Hold on! It’s a Bumpy ride.

On By ResaIn Street Art99 Comments

This doorway mural was painted during the onset of the lockdown.

Hi! Here I am first time out socially, in 12 weeks. It was great to see 2 family members.

I’ve decided to grow out my grey hair. That thing in the centre of my chest is a bottle of hand sanitizer on a lanyard. I wear OS men’s shirts as a form of PPE. I hand painted my mask.

I’ve been reading more than usual. Check out my Art Gowns review of 5 of Shehanne Moore’s Historical Romance novels, by clicking on the book cover below!

I can’t get enough of gowns, especially in a romantic historic setting . I can’t get enough of street art.

There must be a correlation?

I also enjoyed reading Mike Steeden’s The Blue-Eyed Cat

Let me know what you’ve enjoyed reading during your time on hold!

Pics taken by Resa – June 1, 2020

Toronto, Canada

The Artist: Unsigned

Here’s a promo for Mike Steeden’s new book; The Snow White Tigress. It was made by George, over at Zoolon Hub  If you are a writer, and would like a promo made with original music, check him out! Very reasonable prices.

I’m staying home, mostly. I’ve got a myriad of creative projects on the go & 2 cats to boss  me around.

Martin Luther King Jr.

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Black Lives Matter52 Comments

“That old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.”

“The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility.”

“The more there are riots, the more repressive action will take place, and the more we face the danger of a right-wing takeover and eventually a fascist society.”

“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.”

“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.”

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

“Mankind must put and end to war or war will put an end to mankind.””

“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Pics taken by Resa – June 15, 2020

Toronto, Canada

The Artists:

Not sure who painted MLK Jr. but the Zianna Oliphant art is signed:

“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.”

Make Art Not War

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Black Lives Matter50 Comments

More art from Toronto’s Graffiti Alley’s artists’ peaceful protest.

The straw that broke the camel’s back.

I believe this black panther is by Nick Sweetman.

There is LOTS of writing in the alley. I couldn’t capture it all. Sometimes the lane was too, narrow. Also, there was a portrait of MLK JR. coming up & I was running out of battery.

James Baldwin – “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

Smaller bits from the alley.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Pics taken by Resa – June 15, 2020

Toronto, Canada

Some of the artists:

I can’t breathe

Intermissions

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Faces104 Comments

I find this piece beyond interesting. I found it in an alley, twice.

The first time was on May 6, 2020. There were no leaves on the trees, it was sunny and the bare branches’ shadows made a veil on her face.

The next time was June 8, 2020. The leaves had grown in on the trees, and the sun was in a different position. The shadows made a lacy frame.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Pics taken by Resa – May 6 & June 8, 2020

Toronto, Canada

The Artist:

Paste-Up Power

On By ResaIn Paste-Ups, Street Art60 Comments

On my walk to Graffiti Alley, I spotted this beauteous paste-up in a window.

Pasted on the inside, you can see the glue around the edges.

I adore all of the rich details.

Lo and behold, there was the beauty, again, in Graffiti Alley. I had just finished shooting what I posted yesterday.

Again, pasted-up, this time on what seems a mud cloth pattern.

There’s more art along this wall, but I’m skipping to the end of the alley. I make a  right turn, into a scaffold tunnel. It’s mostly filled with writing, and there’s not enough space to back up and photo each piece.

In this narrow tunnel, I find the beauty, again. However, this time it’s a totally new version of the paste-up.

I squished in some angled shots, as there was no room to back up for a dead on.

The details are fantastic.

Pics taken by Resa – June 15, 2020

Toronto, Canada

The Artist:

Artists Paint Graffiti Alley in Support – #Black Lives Matter

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Black Lives Matter49 Comments

 Someone painted George Floyd. Someone painted Jamal Francique. Someone painted Zianna Oliphant. Many painted “I can’t breathe”. I wanted to start this series with a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. In the end I decided  to reveal my experience from the beginning, as I discovered this multitude of art and messages.

I entered Graffiti Alley from the west end. I was greeted by a mural of Malcom X.

“You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”

After having basked in this fabulous mural for a long time, I head east into the alley.

“Breonna Taylor – Say Her Name”

This is Part One (There’s just way too, much for 1 post!)

Pics taken by Resa – June 15, 2020

Toronto,Canada

Malcolm X Artist:

Woman’s Face on Pop Art BG

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Faces72 Comments

Found this when I went to look for a different piece.

The piece I was looking for had been fouled with urine & the word pee written all over it.

As you can see, I was still rewarded for my efforts.

However, I had to work around a parked car.

I could not get a full straight on shot.

Still, worked the 2 spots I was given.

Pics taken by Resa – March 19, 2020

Toronto, Canada

The Artist:

I didn’t get a shot of the name, but it is in the lower left of this shot: