Ada

Rainy Day at Star Books By Stevo

Steve sent me this photo he took of Ada today enjoying the rain, some milk, and a pastry. No doubt she was enjoying her time with her parents, as well. She is so beautiful and she looks radiantly happy in this photo. I need to get to Memphis sometime this year. Our little Ada is growing up much too quickly...

Last Night in Norfolk

Bill, Letha, and Lauren by Finijo

The last night in Norfolk a dinner cruise on the Spirit of Norfolk was arranged. I managed to luck into free tickets, but nobody on my team was interested in going, so I gave my extra ticket to Letha. After a comedy in errors she managed to board the boat just before it headed out to sea. The entertainment for the evening included singing waitstaff who are quite talented and a DJ who plays all of the music that people of a certain age like to hear when they are in the mood to party. I spent all of my time after dinner out on the deck taking photographs of the bay.

View From Inside by Finijo

The views of the harbor and the bay were gorgeous. Looking out through the picture windows as we headed out to see made the vista seem like big screen televisions. I was pleased to realize that I have not developed sea sickness as I have gotten older. I never had it as a child, but it has been a long time since I have been out on the ocean. It felt good to be back on Chesapeake Bay.

Nauticus Naval Museum by Finijo

The harbor was beautiful from any angle, so I had a lot of fun taking photographs of the journey. We used to fish in Chesapeake Bay when I was a child, so the smells and feel of the ocean breeze felt familiar and soothing. The air was about the same temperature as my skin making the wind feel like a caress. The sunset was in purple hues as I remembered from so many years ago. In Texas the sun sets in red, orange, and pink, but in Virginia the sunsets seem to be in violet, lilac, and indigo and a hundred other shades of purple and blue.

Tall Ship by Finijo

Norfolk was preparing for Harbor Fest just as I was preparing to return to Texas. I am sorry that I will miss the festivities, maybe I will plan to return for that festival someday. I got to see several tall ships as they came into port for the weekend event, and all along the harbor there were US Navy ships of all kinds. I was amazed at how well they blended with the water and the setting sun, in spite of their hulking mechanical mass. They were quite beautiful, like Monet had painted them into the scene in calming pastels.

As we disembarked from the Spirit of Norfolk for our walk back to the hotel, I noticed a tall ship moored nearby, he Captain Miranda, from Uruguay. I chatted a bit with some of the sailors on the ship and was amazed at how well they spoke English. I Googled the ship and found that it is a research vessel that was originally built in 1930 and has had several incarnations over the last 80 years, but currently serves as a training boat for naval officers and an ambassador to the world for Uruguay. A stunning ship with a worthy mission.

Norfolk - Workshop Day

Winehouse Painting - photo by Finijo

Day three in Norfolk my team and I presented our workshop to a smaller than expected crowd. The economy took its toll on the conference this year and the overall turnout was diminished. We did a good job and even had some fun with it, so I think it was a success.

SE Dinner at the Winehouse by Finijo

After our presentation, I went to some workshops and then we all met up for dinner at The Winehouse Bar and Bistro. Joseph put in a brief appearance, and we had the pleasure of meeting his sister, Renee. After the meal we returned to the hotel pretty exhausted. I don't know if it was hormonal or the let down at the end of a stressful day, but I was overtaken by a sudden case of the blues. I just felt really alone, which is not the norm for me. A friend (Saibe) came on line and suggested that I jump on the bed. I took the suggestion and have two observations to share with you. The first is that we are taller and stronger than we were at age 10, so you need to hunch over as you are jumping, because adults can get pretty good air and ceilings haven't gotten any higher over the years. The second observation is that jumping on the bed feels really good - it makes you smile and I highly recommend it to anyone feeling blue.

Norfolk - Day/Night 2

Dusk on Granby St. by Finijo

On my second night in Norfolk, I ventured out with my two new friends, Letha and Lauren, and we made our way down Granby Street in search of a restaurant that had been recommended. I loved the fact that each intersection we came to had a view of the harbor. That is a battleship moored at the end of the street.

Maid In Voyage by Finijo

Norfolk has adopted the mermaid as its city symbol/mascot. All over the city you will find not only the city logo, but also artistic variations on the theme.

Definitely Downtown by Finijo

This mermaid apparently changes hats from time to time. The hat she is wearing now is not the one found on the website that shows all of the mermaids.

Plated Mermaid by Finijo

This one looks like an antique because of the patina, but she is in the same style as most of the other mermaids. It reminded me of Houston's Art Cows that can be found all over the city.

Ella Fitzgerald Star by Finijo

Another surprise as I walked through downtown Norfolk was the music walk of fame. Not all of the musicians and singers featured in their own stars are from Norfolk, but all are from Virginia. I was unaware of how much musical talent came out of my home state.

Granby Theater by Finijo

Another thing that struck me as I strolled downtown was how much renovation is taking place. I had been warned before my trip that Norfolk was not worth the trip, but I think the city's efforts to revitalize Norfolk are really paying off. This is a photo of the Granby Theater next to a derelict building, that will likely be restored and put to good use, if what I saw in the rest of the city is any indication.

Brick Ads by Finijo

These advertisements were on the side of a building, and I honestly could not tell if they were old ads for businesses no longer in existence or if they were an artistic homage to days gone past. Either way, I found them eye catching.

456 Fish by Finijo

After many blocks of walking and a lot of picture taking, we finally made it to 456 Fish. The atmosphere was great, quiet enough to hear each other when we spoke, but also very warm and inviting. We enjoyed our meals quite a bit, too.

Arrival in Norfolk

Marriott Waterside Bed by Finijo

After arriving at the Marriott Waterside in Norfolk, VA, I found the most wonderful bed waiting for me. This bed is a tie for the most comfortable hotel bed I have ever slept in, which was the Heavenly Bed by Westin. This is the kind of bed you get into and just don't feel like getting out of. I know, this is a lot of praise for a bed, but if you had been there, you would understand.

View from Dinner by Finijo

After being to amped up from caffeine and travel to successfully achieve nap, I decided to go out for dinner. My team had not yet arrived, so I decided to take my camera and my book (Jack Kerouac's On the Road) and set out to find food. In Norfolk, there are not a lot of places open downtown on a Sunday evening, so I settled for Joe's Crab Shack, because it was open and had seating on the deck over looking the water.

Dinner Duck by Finijo

I ordered dinner and started taking a few photos of the restaurant's begging duck when I heard someone calling my name. Two women (Letha and Lauren) I met on the van coming in from the airport were at a nearby table. This was both good news (I would not be eating alone) and bad news, as I had ordered food that I would likely only eat in front of family or close friends - the dreaded steam pot. My reticence at eating a steam pot full of crab legs in front of virtual strangers is two fold. One, I eat more slowly than anyone I know and eating something you have to crack open and remove only slows down the process more. Secondly, the food is really messy and I save my gross eating for the people who have to love me anyway. I guess it worked out, because I finished dinner about the time they finished desert and I was invited to dine with them again the next night.

Whaling Wall #47 by Wyland Foundation - photo by Finijo

I took this shot of “Humpbacks off the Virginia Coast” located on the Dominion Towers 999 Waterside Drive Norfolk, Virginia from the deck outside of the pool at the Marriott Waterside. It is 280 Feet Long x 80 Feet High and dedicated to Jacques Cousteau - August 23rd, 1993. This was the first sighting of a lot of art located around downtown Norfolk. From the research I have done, the mural appears to be going by two different names (hence the two names in my post).

Commercial Street Art

Touch of Red photo by Finijo

I drive past this shop at 2402 Montrose all the time, but never really noticed the artwork on the front door until today. It brings to mind Frida Kahlo. I will have to visit the store to see what's behind the red door someday...

