The Chicago Mural

This post is an installment from a trip to Chicago in June with Katrina

While walking around Chicago with Katrina I saw a poster advertising some art exhibits at the Chicago Cultural Center, which I had visited in the past and was eager to share with her.

photograph from display

Artist Keith Haring came to Chicago in 1989 to create a 488 foot long mural with 500 Chicago public high school students.

They painted 122 panels each one 4 feet by 8 feet over the course of 5 days.  The 36 panels on display at the Cultural Center seemed immense laid side by side, I can't even imagine 122 of them!

These panels were on display at Midway Airport for years, and now that the exhibition at the Cultural Center has concluded they will be given to the Chicago Public Schools for conservation.  Apparently the other panels have already been distributed to various schools and other locations throughout the city.

Chicago residents are probably sick of seeing them over the last 29 years, but they were a new sight to me.  Haring produced more than 50 works of public art between 1982 and 1989 including the Chicago Mural.

He also created a 6 story mural banner commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty with 1,000 children in New York City and a mural painted on the western side of the Berlin Wall before its fall.

Sadly, 9 months after completing the Chicago Mural the artist died of AIDS related complications at the age of 31.

The colorful and gritty imagery in the mural was a jarring contrast to the classic architectural style of the room where it was displayed.

This building was the first Chicago Public Library, hence the CPL etched within the design above.

Gorgeous ceiling ornamentation

The large galleries that are now used for exhibits were designed to let in lots of light for folks to read.  Speaking of reading, there is a lot of bickering going on in Wisconsin between Governor Walker and his challenger Evers over who is better for education.  Walker would like to claim he has increased funding for education...but that was only after drastically slashing it years ago.  And for at least a decade the state ranks among the worst in the nation in racial equality not only in education but also for income and rate of incarceration.  Just as bad, only 40% of 8th grade students are proficient at math in Wisconsin! Yikes!  Wisconsin has the worst record in that category for the disparity between white and black students in the NATION with white students 5 times more likely to be proficient than black students.

There was another art exhibit on display that day, I'll share that tomorrow. Be patient with my sporadic postings, I've been very busy with work and plans for our relocation to Canada next year!

Waupaca Post Office Mural

I found this New Deal art mural at the Waupaca Post Office.  Unfortunately I overwrote the original showing the whole wall when I cropped it, but its location looks the same as all the other Wisconsin Post Office murals right down to its placement over the postmaster door and the bulletin board nearby.

The title is “Wisconsin Countryside” and it was painted by Raymond Redell in 1940.  I've got a few more to follow in the coming Mondays, and a few left to find in Wisconsin before I move away next year!

Linking up to Monday Mural, the host is featuring an IGA with a stunning mural so take a look!

La Jolla Cove

This post is from my trip to San Diego back in June, 2018.

Jack and Cooper

I have more from San Diego to post about, but let's start with the fantastic breakfast my mother and I shared at Shorehouse Kitchen in La Jolla with Chris and his family.  I'm hungry now just thinking about it!

Decadent French toast

 With our bellies full we headed over to La Jolla Cove to see the seals and sea lions, but not the sun on that day.

Something that is good to know in advance is that the Children’s Pool (Casa Beach) where they tend to congregate is closed from December 15 to May 15 to protect the newly-born seal pups. 

Tourists on La Jolla Cove seawall

Whether in the water or on the shore, it's smart not to get too close or take photos with the animals, wave selfie sticks in their faces, or yell at them. Even though the group at the Cove is better socialized than most groups of seals and sea lions, they will still bite if they feel threatened.

Mom was excited to walk out close to them on the seawall

I've mentioned seals and sea lions a few times this year already, including the ones in Astoria and my recent post about the white one I had as a gift when I was a child.

Here's a neat fact I didn't know before today: when seals poop the nutrients and nitrogen from their deep ocean diet are made available to feed planktons and algae that other animals eat. Without seals, these plants would not get enough nutrients and would die, along with many other species including leopard sharks.

