street art in houston heights

2:12

I’m captivated by the street art I discover on the walls throughout Houston. Some are there and then they are painted over by some beige blob of paint to keep the color and messages hidden. This one above seems commissioned because there is a suitcase that sits in front of it daily. It’s gorgeous and makes me smile every time I drive by.

Here are some of the newer ones I’ve spotted. Some are sprayed, some stamped, some stenciled and then filled in with pen and the most intricate are pasted on. I think being one of these sneaky creators of anonymous art sharing is going on my bucket list.

on shephard near w 14th

Quasar

LiAR

this one seems like a stamp

red zebra sprayed

feed that which gives you life in every moment

Santa Fe is a pretty magical place in itself but amongst all those little adobe houses all molded together with mud there are a few enchanted spaces that exist for sacred gatherings, soft cultivation, and simple being. In these spaces time seems to stand still, perhaps they only exist in an alternative time space continuum that exists parallel to ours because when you enter with aligned energy it is as if you are stepping into another country and time period.

One such place has beenĀ cultivated by my dear friend Gregorio. The house on the corner of Alto street doesn’t seem to be anything too special until you sit for a while, soak in the energy, sip some tea and take inĀ the array of collections from around the world. It’s not just the house or its caretaker, Gregory, but all the beings who orbit in this world.

After ten years of tending and caring for this tiny space with expansive heart Gregory is moving on and into a new space to cultivate, curate and unravel into new adventures.

” .Ā . .Ā from the old worn chair of my grandfather with a tear in my eye, and a smile upon my heart.”Ā Ā Gregory reminds us, “to feed that which gives you life in every moment, mostly by remembering that something is constantly dying to keep you alive, every day.”

Here are some photos of his enchanted space.

The Apricot Tree

Gregorio

Django

chop wood

remembering Megan

Major Megan McClung

Today I am remembering my fallen friends, Maj Megan McClung, SSGT Mike Dickenson, Maj Mike Martino, andĀ Cpl Salem Bachar. . This is part of my daily struggle – I don’t believe in war yet I mourn all those who we have lost in these conflicts. So today I take a moment or two to remember everyone who has lost their life, limbs, brain usage, and soul.

My prayer is that we will wake up and come home. Please bring us home.

let us not forget

I took the photo belowĀ for a book cover I was thinking about writing. The beautiful woman is Capt Julienne Shin. Perhaps I will write it someday.Ā The photo to me

depicts the fullness or whole-ness of many who serve.

More meditation is always a good idea.

In war I saw the devastation and cruelity of humanity at it’s worst and I also witnessed exhileration and tears of gratitude for the expansive love and generosity of the human spirit. In this space of great divided possibilitiesĀ I captured many insightsĀ  in the journals I kept. I thought about calling the book, “Slaying the Dragon.”

We’ll see . . . for now it feelsĀ too painful and stressful to dive into.

Slaying the Dragon

Slaying Dragons

sitting on my shelf

but does it sing?

I have a shelf in my kitchen/great room area where I set the painting I’m working on. I walk by it, sit in front of it, ignore it and sometimes drink coffee looking at it. It’s a chance for the painting to grow further under my skin and point out the little details it needs to be complete (well as complete as it will be).

Here are some more paintings I’ve been working on.

when whales fly

walk away

He loves me, he loves me not

Om Shanti

Now I know

these flowers outside my door

I got out my lensbaby yesterday to play around with a bit. It’s so fun and I love the blurry, fuzzy effect. I also just realized it make a great macrolens – just not so steady.Ā  I have had this lens for years now and I feel like I’m just now understanding how to get the best exposure, but don’t ask me, it’s truly an intuitive process for me. I’m not a techy and don’t pretend to be.
I can’t stop photographing sunflowers, blooming, dying, stretching, glowing, decaying, ever changing each hour and each day as the sun moves across the sky. We started these with seeds and now look at them. I’ve never really photographed flowers before but these babies are infinitely intriguing to me.

Michelle Obama was on Disney yesterday in a commercial teaching kids that they can grow their own vegtables out of any old carton or bag and give themselves great nutrition. I found this inspiring and so forward thinking. Wouldn’t it be cool if everyone in our neighborhoods grew their own little urban gardens and shared the booty with each other!! We’ve got pumpkin plants to share and tons of tomatoes of all kinds, basil, stevia, rosemary . . .

Ā 

The Art Car Parade

The Monster We Rode In

At my first Art Car Parade in 2010, I remember thinking how cool it would be to have my own art car and I began the planning of my Gypsy Love Caravan Art Car. Of course, as the year went along I got caught up in my thousand other projects and never got around to buying an old car, learning how to weld, finding a garage to work out of, buying some tools, drawing up designs, and so on.

So Cool!

So this year we were going as spectators again but just by chance from a connection of a connection and good timing we were persistantly asked to ride in the back of one of the art cars. We were a little reluctant at first but we had so much fun, smiling and waving to the crowds. The way I see it we are only a year or two away from actually having our own car in the parade. How fun, serendipitious and well fun!

The best part was watching everyone’s expressions and reactions to the cars was priceless,Ā my hubby agrees.Ā Lately I’ve been in awe of all different ways people physically look and also how they express their inner selves in dress and hair and what nots. :o)

Enjoy the photos!Ā  Katariina

Raine with Monster