Basketball

There's an eye-catching mural on Firestone Blvd. now. An athlete, his body only partially visible, holds a basketball in the palm of his hand. Since this basketball fills much of the building's wall, it certainly grabs your attention.

This building has long been dedicated to sports. For many years, it was the home of Russell's Bike Shop. Now, it's home to Shoe Palace, which sells sports shoes.

Josh welcomed us into the store. And so did the cozy sitting area just inside, where you can relax and rest your weary feet while you try on some new shoes.

The Downey Depot Transportation Center

Across the parking lot from the brick walls lies the Downey Depot Transportation Center. I've posted a close-up of this mural before (Not just any tiled wall), but I wanted to show you the entire building this time.

The center was built at the site of the old Downey train station. (There was an unsuccessful effort at the time to save the old station as a historical building.) You can see a picture of the old station here.

In memory of...

Downey Daily has been posting about painted electrical boxes ever since we spotted the first one by the city library, but I only recently learned more about the program. According to former Downey mayor Mario Guerra, the city implemented the program to paint and beautify the various power boxes throughout the city and later extended it to let organizations, non-profits, and even families sponsor a box.

This box is the second of three boxes sponsored by the Guerra family. It honors fallen Downey Police Officer and Marine Ricky Galvez, who was killed in 2015.

Downey is a giving community

This electrical box is just outside the Mimi's Cafe on Firestone Boulevard. It depicts the many facets of giving that the Assistance League of Downey participates in.

The one I'm most familiar with is the thrift store on Downey Avenue. My wife and I pass by it during our evening walks. We love to see the window displays. They always have a theme and are very creative. Go and check out what's inside sometime, and then support the Assistance League by purchasing something.

We have many posts of the thrift store here.

We have also posted regarding the Assistance League's Casa De Parley Johnson here. The house was designed for Parley Johnson and his wife Gypsy. After her death in 1986, the house was bequeathed to the Assistance League.

Only just begun

The Downey Patriot recently published an account by Downey resident Kathy Perez of a Carpenters tour she took. The tour covered numerous Downey locations that were a part of the Carpenters' lives, such as their family home, their school, and their church. The story reminded me that not too long ago, I spotted this electrical box that is decorated to commemorate Karen and Richard Carpenter and their spot in Downey's history.

Discover Downey's space history

Here's another electrical box work of art that I noticed lately. This one celebrates Downey's space history. It's located, appropriately enough, right around the corner from the Columbia Memorial Space Center, where you can see exhibits related to all of these images.

Railroad crossing

This electrical box, located by a railroad crossing at a busy intersection, shows a "Pacific Electric" railroad car and advertises "Downey All-American City." It's a colorful addition to an otherwise nondescript intersection.

At play

Another painted electrical box, this time sponsored by the Downey Los Amigos Kiwanis.

A sign on the way to the park

On my way to Wilderness Park this afternoon, I spotted this electrical box mural. I'm never sure, unless I actually see the artist at work, whether the mural is new or if I've just now noticed it. This one shows a composite of Downey park scenes on three of the sides.

The fourth side is a painting of the "Welcome to Downey" sign that used to be located on Firestone Boulevard. The sign contains the emblems of various Downey organizations. At the bottom is the "Four Way Test," created by Herbert J. Taylor and later adopted by the Rotary International:
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Sounds like good questions to ask, even if the original sign isn't around anymore.

Only just begun

This electrical box is another example of the Downey logo that you can see almost everywhere these days in downtown Downey. This particular box also celebrates our musical history, with a nod to the Carpenters. "We've Only Just Begun" was one of Karen and Richard Carpenter's first hits, back in 1970.

Printed graffiti

I discovered a new electrical box that the city has had painted. It's on the southeast corner of 2nd Street and Downey Avenue. This one is painted in a retro style. The pictures show scenes of earlier days of downtown Downey. Stop by and peruse the pictures on all five sides. Even the lock is painted to fit where it lies.

But the thing that caught my eye and got me upset was the arrogance of someone to put an advertisement on this piece of art. You can see it in the upper right corner of this photo, on the "D" of Downey. I hope they can peel it off without damaging the artwork.

What do you think? Was it good business to put this advertisement on someone else's artwork?

A more permanent nod

Yesterday I showed you some of the Promenade at Downey marketing slogans that give a nod to our aerospace history. Today's picture shows some of the more permanent acknowledgments of that history.

First is the address. The new street that has been created to access the Promenade is called Apollo Way, after the Apollo space program that built 17 command and service modules here.