Cutie patootie

It's all about balance in an ecosystem, right down to the poop! 

We enjoyed watching the would-be surfers who had to be rescued, it's so easy to feel superior dry on the shore.

And spent a weird amount of time watching a particular seal trying to catch a wave onto a rock.  I've spent longer watching prairie dogs though, so who am I kidding?

Cooper and I traveled along ahead of the others looking for adventure, but mostly stood around watching all the activity on the water.

Seals are much more quiet than the vocal sea lions like I heard in Astoria and only move on land by wiggling on their bellies, whereas sea lions are able to “walk” using their flippers.

If you plan to visit, be aware that parking is scarce and though street parking is available you may have to walk a bit.  That's alright as there are things to see along the way besides seals.

Seals and surfers weren't the only ones hanging around, cormorants were plentiful and didn't seem to mind sharing a rock with the seals.

Brown Pelicans were common as well, and it was cool seeing a line of them soaring across the water.

We tried to do a little tide pooling but didn't have a ton of luck.

A few critters were found in the sandstone crevices, but I'm guessing the best pools were still underwater.

See the crab on the upper right side?

If you want a better look at a crab like the one in the tide pool, here's one that was crawling on the rock.

For the most part the rock was easy to walk on, but look out for spots that have algae as that is always slippery!

Even my mom walked all the way out to see the wave action! It was good clean fun, don't pass up a visit just because it looks busy if you're in the area.  And have some of that French Toast for me!

Farewell Newfoundland

Boat beached up at Swans Cove, Placentia

The time has come to say farewell to Newfoundland's Avalon peninsula, so let's take a look around and see what we'll be missing and why you should consider a visit yourself...

Jumbo sized ship model in Ferndale

 The greater Placentia area has a lot to offer, from scenic vistas to historic sites and don't forget that Cape St. Mary's Ecological Preserve is just a short drive away.  There you can view thousands of gulls, razorbills, common murres, black-legged kittiwakes, northern gannets, and double-crested and great cormorants nesting in the warmer months and 20,000 scoters, long-tailed ducks, harlequin, dovekies, thick-billed murres, and kittiwakes winter there as well.  We didn't have time for a drive out this visit unfortunately but it's at the top of my recommended list for others to go see.

Flowers at Wayne's mother's house

Newfie hospitality is unrivaled, so if someone asks you to come over for a meal or wants to give something away to you just accept that you are somewhere that the people want you to feel at home.  There's nothing quite like it anywhere else!

Traditional saltbox home in Placentia

There are plenty of places to stay popping up, I really liked the new rentals down by the marina at the bridge in Placentia.  Bright and cheery and the location can't be beat.  Check out Air BnB, there are lovely rentals available for under $100 a night!

Rental in Placentia by the bridge - come stay awhile!

See if you can enjoy some time on the water, whether you bring your kayak like we did or fish on a lake or charter a boat ride.

Swans Cove, Placentia

Castle Hill is a must, and you get views of Placentia where Wayne's family lives and views of Freshwater where my family lives!  Argentia lies on the other side of that big hill in Freshwater, so unfortunately you won't be able to see that, but now I wonder if there's a spot on Old Settlement Hill where you can get a view down on Argentia...I bet Uncle Matt knows!

View of Old Settlement Hill in Freshwater from Castle Hill

Lots of cemeteries to explore if you are into that.  I know I like taking a spin around a cemetery now and then to get an idea of who came before.

Freshwater cemetery from Castle Hill

Freshwater doesn't have the attractions that Placentia does, but is conveniently located 5 minutes from the ferry and if you're not staying at the Sunset RV Park in Argentia you can check out Castle Landing which is a renovated convent that has twelve ensuite rooms available.

Freshwater wharf

If you stop in Freshwater see if there's anything going on down at the La Fontaine Club, often there is live music and maybe you'll see some of my people hanging out there!

How many of the Griffin crowd here tonight?

That's where Leacey got screeched in.  To be an official Screecher you have to be visiting Newfoundland for the first time, prove you can speak like a Newfoundlander, drink like a Newfoundlander, and kiss the almighty Cod. She was a real sport about it! 

Who knows, maybe you'll even see us hanging out there.  After all...it's official that we're moving back next summer! Though we may be too busy to hang out at the club!

It's unclear where in the greater Placentia area you will find us, but just look for our RV or drop me a line on the blog if you want a tour of the area!  And you know how we love an adventure, if you're continuing on across the island we just may join you!

St John's Great Fire Mural

wise words, but education is important

Chicago isn't the only major city with a great fire story to tell, the Great Fire of 1892 is depicted on McBride's Hill and is 21 metres long. It was completed in 2017 by artist Julie Lewis.  If you click on  the link there is even a video showing her at work.

The Great Fire started on the evening of July 8, 1892, in a stable at the top of Carter's Hill, on the north side of the St. John's harbour.  Within just a few hours, flames were barrelling down the hill, destroying homes, stores and warehouses. Hot dry weather conditions and strong winds further compounded the situation. By morning 11,000 people were homeless and left with little more than the clothes they were wearing when they fled their burning homes. Only 3 people died as a result of the disaster but more than two thirds of St. John's was in ruins.

Although a 113,650-litre water tank was located just metres from the stable, it was almost empty because firefighters had forgotten to refill it after a recent practice drill. The fire prompted government officials to restructure the city's fire departments and to provide firefighters with better training and equipment.

Here's a video on YouTube about the fire.  I especially like the bit at the end talking about St. John's after the rebuilding and the artchitectural story that lives on.

Linking up to Monday Mural.

Tarrying in Tomahawk

Tarrying? You are reading that right, sometimes a girl needs a new verb.  I've dawdled and lollygagged quite a bit, it's time to throw in a new word that means the same thing.

Is Jewel thinking: What is wrong with this guy?

After finishing up early with appointments in Merrill and Tomahawk on Wednesday I took an hour walk, then went back to the camper Wayne had parked at a friend's house in Tomahawk and took the kitties out for a stroll.

What was that noise?

They really like exploring Howard's yard every time they come visit, and this time Jewel even ran down the hill to the little creek for a look around.  No tarrying for her!

Here she comes!

In the morning we woke to temperatures below 50F and drizzling rain so it was off to Rhinelander to run errands.  We stopped at the Golden Harvest market where we dilly-dallied while admiring their selection of natural and organic items.  

In addition to a fine selection of gourds and pumpkins they had the largest heads of cauliflower I think I've ever seen.  And when I got to the register I found Seattle Chocolates for the first time since I left Seattle - Score!

When we got back to the cabin Wayne and Howard had a light fixture in need of repair, so I took off for a hike on the Ice Age Trail.

 Whenever I'm in the Merrill and Tomahawk area I seem to be in a rush and never found time to investigate the Harrison Hills Segment.

 The entire segment is 14.4 miles, so to complete that I would have needed to start much earlier in the day, not to mention have a car waiting at the other end!

Instead I lingered when the mood struck, finding fall fungi along the way.

Fall color is at about 25% in northern Wisconsin at the moment, next weekend it should be glorious.

Red Oak leaf on fallen birch tree

This segment winds past little lakes that are home to beaver and when I approached one of the lakes for a look three different groups of ducks took wing, startling me as much as I startled them.

What took me an hour going in only took half an hour going back out, giving me a round trip hike up and down the little ridges above the marshes of about 3 miles.  So, only 13 miles of that segment to explore another time...

I wasn't the only one dawdling, back at the cabin the rest of the gang had arrived hours ago to ride their "machines" but there they stood in the driveway talking instead.

And I know I've tarried at getting out those last few Newfoundland posts, but I've got to come clean and tell you that I have San Diego ones not done also!  I guess I better quit monkeying around and get to work!