Author Archive
December 31, 2014 by tomdalzell
More murals still
I continue to find and photograph murals. I continue to create mural posts. I continue to acknowledge that most murals do not fit the strict guidelines for Quirky Berkeley. I can live with this contradiction. In about 1979, Lou Silva painted a huge, ecology-themed mural on the west wall of what was the Lucas Bookstore, […]
December 30, 2014 by tomdalzell
The architecture of Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser
Mary Kate Morris cites the work of Austrian Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser (1928-2000) as inspiration for the concentric-ish circles she painted on and above her garage doors. Hundertwasser was many things, including an architect who lived outside and a fair distance away from the box. His architecture is sui generis. And very far out. […]
December 27, 2014 by tomdalzell
Of the sea
Of the sea – this was a name for a post that was instant and obvious. How does that happen, a phrase appearing in the mind, establishing itself as the Right Phrase? I surely don’t know. These photos depict artistic depictions of ocean creatures, real and imagined. Imagined is Oh So Much more fun […]
December 27, 2014 by tomdalzell
Gabby’s Mermaid Postcards
Gabby sent my friend photos of his mermaid postcard collection. He was not yet ready to let it go, but was happy to share the images with us for the post “Of the sea…” and the images of mermaids in Berkeley yards. Before getting to the mermaids, my friend got a short lecture from […]
December 26, 2014 by tomdalzell
Paramount’s Race Records
Paramount Records launched a “race record” series in 1922 – music by and for African-Americans. “Race music” is pretty much what we called rock and roll before white artists started recording the songs of, and in the style of, “race music” and we starting calling it rock and roll. Paramount’s advertisements are wonderful, and […]
December 24, 2014 by tomdalzell
Major Quirky: Art at Scenic and Cedar
Sometime a few years ago I began noticing art appearing outside on the northeast corner of Scenic and Cedar. It started years ago, but I only started noticing it as it grew. First to catch my eye was what, as I learned later, the owners called the Beautiful Lady. She invited the eye up the steps of tiled risers.
December 21, 2014 by tomdalzell
Helly Welly: Quirky Berkeley Personified
I have documentary proof of the greatest known mistake I have made in my two years of Quirky Berkeley. Here it is: On President’s Day, 2013, I walked Dwight Way. I took this photo of 1649 Dwight Way and filed it away as a former corner store for a future post on former corner stores. […]
December 11, 2014 by tomdalzell
ABC of Quirky Berkeley
A is for airplane and alligator 2019 Carleton B is for Buddha, bear, birdhouse, Bulwinkle C is for cat, cow, and chicken 1145-Keith D is for dog, dinosaur, dragon: E is for elephant. F is for free speech and fire hydrants and fish. G is for giraffes and gnomes H is for […]
December 8, 2014 by tomdalzell
Wezelman (1028 Shattuck)
December 7, 2014 by tomdalzell