Butterfly Tree Maiden

Smoking – Yes; it’s on the side of the Midtown Direct Smoke Shop at 133 E 13th Avenue.  It’s signed S. Lopez – Caps Rawk ’11 and gives this web address “ikeepmoving.com”.  Steve Lopez is the artist who worked with a group of local, at-risk youth, to create the huge Emerald City Mural behind the WOW Hall on Lincoln Street that I bloged about back in July.  Lopez is an alumnus of LCC and the U of O.

Wing detail from the mural.  I really like the idea of a tree sprouting butterfly wings.  

This is a good video of the mural artists in action.

I’m glad they put a colorful mural on the side because the front looks like a jail with all those bars.  It’s amazing how a small quantity of paint can have such a transformative effect.

55 West Broadway

If you peek down the ally on the east side of 55 West Broadway you see a very unusual mural. 

It’s an anamorphosis perspective painting, a distorted projection requiring the viewer to occupy a specific vantage point in order to properly see the image. Viewed straight on (perpendicular to the wall) as in the above photo, the subject the subject appears quite distorted.  But viewed at an acute angle as the photo below, the image appears normal.  

 Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1485) is the first person known definitive to use anamorphosis perspective. 

Right nest to 55 Broadway is the fabulous Lazar’s Bazar that sells everything you never knew you ever needed or wanted.  It kind a mash up of a martial arts store, head shop and discount clothing store.  A fun place to check out if you in the area.