Blog's Back!

A2 just got too frickin cold this winter and all outdoor photography had to stop. Sorry. I issued my own damn winter weather advisory.

But yesterday topped 55 degrees so I'm back in the game. I've got some new shots, some old ones, some cheap shots some good ones. I'll let you decide which is which.

The unbelievable grayness of the end of a Michigan winter continues. I like it when it snows. Or the day after it snows when it is invariably sunny. But on those day(s) leading up to the snow? It's just this hanging, heavy, gray, constipated sky.

Christmas Tree

Post Snow Storm Cemetary

Ann Arbor - Plymouth Road.

Snow Storm Trees

The day after the storm Ann Arbor schools enjoyed a snow day. The rest of us hit the roads. This is my drive down Ann Arbor-Plymouth Road.

Funding Public Art

As seen in The Ann Arbor News, the city of Ann Arbor has adopted a 1% rule to fund public art, officially the "Percent for Art Ordinance." It means that 1% of large capital building projects will be spent on art -- public art at that! Toronto has had this 1% rule for years now and it truly shows. Almost every new building has outdoor sculpture erected with it. And because architects have to make room for the art, the space outside of the buildings is often more attractive than the average straight sidewalk and grass. Not only is it funding for the arts -- and lets face it, there's a "starving artist" stereotype for a reason -- but it is a means to making Ann Arbor even more dynamic and attractive.

Read more at "Public Art Elevates Cities" on mlive.com.

Giant Purple Stiletto

Discovered in the alley between Potbelly's and the downtown Border's on E. Liberty was a two foot high purple stiletto. That is one big, purple shoe.
I understand that the stencil is the new weapon of choice for urban guerrilla art, and that attacking unsuspecting doors in alleys is no stretch of the imagination ... but a large, purple stiletto? Usually there’s something of an political, counter-culture or art theme to the stencils I’ve seen. If I stretch it the shoe could be feminist, or maybe a drag reference? Maybe I’m not supposed to think that hard about it. Maybe it is just a very nice stencil of a shoe.

What to do with Thanksgiving leftovers

Just when we thought we'd seen it all, the great leaf-grilling craze of '07 took off. Mmm.

Recliner

In honor of football season, I present the house of the undergraduate. Ah, there's nothing like furniture on the front lawn to let you know it's fall.

Stop War, Have a

Visible at State and E. Ann. The word "WAR" has been stenciled in underneath the stop. However, I'm not as certain what was used to create the words "HAVE A" above 3-WAY.

Either someone felt particularly strong about this sentiment and wrote it on both the North and South stop signs, or else they just happened to have the same pen in their pocket when leaving home and walking back.

Lit on Fire

In the alley behind Borders, a ten foot long message to all of us: at least this can't be lit on fire. This intrigued me, particularly considering it was a spray painted message written on wood; both substances, last I checked, were flamable. I wondered which question I should be asking. If I should be wondering about it as a message of salvation, desperation, a chance to look on the bright side? Or if I should have been asking what else has been lit on fire that makes this important that it can't burn?

Goddess of the Traffic Signals

Yes, that writing along the top does really say "The Goddess of Traffic Signals." Who knew that the original people in this part of the world would birth the Goddess of Traffic Signals and give her a home at State and E Liberty, Ann Arbor?

Skate Here

Crosswalk on State St. just south of N University telling you to 'Skate Here' ... only when you have the signal of course.