Twin Cities Murals

Making dead space come alive

2010-08-15T20:03:00.002-05:00

2100 block of Hennepin Ave in Uptown on the former Hollywood Video wall in the Lowry Hill neighborhood spells out "UPTOWN MPLS"

It is tagged "muralmosters@yahoo.com"

Mirror of Korea

2010-08-14T16:13:00.002-05:00

On the wall of Mirror of Korea; Snelling & Englewood StPaul MN

Not quite murals: Emerson School

2010-08-05T19:45:00.002-05:00

W15th & Spruce Pl... These aren't technically murals. I love these colorful blocks of color on the side of the Emerson School.

2600 block of E Franklin Ave

2010-07-10T13:19:00.002-05:00

E Franklin Ave & Seward Neighborhood certainly has a few murals; this one is on the side of a building directly across the street from Zipps Liquor & its own mural.

Articulture, 2009 has a listing of the contributors.

Another liquor related mural

2010-07-10T13:10:00.001-05:00

Side wall of Skol Liquor Store in

www.skolliquors.com/
2500 27th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN

Modern advertising turns old

2010-07-10T12:54:00.002-05:00

Seems like many businesses used to paint advertising on the sides of buildings... seems to be a think of the past; Zipp's Liquor did have this beer advertising on its E Franklin ave side.

Zipp's Liquor
www.zippsliquors.com
2618 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55406-1188

Reflective Mural

2010-07-10T12:26:00.002-05:00

5th Ave S & E Franklin Street Minneapolis

Maybe today isn't the best day to take this photo but normally the ceramic styling of this mural/mosaic on the side of this building (that many see turning on to 35W/94's on-ramp from E Franklin.

2010-07-10T10:43:00.002-05:00

On the side wall of Third Avenue Foods

1905 3rd Avenue South Minneapolis, MN

A tattoo for a wall

2010-07-05T15:38:00.003-05:00

I've driven past this waaayyy to many times not carrying a camera. This upper level of this house/building on E40th & Minnehaha Ave in Minneapolis has a great set of images sprayed onto the wooden planks. It's almost like the building has a tattoo on it. Love it!

Make every wall count

2010-07-05T15:29:00.002-05:00

Happened to be driving down the street from checking out a tattoo shop when I almost drove past this mural located on the side of Deals N Discounts (2815 East Lake Street Minneapolis).

The mural is tagged by http://1thru10arts.com/ so I'm assuming its their crafty work. I enjoyed it for sure. Was a nice treat along Lake St in MPLS.

A neighborhood welcome

2010-07-05T15:16:00.002-05:00

Visual Expressions Graphic
4009 Minnehaha Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55406-3305

Ethiopian Coffee House

2010-07-05T15:02:00.002-05:00

This brightly colored exterior wall brings you in as you drive down Minnehaha Ave ins MPLS.

Selam Coffee
selamcoffee.com
3860 Minnehaha Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55406-3230
(612) 722-2768

Midtown Global Exchange

2009-12-13T12:48:00.003-06:00

Inside the Midtown Global Market building located at 920 East Lake Street is this mural. I grabbed a quick photo while there with some friends after a volleyball game on 10.18.2009.

Lynlake/CARAG Dunn Bros

2009-08-16T19:04:00.003-05:00

Snapped this photo on the way to a celebration event at Bryant Lake Bowl. Across the street is Dunn Bros Coffee. On the side of this 821 W Lake St business is this mural in Minneapolis's CARAG (Calhoun Area Residents Action Group) Neighborhood. Now clearly the sign says Lyn-lake Neighborhood... but I guess that's more of how people recognize the area not the city neighborhood.

Anybody live in this area? what do you all call it?

found again

2009-08-16T18:52:00.003-05:00

Just found these photos I took a while back in the Bryant Neighborhood. It appears they did some work on this wall to avoid it being illegally tagged. Think this was across the street from a Fire Station.

A trip down Chicago Ave

2009-07-25T21:52:00.002-05:00

At the Corner of Chicago Ave & E 34th Street is some sort of school and across the street Southeast Asian Family Services. The side of their building has this mural in the edge of the Powderhorn Neighborhood.

Couldn't help but enjoy the contrast of real flowers and the fake painted butterfly.

Although it was a cloud day this sunburst still lit up the wall.

Drive down Chicago Ave one more block south and find Jakeeno's Pizza & Pasta (3555 Chicago Ave) with this lively mural on their side parking lot wall. The sign on the window said 4-6pm Happy Hour (take note...pizza at happy hour prices???).

Now another note is that it appears to be thin crust pizza... yet its on Chicago Avenue? mmm

murals on bars...

2009-07-25T21:48:00.001-05:00

This mural is spotted while driving past the back/side of the Cardinal Tavern (2920 E 38th St) in the Standish Neighborhood right near the 38th Street Light Rail station.

intermedia arts building

2009-07-25T10:28:00.003-05:00

located at 2822 Lyndale Ave S Minneapolis Intermedia Arts is a " multidisciplinary center dedicated to engaging the power of the arts in addressing social and human issues" The outside of all sides of the building are covered in great ever-changing murals. From what I hear they are also the starting ground for many of the murals in the Lowery Hill East Neighborhood. Some amazing stuff to stop and view on a summers day.

I love the "rules of the game" (statement that this is art and that one should gain permission). Kill your Television.

Which wall do you like the best?

Little Earth of United Tribes

2009-06-16T21:58:00.000-05:00

Founded in 1973 the Little Earth Community Partnership provides urban housing for American Indians populations in Minneapolis MN.

2495 18th Avenue South Minneapolis
Photographed 05.10.2009

The bright sunny day that I stopped to take some photos here I immediately was welcomed by a few people who were happy and proud to talk to me about the persons who had helped in the creation of the murals. Unfortunately nobody there at the time could remember any names. When I called later I was bounced from one person to the next.

Cal Surf

2009-06-06T10:08:00.006-05:00

I the ECCO neighborhood (East Calhoun)... on the way to meet up with someone at Barbette I noticed this mural on the side of Cal Surf located at 1715 W. Lake St. Minneapolis. Knowing that I'm always running early I jumped into the shop to ask about the mural.

The person at the counter was very friendly and happy to engage in a conversation about it. He informed me it was done 2 summers ago in 2007 by about 4-5 people. They were "John G" (John Grider aka broken crows), Eric Inkala, Drew Peterson, and some others. The work, he explained really shows a combination of their trademarks, such as the bathtub man, and some other pieces.

Its hard to get a good full frontal of it because its in a narrow alley on the side of the building. I'm honestly not sure I've seen this one before today because I normally travel east on the one-way W Lake street without looking back.

I'd love to have a big studio apt with this on a full brick wall inside. Wouldn't you?

Many different styles

2009-06-03T17:20:00.008-05:00

So I stand in front of this large mural and I don't see the forest I see the trees. All of the words and the ones that jump right out at me are "brilliant image" I have to say it was just great and it made me smile. That was good because I had just been the down the street in Corcoran where a grumpy guy avoided me and discussion of the neighborhood murals like the plague.

3400 Cedar Ave S Minneapolis
Modern Window Shade Co.
Across the street (technically in the Corcoran Neighborhood) is a gas station building with a similar in style & quote mural. See my post "Quotes from the Sun"

The wall reads:
One day the sun admitted
I am just a shadow
I wish I could show you
the infinite incandescence
that has cast my brilliant image!
When you are lonely or in darkness
the astonishing light
of your own being.
-Hafiz; 14th century Persian Poet

La Poblantia
1623 E Lake Street Minneapolis
Photographed on 05.10.2009
Artist Unknown

Ingebretsen's Scandinavian Gifts
1601 E Lake Street Minneapolis
I've noticed that not too many European-American descendants have murals. Anyone have thoughts on this?

1562 E Lake Street Minneapolis
Appears to be a yougth created work; this intersection had many murals of differing styles. This along a long wall of a business.

1701 E Lake Street Minneapolis
This mural shows the courtyard with few artisans & people around, la escuela (school) an a church in the background. At first I thought... why paint a mundane scene showing little life and excitement but then I reflected that perhaps its showing a down time in the day, time for siesta, reflection, or tranquility.

