Art on the Vine at Mari's

Two new artists were featured at Mari's Wine bar tonight. The artist of this selection, Jose Lopes, explains to Downey Arts Coalition that his work has been influenced by a mix of his fascination with pre-Columbian artifacts and the influence of traditional Mexican mural art.

Death seems to hold a great preoccupation in his native culture and his work reflects it. There was a dark sense to each of his works.

"The viewer can, when presented with the image, find in the shadows his own demons and have them breed with mine to create a third form of reality. As a result, my nagging demons and angels commune with the observers’ own creatures spawning a world that is no longer mine but an addition of both artist and spectator’s subconscious minds.” Jose Lopes - DAC.

An explosion of color

I must confess that I'm not the most observant fish in the sea. So it shouldn't come as a surprise to me that something that I noticed for the first time a couple of weeks ago at a local McDonald's turns out to be a trend that started at least a year ago.

I'm talking about neon-colored rims on bikes. Once I noticed the first one, I started seeing them all over. Neon shades of green, orange, yellow, pink—you name it, they're out there.

When did you start noticing them?

Goodbye summer

Although it is still quite hot outside, I feel like the sun is setting on summer. Fewer people are at the beaches now, ice cream places are closing down earlier (except in our house!), and the neighborhood kids are going to bed earlier for school the next day. However much I love and crave change, the time that is slipping by reminds me that I can't hold onto it any more than I can the waves on the beach.

What we don't see

In class today, my professor spent a long time lecturing us on the importance of looking around us. The small things that we pass by every day. We miss details that someone once took the time to create. This truck pulled up beside me at a red light after class and I saw the little drawing of a hand holding the wrench. I don't think I would have caught it without the lecture a few hours before.

Vessels of clay

I appreciate the variety of "yard art" we have in Downey. This is a wall in our neighborhood that has been decorated in pottery. I think it rocks!

Drought-tolerant beauty

A couple of months ago, we wrote about a volunteer effort to spruce up the landscaping at Furman Park with drought-tolerant plants.

Now, with a couple month's growth and the golden light from the setting sun, it's a beautiful sight.

You've been flocked

In a new spin to fundraising, you can now arrange to have your friends' houses "flocked"—held hostage by a flock of pink flamingos.

The flamingos arrive when no one is looking, along with a note on how they can be removed. The removal fee is $50. I suspect you also have to pay when you arrange the flocking. And while you're at it, you might as well buy the optional insurance (another $25) that will ensure that you are not flocked in return.

All proceeds from all this flocking go to the various charitable projects that are supported by Soroptimist International of Downey.

Everybody needs milk

Okay, so I was in the moo-d for more yard art.

I found cows "grazing" in someone's front yard. I don't know if this family used to work at the local Rockview Dairy or if they just like cows, but I thought they were fun and wanted to share them on DDP.