalist Movement during the Mexican Revolution that took place from 1910 to 1920. The country was fighting for democracy to get rid of a dictator that had been in power for 34 years, violating the Mexican Constitution.

Many of her art pieces represent the pain she suffered in her younger days when she was first bedridden for months when she contracted Polio in 1913. She recovered, but she was left with one leg shorter than the other and deformed and wore a built-up shoe to help her limp. Then she was bedridden after a terrible bus accident in 1925. It was when Frida was held up in bed for months that her father had an easel installed above her bed so she could draw.

Frida is known as empowering, and as an icon for women’s strength, her art, and her love for the Mexican culture. Many only knew her as Diego Rivera’s wife in their younger days because he was already a famous mural painter when they met, and her art was not yet recognized. 

Resa – Although you shot the “Immersive Frida Kahlo” images from moving wall projections, I am enamoured. I put most of them in the Slideshow below.

D.G. – Frida’s portrait of Diego in the slide show –  To me. this painting highlights their volatile and turbulent relationship as it looks like hot flames.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

D.G. – Check out this great video on Mexican Muralism

How Mexican muralism sparked a public art movement

Resa – What a fabulous video! Thank you, Debby! I’m thrilled with everything you’ve sent me. Our post will be the bee’s knee’s!

D.G. We’re a great team. And of course we’re not just throwing pics up without discussing what they are, and perhaps a personal opinion or observation here and there. You are the creative art director and great photographer. I take amateur pics that tell me a story and love to write about. Teamwork!

About the Author

D.G. Kaye is a Canadian author living in Toronto. She is a nonfiction writer of memoirs about her life experiences, matters of the heart, and women’s issues. Her positive outlook keeps her on track, allowing her to take on life’s challenges with a dose of humor and a mission to overcome adversity.

D.G. began writing when pen and paper became the tools to express her pent-up emotions during her turbulent childhood. She began journaling about her life at a young age and continued writing about the people and events that left imprints and lessons. She writes books to share her stories and inspiration.

D.G. is a big advocate for kindness and for empowering women. Her favorite saying is “For every kindness, there should be kindness in return. Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”

When she’s not writing, D.G. loves to read (self-help books and stories of triumph), cook (concocting new recipes, never to come out the same way twice), shop (only if it’s a great sale), play poker (when she gets the chance), and, most of all, travel.

Visit her website at www.dgkayewriter.com and join her mailing list to keep up with her latest blogs and news about her books and events.

Contact D.G. at: d.g.kaye.writer@gmail.com

Follow D.G. on her social sites:

http://www.dgkayewriter.com

www.twitter.com/@pokercubster

www.facebook.com/dgkaye

www.linkedin.com/in/dgkaye7

Visit D.G.’s author page and books: www.amazon.com/author/dgkaye7.

Podcast links: Grief the Real Talk

https://www.youtube.com/DebbyDGKayeGies

https://soundcloud.com/dgkaye

https://open.spotify.com/episode/38OoQQysdvNYjXL3pfCMMq?si=wg-DQ8_PSs-hthRtIzvpFQ

Murales de Montréal – Merci JMR

On By ResaIn Guests, Murals91 Comments

A Big Thank You to Jean Marc Robert for sending in these pics from Montreal!

“The first one (Woman in purple, some yellow in the background is at the intersection of Hope and Sussex street, a bit north of René Lévesques and east of Atwater.”

“The second one, woman and child on a bench overlooked by business suit man with robot head is I think….on St-Mathieu street between Tupper and Ste Catherine.”

“The third one, is quite beautiful.  I was told by a delivery man from UPS that it is quite recent. He notices & likes murals, and told me of the Leonard Cohen mural just north of this one. This is on Crescent street between Ste Catherine and de Maisonneuve.”

“I was on the sidewalk, and it was difficult to photograph. I did not notice the perspective in the mural. When shot, so we don’t see the alley, it was almost as though it was just another building. Ok not quite like that, but I thought it integrated well with the surrounding, not the same style but seems to be part of it.”

All photos © Jean Marc Robert

💞THANK YOU JMR! 💞

Leonard Cohen

On By ResaIn Guests, Murals124 Comments

Thank you to Jean Marc Robert – Art et Technique for sending me pics of this wonderful Leonard Cohen mural found in Montreal!

I have wanted this in my collection since the moment I laid eyes on a photo of it.

JMR also took pics of other art, which will be posted anon(ish).

JMR – “As for the one of Leonard Cohen, first I passed by without noticing it, being on the side of the street close to it, and it is up above surroundings. I guess if you look up you would see part of it. So I walked to de Maisonneuve street to see it and then come back to take pics on the other side, I did took also the Nick – Auf der Maur street sign, he was a long time city councillor. I think of the same area where lived Cohen, but not sure.”