Laundry & Breakfast

2009-06-02T20:28:00.008-05:00

More from Lowery Hill East Neighborhood
Photographed 05.23.2009

The side & rear of the City Coin Laundry are touched by painted murals. W 27th Street & S Lyndale Avenue Minneapolis
It says "Bottles and Cans, Amanda W, Wooster, OH"

Rear of the Coin City Laundry.

On the rear of Sunnyside Up Cafe‎
2704 Lyndale Avenue S Minneapolis

While waking in the back parking lot of the laundry & breakfast place I saw a reflection of color in a window down the block. I started walking towards it then I saw it was a reflection of a mural. I turn around and BAM a big mural (seen above).

So I was kinda memorized by this wall of ink and I totally forgot to look what the stores were in the front.

Back Ally Surprise

2009-06-02T20:19:00.006-05:00

Back Ally Surprise... yeah it might not exactly sound like a thing you'd desire but after I was following a lead on a mural I spotted another mural then went to park my vehicle to go and view and then surprise in this back ally there was a long line of murals. The Lowery Hill East Neighborhood has a ton.

One of the murals in the ally is tagged ericink.com

Painted on opposite side of ally on garage of 2645 Aldrich Avenue S Minneapolis

Music, Immigration, & Bars... let's have murals!

2009-06-02T19:39:00.002-05:00

The Cedar Riverside community, considered part of Minneapolis' West Bank, is home to a large in number & vibrant immigrant population whom have added not only to the population, to the businesses, and of course the art. Of course the neighborhood is also know for is bars & music venues too!

514 Cedar Ave S Minneapolis
Artist Unknown
Photographed 05.10.2009

Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Ave S Minneapolis
Artist Unknown
Photographed 05.10.2009
I love the fact that on the day I stopped to take this photo that 2 other people were there to take some pictures at the same time :)

The Nomad World Pub
501 Cedar Ave S Minneapolis
Artist Unknown
Photographed 05.10.2009

Loon Grocery

2009-05-31T20:28:00.006-05:00

Loon Grocery - 2501 Lyndale Ave Minneapolis

The back of the store (the longer image here) was recently done by people "up the street at Intermedia Arts" according to the store clerk working at the time. Althought busy with a few
customers he was happy to tell me about it.

The images on the side and front the store appear to be a bit dated and different styling.

The clerk informed me that there are some more murals by the same people at Gringo's Cantina‎ & at the Laundromat up the street... maybe the Bulldog too. Don't worry I followed the leads and will have more soon.
Photographed 05.23.2009; Corner of W25th Street & S Lyndale Avenue Minneapolis

Above: Front of the store

Above: W25th Street Side of the store

Above: Part of the old rear of the store

Above: Rear of the store

Colonial Cleaners

2009-05-30T13:55:00.002-05:00

Located at 3701 Lyndale Ave S Minneapolis Colonial Cleaners is an environmentally friendly launderer

Unsure who painted this mural but I guess they wanted to bring us to a peaceful European styled village in a valley. Photo taken 05.23.2009

Corner of Murals

2009-05-30T13:37:00.003-05:00

W 38th Street & Grand Ave in Minneapolis has an intersection filled with murals.

This mural is done by Artist Tammy Ortegon, the owner of Color Wheel Salon and Gallery. It is on the side of Peter Pan Cleaners (22 W 38th St Minneapolis)
Photographed 05.23.2009

The side of Better Than Ever located at 3800 Grand Ave S helps brighten up the corner with a deep blues & greens.
Photographed 05.23.2009; Artist & Title Unknown

@ the same corner; Photographed 05.23.2009; Artist & Title Unknown

Note that my previous post about Femaya @ Victor's 1959 is also at the same intersection.

Femaya at Victor's 1959

2009-05-30T13:19:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite restaurants in Minneapolis is in the Kingfield neighborhood, Victor's 1959 Café For anyone who has visited this eclectic Cuban restaurant knows that the flare doesn't stop with the food on the plate, nor the decor on the table, walls, employees, it extends out the door (where patrons often wait in a line on the weekends to get to this treat) and to the walls outside.