Art Car Cat

Art Car Hairse by Finijo

I found this beautifully modified hearse in a parking lot and thought I would share. The owner obviously likes cats.

Art Car Cat by Finijo

Apparently, this hearse is now advertising hair care in a most eye catching way. I am pretty sure the coiffures are for the living, not the dead.

Imperial Properties

Townhouse 1 by Finijo

I was asked by my friend, Karim ElRaheb, to photograph one of his properties for his business, Imperial Properties.

Townhouse 2 by Finijo

He is in the process of trying to rent out this townhouse and wanted some photographs that showed how beautiful and elegant the space really is.

Townhouse 3 by Finijo

We went through the townhouse room to room and tried to pull out some of the unique characteristics of the property, and I think we did a pretty good job.

Townhouse 4 by Finijo

Imperial Properties offers a boutique real estate service for both the purchase of homes and the rental of apartments and other properties.

Townhouse 5 by Finijo

I've always enjoyed architectural photography, so I am looking forward to doing more work with Karim and perhaps some other real estate agents in Houston.

Erick Gonzalez Mural Update

Erick's Completed Mural by Finijo

I went Sunday to check out the mural and see if could get better photos of it. I was intensely disappointed with my first shoot of this incredible piece of street art. My camera was acting up and most of the shots I took were out of focus. The failure of that shoot and the loss of those photos prompted me to get a new camera. I am much happier with the results I am getting now.

Erick's Roy Head by Finijo

Erick Gonzales the young artist who painted this mural made some changes since I first met him a few weeks age. Jimi Hendrix was replaced with Roy Head, to keep with the theme of Texas Musicians. Click on any of these photos to see more detail. I am amazed at what control Erick has with a can of spray paint.


As I was reshooting the mural, I sensed that there was something going on behind me and when I turned to look, Erick was standing on the train platform with his family. He brought them out to see the finished mural and it was obvious how proud they are of their talented son. He just graduated from Yes College Prep (and acknowledged his school with the big "Y" under Beyonce in the mural).

Erick's Mural Panel I by Finijo

This is the first panel on the left of the installation. it features Lightnin Hopkins. Hopkins was a Texas blues musician in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. He lead quite a fascinating life and influenced many of today's musician.


Erick informed me that the individual paintings will be auctioned off in a few months. The mural covers the front of a building that is under renovations. When it is completed, this mural will be disbanded and he will be asked to do two more murals on the building. He is off to a very promising career, I think.

Erick's Mural Panel II by Finijo

Panel II shows Archie Bell, an R & B musician from the 1960's and 1970's, and Roy Head, a rock and roll/rockabilly musician from the 1960's and 1970's.

Erick's Mural Panel III by Finijo

Panel III features country music star, Mickey Gilley, who still plays at a theater he built in Branson, Missouri. The other half of this panel features Flaco Jimenez, a Tejano musician from San Antonio. His music has won many awards and he won a Grammy as recently as 1990.

Erick's Mural Panel IV by Finijo

The last panel in this musical tribute to Houston features rock musicians ZZ Top , who formed in 1969 and still tour. The other half of this panel features Beyonce, who started with Destiny's Child and who continues to make solo albums and also has a successful acting career.

This Is Houston Mural by Reginald Adams

This Is Houston Plaque by Finijo

This plaque is at the center of the brand new mosaic titled "This Is Houston" on the side of the Hubbard Financial Services building at the corner of Montrose and California. The mural was sponsored by Leadership Houston Class XXVII and The Museum of Cultural Arts, Houston.

This Is Houston Mosaic Mural - photo by Finijo

This is a full shot of the gorgeous mural that will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 9th. This work of art was created to "raise awareness of local diversity in the areas of art, education, the environment, health care, and leadership. The artist responsible for this vibrant addition to a rather plain little section of Montrose is Reginald Adams.

