Makes Sense

In a way, it makes a lot of sense.

On Tap

On the wall of the Goose Island Brewery...

A Matter of Perspective

When I crossed the street the first time, I read this as "She". On my way back across the street I saw it from a different perspective and realized it could just as easily be "345".

Phoenix

Just a short trip down Milwaukee Avenue yielded a number of interesting sights. There's definitely a Milwaukee Avenue Photo Walk Safari in my near future!

Captured

Thank goodness they got that infamous caterpillar and his two nefarious butterfly cohorts behind bars! The streets are safer now.

Made U Look ...

... and made me take a picture. The proof is in the rear view mirror ;)

A Little Nap

Found this little cat taking a nap on west Grand Avenue.

Next Time

Next time there's a Graffiti Theme Day on City Daily Photo, I'll know where to go. Foster Avenue Beach has a number of colorful artistic renderings.

Theme Day: Graffiti

Today is the first of October so that means it is Theme Day on City Daily Photo. October's theme, chosen by vote of all the people in City Daily Photo, is Graffiti.

Now this was a tough theme. Chicago banned sales of spray paint and indelible markers back in 1995. So the only graffiti we get is done by tourists and suburbanites and - let's face it - they save their best stuff for their hometowns. Yeah, you can find the random declarations of "A.B. Loves C.D. 4-ever", gang tags, and other less-than-enthusiastic exclamations done with Sharpie markers, but there's not much in the way of really deep thoughts like "Kilroy was Here" or "Clapton is God".

I have found these three, though.

The one on the top left is an old photo of graffiti that showed up under Lake Shore Drive in late 2008. I found the graffiti shown in the bottom photo in the Lakeview Neighborhood earlier this week. It seems to be Illinois' former governor striking a very Jailhouse Rock Elvis-esque pose. The one at the top right is interesting. I walked over to take a photo of the blank square that was painted over a graffiti portrait of the former governor in a striped prison outfit. (I was going to lament how if you don't get a photo of the graffiti when you see it, it could be painted over quite quickly.) But I found this graffiti portrait instead! It had to have been done this week. I'm pretty sure it is commentary on the mayor's decision not to run again next year.

None of these seemed to have any signature, but they must have been done by the same person. And that person seems to have a unique political sense of humor.

ADDENDUM

OK, after a few commenters mentioned that these looked like the work of Banksy, I did a little more internet searching. Although Banksy was apparently in Chicago in the Spring, I think these may actually be the work of a School of the Art Institute graduate known as CRO (aka Ray Noland). He seems to do a lot of graffiti related to Chicago politics and a number of his works were at the same location of the Golfing Mayor piece.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Gee?!?

If someone was going to go to the trouble of graffiti-ing something, couldn't that person, at least, come up with something more creative than "Gee"?

Gee Whiz!

I Love This Pound

I sense sarcasm.

I never had the pleasure of having to go to it so I don't know. Maybe the Chicago City Car Pound is a wonderful place. Somebody felt strongly enough about it to graffiti this sentiment on one of the steel girders near the pound.

Here's a close-up of the nut/bolt on the steel girder. Rust makes an interesting patchwork design.

Maybe This Week

OK. So last week's Season Opener for the Cubs wasn't a stellar event. Today is their Home Opener and hope springs eternal ...

Looking Down

Sometimes it is interesting to look down.

Clockwise from top left

"No Dumping! Only Rain in the Drain" on Randolph Street
Triangulation Station (not Conjunction Junction) on Lakefront Path
Stay Thirsty on Burton Street
Bike on Ravenswood Avenue

Snack Attack

Graffiti along the pier at Montrose Beach.

Environmental Graffiti

We were over in Eggers Grove recently doing a little birdwatching when I noticed the dolphin graffiti on the huge electric tower. Eggers Grove is a nature area (that was previously a Nike Missile Site) known for good birdwatching opportunities. Maybe that's why even the graffiti has a nature theme.

Peace and Love

A little graffiti on the Riverwalk