When I stopped at this location recently I talked with one of the staff who informed me about the one mural painted on the wall outside. The mural, entitled Femaya is an afro-latino painting done in the summer of 2003 by visiting [from Cuba] artist Lydia Aguilera Sanchez.

Femaya (above); Unknown below; both taken on 05.23.2009
3756 Grand Ave S Minneapolis (Grand Avenue S & W 38th Street)

Dare to Dream in Bancroft

2009-05-29T19:08:00.003-05:00

There are 81 neighborhoods in the City of Minneapolis and I'd never heard of Bancroft prior to the time that I took these photos last week. I've driven down its streets but it wasn't until I stepped out of my car to take some photos and talked to some people on the street that I found out more.

The Bancroft Neighborhood Association has aided in some of the murals in the area. Some of them appear to have been created from El Colegio Charter School; a small public high school in Minneapolis that has been serving students in English and Spanish since 2000.

3744 E 38th Street
Dare to Dream, 2008; Greta McLain & El Colegio Charter School students
Photographed on 05.23.2009

An active Corcoran

2009-05-29T17:49:00.002-05:00

With a vibrant population of about 4,000+, access to the light-rail line, and quaint homes the Corcoran Neighborhood has many murals. I've heard about 10 or so; I've seen about 5 and can't wait to explore more soon. The one below is by one of my favorite artists whom I'm proud to have her art hung on my apartment walls.

Artist: Tammy Ortegon, the owner of Color Wheel Salon and Gallery
Photographed 05.23.2009 (while smelling the beef/Juicy Lucys cooking @ Matt's Bar (1 block over)
1832 E 35th Street

Quotes from the Sun

2009-05-29T07:28:00.002-05:00

At Gas Station; Mural was there prior to purchase of the store in April 2009
Cedar Avenue & E 34th Street
Artist & Title Unknown
Photographed 05.23.2009

Even after all this time
the sun never says
to the earth
"you owe me."

Look what happens
with a love like that.
it lights the
whole sky.
-Hafiz

Resource Center of the Americas

2009-05-28T14:40:00.000-05:00

Named after poet Henry Wadsworth the Longfellow neighborhood has both industrial areas and housing. The boundaries are roughly 27th Street E, Hiwatha Ave, 38ths Avenue S, and 34th Street E.

This mosaic mural is on the side of the Resource Center of the Americas building

3019 Minnehaha Ave Minneapolis
Photographed on 05.12.2009 (poor quality)
Artist Unknown

Dead End

2009-05-26T19:57:00.004-05:00

Side of the former Tower Grocery building
Bedford St SE & Prospect Terrace
Photographed on 05.23.2009
Appears to be tagged isaacarvold.com/

This one is a bright spot as you drive past the crest of the hill on University Ave SE heading into St. Paul; I noticed this one a while back but didn't grab a photo until the other day.

Empty Parking Lot

2009-05-25T09:52:00.001-05:00

200 Block Snelling Avenue N St. Paul
Photographed 05.24.2009; Artist(s): Broken Crow & Paint Goggles, 2008; title unknown.

This image is located on the side of a business in an easy to pass by empty parking lot.

The City of St. Paul recognizes 16 "city districts" of which this mural is located in the Merriam Park Lexington Hamline district.

La Poblantia

2009-05-25T09:44:00.000-05:00

Mural on the side of La Poblantia
1623 E Lake Street Minneapolis
Photographed on 05.10.2009; artist & title unknown

I've gone past this store before but not from this direction. This mural displays a life enriched by traditional agriculture.

Keeping Heritage

2009-05-25T09:29:00.001-05:00

When I think of murals in the city of Minneapolis I quickly think of the amazing Central neighborhood. Bright colors naturally splash the sides and fronts to many buildings along the Lake Street corridor.

This image is on the side of a business locate at 14th Avenue S & E Lake Street Minneapolis
Photographed on 05.10.2009, artist & title unknown