This Is Houston Mosaic Pt. I

This portion depicts oil derricks, wind mills, and the ship channel with Leadership Houston looking over plans, presumably for future development. You can just begin to see the diverse people of Houston on the road leading to the right.

This Is Houston Mosaic Pt. II - photo by Finijo

In this section you can see the windmills, but also Hurricane Ike with the rainbow representing the good that came from that storm. There are also people out walking, using the bicycle lane and walking their dogs.

This Is Houston Mosaic Pt. III - photo by Finijo

This is the center of the mosaic and it includes the Mecom Fountain, the San Jacinto Monument, and the Scurlock Tower in the center. Education is represented through the apple, the blocks, and the chalk board. The arts are represented by the comedy/tragedy masks and the piano keys at the bottom right. The light rail is also depicted, so METRO got a free plug. I like that our parks are also shown through the trees and greenery.

This Is Houston Mosaic Pt. IV - photo by Finijo

In this section, the arts are showcased by the dancers at the top. There are also notes suspended in the top right of this panel . Houston's diversity is shown in the people at the bottom, and the medical center is shown in the EKG line (green) and the stethoscope.

This Is Houston Mosaic Pt. IV - photo by Finijo

In the last section of the mosaic, there are more people and the space shuttle is flying off into space. Each end of the mosaic is bordered by flags from around the world, symbolizing the international make up of Houston's population. I am sure that I am leaving out some of what this wonderful new addition to Houston's public art scene is representing, but you get the gist.

Galveston Gulls

I went to Galveston today on a lark and got some cool pictures with my new camera. I got some interesting video footage of a sea gull feeding frenzy, too. The big surprise was that no heads were showered with gull poo. It was an absolutely gorgeous sunset at the beach.

Munster's House Houston

Munster's House 1 by Finijo

While out and about, Marilyn and I spotted the turret of this house from across the freeway. We decided to try to find the house and see what caught our attention from such a distance.

Munster's House 2 by Finijo

What we found surprised us. There is a house in a regular neighborhood that reminded us at once of the Munster's house and also of the Winchester Mansion. It has an almost abandoned feel from certain angles and but the lawn is well manicured and the home appears to be lived in.

Munster's House 3 by Finijo

It looks like this house is in the process of what will likely be never-ending renovations, and I can't help but wonder if the owner is an architectural visionary or possibly driven by some fear of what will happen if they stop building on to this home.

Munster's House 4 by Finijo

If you are ever on the feeder of 288 going towards the Medical Center and happen to glance across the freeway (away from Midtown), you may catch a glimpse of what must be one of the strangest houses in Houston. If anyone reading this post knows more about the house, let me know - I am really curious.

Jesse Lott and Javier de Villota

After breakfast this morning, David and I decided to check out the exhibit at The Station Museum, two one-man exhibitions, including: Jesse Lott and Javier de Villota. Both artists reside in Houston, but de Villota is from Spain. We got lucky, because the exhibit was extended by a week or so, and we managed to see it, just before it closed.

Jesse Lott: detail of wire sculpture - photo by Finijo

This piece is truly magnificent. She is a little more than life-sized, Amazonian in stature. Using the copper wire for her hair was inspired and she looks as though flames are bursting forth from her head. She gives the impression of being some kind of a warrior goddess ready to either comfort you in her outstretched arms or call forth forces at her will to vanquish the unworthy in her presence.

Jesse Lott: Dragonfly photo by Finijo

I found myself drawn to this delicate dragonfly made from wire and other media. It has a lyric quality, and it seemed almost out of place amidst the gruesome components of the exhibition that I was about to encounter as I walked through the museum.

Jesse Lott: wire sculpture - photo by Finijo

I love this sculpture, it reminds me of Where the Wild Things Are in 3-D. He is monstrous, but also whimsical. I am going to have to make a point to seek out Jesse Lott's exhibitions in the Houston area, and hopefully in other cities, as well. I really enjoyed his work and the fact that he uses found objects and he recycles discarded material in his work.