I’m so thrilled, I just had to draw Boogapony Holly, as Suzanne. “She’s wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters”

Boogapony Holly character © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter

Since January 16, 2018

THANK YOU – Jean Marc Robert

Kiev, Chernobyl & Pripyat – en Graffe

On By ResaIn Guests83 Comments

I’m re-posting this from October 2021 with the addition of  an original war protest song by Timothy Price.

Kiev, Chernobyl & Pripyat – en Graffe

My pal Alex Morris sent us pics of murals & graf from the Ukraine. The first four are all in, and around, Kiev city centre.

“While I were wending me merry away around Kiev I noticed some fancy graffiti and all that. Sending you some of the best over.”

“However, an unexpected work trip arose in September 2021. And so with a day off on Sunday 12th September, we booked into a day tour and headed to the location of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.”

“Chernobyl is a region permanently stuck in the past, that also provides an important message for the future.”

WOW! There it is guys, Chernobyl! Omg, it’s got a mural on it.

“All of which can only lead onto the local town of Pripyat, which was built to house local power plant workers and their families.”

“The mass evacuation of the city was delayed whilst authorities denied the reality of the situation, eventually evacuating the city in a matter of hours.”

“Visitors can only stay in Pripyat for a short while and you’re not allowed to touch anything, otherwise you risk contaminating yourself”.

“In fact, there are radiation checks when you leave the Exclusion Zone to ensure you’ve not done anything stupid.”

“Some people do break into the Exclusion Zone and have to treks for days in the woods to reach Pripyat, which exposes them to a lot of radiation. But some of them may be the ones completing the graffiti. I couldn’t find any details on whether it was allowed by the government or not. But it’s there to behold.”

Photos taken by Alex Morris – September, 2021

Ukraine

Alex’s post on visiting Chernobyl, Pripyat & Kiev is fabulous! Click on over and check it out!

There is no end to taggers on this planet. Yet, somehow it’s comforting to me to know that. Not sure why. Perhaps it speaks to commonality of humanity.

A work of art, yet so far away it’s difficult to make out. Nonetheless it’s neat to see a Kiev street! Interesting parking.

You can also find this song on Tim’s Blog

Kiev, Chernobyl & Pripyat – en Graffe

On By ResaIn Guests105 Comments

My pal Alex Morris sent us pics of murals & graf from the Ukraine. The first four are all in, and around, Kiev city centre.

“While I were wending me merry away around Kiev I noticed some fancy graffiti and all that. Sending you some of the best over.”

“However, an unexpected work trip arose in September 2021. And so with a day off on Sunday 12th September, we booked into a day tour and headed to the location of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.”

“Chernobyl is a region permanently stuck in the past, that also provides an important message for the future.”

WOW! There it is guys, Chernobyl! Omg, it’s got a mural on it.

“All of which can only lead onto the local town of Pripyat, which was built to house local power plant workers and their families.”

“The mass evacuation of the city was delayed whilst authorities denied the reality of the situation, eventually evacuating the city in a matter of hours.”

“Visitors can only stay in Pripyat for a short while and you’re not allowed to touch anything, otherwise you risk contaminating yourself”.

“In fact, there are radiation checks when you leave the Exclusion Zone to ensure you’ve not done anything stupid.”

“Some people do break into the Exclusion Zone and have to treks for days in the woods to reach Pripyat, which exposes them to a lot of radiation. But some of them may be the ones completing the graffiti. I couldn’t find any details on whether it was allowed by the government or not. But it’s there to behold.”

Photos taken by Alex Morris – September, 2021

Ukraine

Alex’s post on visiting Chernobyl, Pripyat & Kiev is fabulous! Click on over and check it out!

There is no end to taggers on this planet. Yet, somehow it’s comforting to me to know that. Not sure why. Perhaps it speaks to commonality of humanity.

A work of art, yet so far away it’s difficult to make out. Nonetheless it’s neat to see a Kiev street! Interesting parking.

Tallinn, Estonia – Street Art

On By ResaIn Guests, Street Art55 Comments

This blue elk is absolutely beautiful!

Thanks to a very dear friend of mine, who travelled to Tallinn late last year. I got these fab pics.

The area I am showing is the old industrial area. All types of artists have moved in, and the area is gentrifying. This is the main square, of that area. Notice a couple of men at a magazine stand far right, but first a couple of closer ups.

Here’s the magazine stand. There is a wonderful owl over it.

The wings of the world are below. You stand in the centre, and have your photo taken. You’ll look like an angel.

I call them “wings of the world”, because they are in many, many cities around the world. I know where there are 3 sets of wings in Toronto, and I can walk to them all.

Turn the wings corner, and find yourself in a graf writing paradise!

More street art.

Tallinn City’s population is 427,000. The city centre is a mix of fabulous old world, and modern architecture.

Below is L’opéra national “Estonia”

© Guillaume Speurt – click on pic to go to his Flicker page

Thank you for checking out the street art in Tallinn with me!

Photos (except L’opéra national “Estonia”) © N. Orenstein