Car Park

This lifelike mural is on the side of a condo building in Burns Square in downtown.   The first time I saw it, I did a double take.   It's approximately 25-30 feet tall and the detail is amazing.  I wish I knew how the artist, a Brazilian named Eduardo Kobra, created it.  Last fall, immediately after the Chalk Festival, a community art campaign was launched called "Going Vertical" and this is part of it.  Pretty cool.  In other news, Sarasota Daily Photo will celebrate its 2nd anniversary very soon.  So, the staff whipped up a poll to find out what you'd like to see on the big day.  Look to the right (just below the banner) to find the poll...and vote!

Less Talk....More Chalk

As promised, I'm posting more photos from the Sarasota Chalk Festival. This is Pineapple Avenue, where most of the artists were performing their magic on the pavement. Including...

...this very cool 3-D piece of a boy poking up from a tall bookshelf, which probably was my favorite. I believe it was created by a team from Brazil. It really popped off the pavement. And, then, there were pieces with incredible detail...

...animal as well as...

...human. Some made you feel like...

...you could walk on water. And, I continually had the feeling...

...I was being watched. It was another great event. 24 hours after it concluded, the street sweepers came through, and that was it --- until next year! After posting nine photos in the past two days, SDP's editor in chief is giving me a few days off. See you next week!

Leftovers

This is what you'll drive over if you cruise down Pineapple Avenue in Burns Square. Even though the Sarasota Chalk Festival was held here nearly seven months ago, and we've had plenty of hard rain, this piece is still left over. (Click here to see what it looked like the night it was finished.) It was created by a German street artist named Edgar Mueller who is known around the world for creating 3-D pieces. This piece showed a beast bursting through the pavement. It's amazing how much of it you can still see. The artist must have applied some kind of sealer for it to last this long, don't you think?

Colorful Condos

These colorful condos were constructed in Burns Square just before the construction industry tanked in Florida.  I find them appealing not only because of the colors but the height step backs and roof architecture, which avoid the 'ol box building look.

Scootin' Nowhere

This scene really doesn't strike me as Sarasota...and yet it is!  I spotted this Vespa parked outside a little clothing store which has apartments above.  And, based on the inch of dust coating the seat, I think it's been sitting here in Burns Square for awhile.

Lady Herald

This mural just pops off the old Herald Building in Burns Square.  The building dates back to the 1920's and at one point housed the Sarasota Herald newspaper.  After a significant renovation several years ago, it's now home to many shops, some apartments and a restaurant.  One of the things I really like is that it's triangular.  To see the building from a different vantage point click here.

Tube Dude

I encountered this clever bit of art situated in Burns Square near downtown advertising a spa.  A local artist is creating these metal figures which he calls Tube Dudes.  (With the turquoise high heels and flipped hair, I'm supposing this is a dudette.)  You can read more about it on the Tube Dude website.

Step Right In

I did a double take when I saw this image in the Burns Square neighborhood in Sarasota.  It's one of the most realistic murals I've seen recently.  I'm not sure when it showed up, but it was done by a guy named Skip Dyrda.  His website says he's a local artist who has been commissioned to produce several public art pieces throughout Florida, plus he's created 14 original pieces for the owner of the Publix grocery store chain based here in the Sunshine State.

Old Herald Building Revealed

Here's the wide shot of the old Herald Building, which I promised last week after posting this close-up.  The building dates back to the 1920's and is located in the Burns Square district of downtown Sarasota.   And, I discovered it's rather challenging to photograph, particularly since it's at the apex of an intersection surrounded by street signs, curbs, shrubs and tables.  (And, the sun didn't help me either.)  So...

...here's another view.  This angle is from Pineapple Ave.  The close-up actually was taken from the other side of the building.  It has such history and character  --  I'm so glad it was preserved.  By the way, the yellow umbrellas are outside the Citrus Cafe, a popular lunch spot.

Old Herald Building

This is the kind of building that attracts my eye with its old, quaint facade and surrounding vegetation.  It's the historic Herald Square Building, situated in the Burns Square neighborhood in downtown Sarasota.  It's one of my favorite buildings in Sarasota not only because of the architecture, which dates back to the 1920's, but because it sits right at the apex of Orange Ave. and Pineapple Ave.  (Triangular buildings are eye catching to me.  At some point, I'll have to post a wide shot of the front of the building.)   An assortment of boutiques and a popular cafe are now located in the building.