Javier de Villota: De-Humanization Echo photo by Finijo

At 12 X24 feet this acrylic and mixed media mural takes up the entire wall where it resides. The lighting and scale make it difficult to photograph the work in its entirety, but each piece within this mural makes a statement against man's inhumanity and references ever thing from Darfur and the Killing Fields to 9-11 and the Holocaust. The work is on a grand scale to try and encompass subject matter that is epic.

Javier de Villota: Detail of body on gurney - photo by Finijo

This detail is one of the most stomach turning things I have ever photographed. It is the depiction of the desimated corpse of a man who was killed in the massacre in the market in Sarejevo in 1994. As repulsive as this image is, the artist, Javier de Villota, is using a super realism to show the horror and inhumanity of murder. I had to remind myself that it would be impossible for him to make the scene disgusting enough to give museum visitors a true glimpse into the nightmare of what really happened that day. While I don't want this piece in my home, I applaud de Villota for his unflinching vision.

Javier de Villota: El Mercado de la Muerto photo by Finijo

Instead of showing the tableau in its entirety, I have pulled detail from this piece. The work is very graphic and I think it is difficult to take the whole scene in. I found that I was as drawn to this work as I was repulsed by the violence of it.

The Station Museum decided to reconstruct the extraordinary tableau, El Mercado
de la Muerte, representing the artist’s reaction to the slaughter of civilians
in Sarajevo during the l994 war. Its message about the horror of war is a
universal. This acclaimed work was exhibited in Madrid in 1994. It is a three
dimensional painting in the tradition of Goya’s Disaster’s of War, but it is
more than an expressionist recreation of a tragic event. The exploded,
brilliantly painted corpses are anonymous and serve as a reference to every
bloody event caused by explosive devices, such as, military bombardment or
roadside bombs.

http://www.stationmuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=105&Itemid=31

Southeast Houston Street Art

Mama Fayes Wink - photo by Finijo

A recent visit to Southeast Houston with one of my clients allowed me the opportunity to explore the area. I found that it was a very industrial part of Houston with quite a few bars and truck stops. This bit of art on the side of a bar caught my attention, so I wanted to share it. It looks like a graffiti artist was commissioned by the bar owner to do this work. I wish it was signed, so I could give credit where it is due.

Hallabaloos - photo by Finijo

This is the western themed mural on the front of the saloon/bar Hallabaloos in Southeast Houston. This Tejano bar has been around for many years - in fact, they list themselves as the longest lasting Tejano bar in Houston. According to their website, they are undergoing a remodel. I'd like to see what the inside of the place looks like. I'm not a huge fan of western art, but I think they did a pretty cool job on the front of what would have otherwise been a nondescript, metal building.

Sky Photos

Blind by Sky

I went on a second photo shoot with Sky downtown and she took some amazing shots. I have asked her to post some of her work on line, because I think she's incredibly talented.

High Fashion Cyborg by Sky

Because she has not posted her work, I decided I would devote a blog entry to showing some of what I think is her best work. The first two photos are from a series she took of the Macy's mannequins on Main Street in downtown Houston.

Amoebic Egg by Sky

This is one of several odd sculptures that are downtown. We could not agree on what they represented, but I think Sky captured this one from an excellent angle.

Urban Mask by Sky

This is a shot of a fire hose hook up outside of a building. Sky took several shots, but this one is my favorite, because it reminds me of a gas mask.

Reflective Structure by Sky

This is a shot of the Esperson building reflected off of the building across the street at dusk. I think the image is a little spectral in its slightly distorted shape in blue and black hues.

No Right on Red by Sky

I liked the angle of this shot. She managed to get in the sign, the light (green) and a construction light hanging on the scaffolding over the sidewalk. I added titles to the photos, but Sky may have other titles in mind when she decides to share her talent with the world.