Almeda Abandoned

Spanish Village on Almeda by Finijo

I shot some urban decay on Almeda next to the Spanish Village Restaurant. There are several gutted buildings along that road that are very attractive to an urbex with a camera. I only wish I was able to actually get inside the building.

Inside the Walls by Finijo

I was able to get this shot only by standing up on some debris and shooting blindly over the wall. I still can't figure out exactly what I am looking at here. The two staircases mirror each other and are interesting, but I have no idea what this chamber is.

Reflective Decay by Finijo

I had to aim through a crack in the padlocked doors to get this shot. I think it is my favorite of the set. Even in the middle of a roofless, gutted building, art can be found. What looks like graffiti is a message to anyone who ventures inside these old walls - Unity.

Daniel Anguilu

Jungle photo by Finijo

I have been taking a lot of photos of the art around Houston's streets over the last few years, and I have found many great artists. Daniel Anguilu's aerosol murals are some of the best I have seen in Houston. Anguilu started as a graffiti artist, but has moved far beyond that beginning with a style that transcends graffiti and puts him into the realm of a fine artist.

Bridge photo by Finijo

I started to notice his work all over Midtown, Montrose, and the East End, and I am compelled to photograph his work wherever I find it. I am struck by the themes in his work as much as his style of painting. I am fascinated by his juxtaposition of the urban scenes built into the animals he paints.

Bridge by Nouveau photo by Finijo

Anguilu uses angular and organic forms to construct the animals in his aerosol murals. In one video made about him, he mentioned an Aztec influence. All of the elements he uses make his style unique and easy to recognize. I am posting a few of his murals here, but there are many more around the city that I haven't had the chance to shoot - yet.

El Derecha De Vivir En Paz photo by Finijo

While driving in Midtown I found this mural on the side of A & S Automotive Repair. I stopped to take pictures and a mechanic came out to talk to me. He handed me a post card for The Next Door Art Gallery showing Daniel Anguilu and advertising his show on January 21, 2010. I was crestfallen when I realized that I had missed the show by three week.

Survivor photo by Finijo

I don't actually know the name of his murals, but I tried to pull the names off of articles on the Internet or from the captions he sometimes includes in his work. This mural (found on the other side of A & S Automotive Repair) has a breast cancer ribbon and depicts what seems to me to be phoenix. There are links below for articles and video talking about this incredible artist and his work.

http://www.menobodyknows.com/nobodyblog/?p=1480

http://www.houstonpress.com/2000-07-20/news/murals-and-the-mind-police/

http://www.latismo.com/daniel-anguilu.html

Erick Going Going Gonzalez

Mural's Demise by Finijo

I was in Midtown today and my heart sank when I saw what has become of Erick's mural. I knew it was supposed to be temporary, but I had hoped that somehow the owner of the building would have a change of heart. This is a link to a video of the artist that I found when I was trying to make sure I was spelling his last name correctly. The cool thing about it (aside from the positive changes the school had on him) is that the photos of him painting and the photos of the mural in the video are all my work. Erick told me he wanted them, but I had no idea what he would be doing with them. I am pleased with how they were used, but wish he had let me know :) .

Armory Art

Houston Armory by Finijo

The Houston Armory is slated to become the Buffalo Soldiers Museum. I am glad that the City of Houston has found a way to reuse this building, instead of just letting it fade away into oblivion, as so often happens.

Armory Detail by Finijo

I love the relief details on the building. Embellishments like these are just not done anymore, and they add so much to the beauty of the building. The remodel is supposed to be done using green building principles. I know the ribbon cutting ceremony was about a year ago, so I hope they get started on construction soon.

Back of the Armory by Finijo

The back of the Armory has been decorated a little more recently. I know it will all disappear when the remodeling is complete and the museum opens, but I enjoyed the splash of color on such a dull surface on such a dreary day.

Armory Art Detail by Finijo

Upon closer inspection I found some wheat pasting in addition to the spray paint work. The face I love so much by Eyesore, and a fragment of Dual left behind.