Then, these large murals cover several of the buildings that have been completed so far. This mural shows not only our aerospace history, but the borders on each side acknowledge the Downey Studios that used to exist here.

Past and present celebrities

I also was at the dedication of the Downey Doodle-icious mural this past Monday. Lots of speeches from the city counsel and the artists. And great pastries from Porto's Bakery.



But I enjoyed seeing our past mayor, Mario Guerra, who spearheaded the mural's project, and a possible future mayor. She already has that "straight in the eye" look.

Downey Doodle-icious

Today was the official dedication and ribbon cutting for the mural painted on the side of the Porto's Bakery parking structure on Downey Ave. The mural is the work of Don Lamkin, Liz Moran, Hector Beltran, and Jorge Del Toro. Called “Downey Doodle-icious,” the mural is a fun compilation of Downey's past.

The mural pictures El Taco, Taco Bell, Sir Speedy (an original McDonalds), Apollo, along with many other pieces of Downey's history. Betty Porto attended the dedication and provided pastries for those in attendance.

It was fun to see this art officially become such a part of our downtown area and anticipate other pieces that can add to the future story of Downey.

The Downey mural is done

The Doodle-icious mural by Don Lamkin is completed and available for you to peruse. It is located on the Porto's parking structure on Downey Avenue. My wife and I went there several days ago during one of our downtown walks. It is amazing the new things you notice each time you look at the mural.

This football reminds me that all my children went through DJAA sports. It was a great time for the family and community.

You can see more posts about Don Lamkin and the mural by searching on Facebook and Twitter for  #donlamkin, #downeydoodleicious, and #downtowndowney.

Stop by and let your memories come back. Let us know what you saw in the mural.

The Downey art scene - A fine Saturday morning part 3

Just down the street from the farmer's market (see part 2), my walk took me by the Downey Doodle-icious mural and gave me a chance to see how it is progressing. The biggest change I noticed (and the most tedious part of the project, one would think) was the addition of the lines on the sun, which gave it a bright, finished look.

Update: I happened to stop by the mural this past weekend to check in again with artist Don Lamkin and his helpers. Of course there's still a lot of work to be done, but it's amazing how quickly the project is progressing.



And finally, just across the street, I poked my head in at the Stay Gallery, which was hosting selected works from The Art of Rancho, a program at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey. The program provides patients with training by world-renowned artists in adaptive drawing, painting, and photography.

Landscape art

There is some new art on the Downey landscape. I found it on the corner of Paramount Blvd. and 3rd Street, just across the street from the Rives Mansion and just outside of The Downey Brewing Company.

The assignment was to paint something cultural of Downey. This depiction of the music that can be heard in several eating establishments and on the roof of certain parking lots in Downey is a great selection.

This is Candace and Kyle, the artists that captured one cultural aspect of Downey.

Making your mark

Artists always sign their work, and Don Lamkin is no exception. But he's not the only one who has made his mark on the in-progress Downey Doodle-icious mural.

It's rather amazing the amount of thought that goes into protecting a work of this sort, from the drop cloth that has protected the wall from our recent rains, to the use of  high-quality paint that will last for years. In addition, the completed mural will be protected against future graffiti by several coats of tough, clear finish. (Please don't take this as a challenge!)

Meanwhile, for as long as there have been walls, there has been the urge to write on them. Don's friends have felt the urge and made their own marks for Don to find. Stop by and see if you can find them before they are covered up by the completed painting.

Downey Doodle-icious hits the "big screen"

Three years ago, Downey resident Don Lamkin created a collage of famous Downey icons as part of a fundraiser for the Downey Museum of Art.  Entitled "Downey Doodle-icious," it includes places such as the oldest McDonald's and the first Taco Bell, as well as references to the Carpenters and the Apollo space program. Limited edition prints have become quite popular and hang at several places around Downey.

And now, Downey Doodle-icious comes to the big screen—that is, the big wall. Don and a team of helpers have started work on reproducing the painting on a wall of the Porto's Bakery parking structure in downtown Downey.

For lots more information about the project and the artist, see the Downey Patriot article.

Stop by when you can to see the progress and encourage Don and his team.

Bike Downey

The City of Downey wants you to be healthy. Here's a colorful reminder to ride your bike around Downey.

And if you need any help or encouragement, get together with the Downey Bicycle Coalition. Monthly bike rides resume on September 27.

Or come out to the community workshop tomorrow morning. The workshop includes a bicycle master plan update, displays with draft recommendations, and community feedback.