Saturday, March 01, 2008

DP Theme Day: Graffiti Or Street Mural

Face To Face With The World - a mural on the back wall of Elsinore Theater in Salem Oregon

For today's theme day I kind of went out of bounds -- city bounds, that is -- to get the photo. It was taken in nearby Salem, and I thought it not only appropriate for the theme day, but it's also a nice way to wrap up my little tour of Salem (see my previous six posts for more). I had already posted photos of pretty much all the public artwork here in Stayton, and we don't get much in the way of graffiti.

Frankly, this mural is awesome. It lives on the back of the historic Elsinore Theater, and it's one of the things I think of when I think of Salem.

From left to right, the figures in the mural are Charlie Chaplin (and a pooch), Theda Bara as Cleopatra, Marlene Dietrich, and WC Fields. It was painted in 1984 by James Mattingly, who was an art professor at what is now Western Oregon University (at the time it was Western Oregon State College). It was paid for by sponsorships and donations.

It must have been quite an undertaking to paint a mural of that scale. I wish I could have taken a photo of it straight on, but there is part of a bank in the way. Silly bank.

I also took some detail shots of the mural... click on the thumbnails below to see bigger versions of the photos:

Man And Dog   Allure   And A Flower On The Lapel

Many other city daily photo blogs are participating in today's theme day. Check 'em out below:

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Detroit (MI), USA by Taittems, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Jsaltao, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montréal, Canada by Douber, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiIteanu, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK by Cassie & Chris, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Radonvilliers, France by Deslilas, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation by Lark, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Terre Haute (IN), USA by Zann, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Wrocław, Poland by Loompi, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

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Friday, February 29, 2008

The Glamour Of Show Business

The Glamor Of Show Business - the back stage door at the Elsinore Theater in Salem Oregon

Today's the next to last day of our little tour of nearby Salem. This photo is something of a precursor to tomorrow's city daily photo theme day. It's a back door of the building where I took the theme picture. If you could look directly above this door, you'd see my theme day photo.

I'm not going to say what it is yet, because to some, that might be a spoiler as to what my theme day photo will be. Of course, some may guess, anyway. I can't imagine there are many doors like this in Salem.

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

State Capitol With Trees In Bloom

The Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon

Guest photographer Moe sent me this beautiful photo he took a few years ago of the Oregon State Capitol Building with the trees in full bloom. I thought it a lovely image to include in our little Salem tour. It's a nice reminder that spring blooms are just around the corner.

Thanks, Moe, for showing us something most of us probably don't see every day. :)

Photo is copyright © Moe. All rights reserved. Do not copy or reproduce in any way without permission of photographer.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Salem First United Methodist Church

Salem First United Methodist Church in Salem Oregon

Feeling Inspired - the steeple of the Salem First United Methodist Church in Salem OregonIt's day four of our mini-tour of nearby Salem. Today's photo is of the church where both my maternal grandparents and aunt and uncle both were married many years ago.

My grandparents married there in the 1920's. My aunt and uncle married there in the 1950's, on my grandparents' 25th wedding anniversary. I wasn't able to go inside the day I was there. Maybe someday.

For more information about the church vist their web site.

Other stops on the Salem tour:

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park in Salem Oregon

Sunlight On Water - a pier on the Willamtte River in Salem OregonContinuing our mini-tour of nearby Salem (see also: outside and inside the state capitol building), today's photos are of the 23 acre Riverfront Park along the Willamette River. The park is a work in progress, and has a variety of awesome features -- a carousel, pavilion, playground, amphitheater, the Eco Earth Globe, and the Willamette Queen, and the AC Gilbert House.... and probably other stuff I've missed.

My friend Steve and I visited part of the park -- the carousel, the Eco Globe, and the the pier where the Willamette Queen is docked. We weren't able to go inside the Queen, since it was closed. The photo at right shows part of the pier.

Eco Earth Globe:

Eco Earth Globe at Riverfront Park in Salem Oregon

The Eco Earth Globe (click on the thumbnail above to see a bigger version) was created out of a large pressurized tank once used by a paper mill. It now is positive representation of our planet, depicting the various cultures all over the word.

Riverfront Carousel:

A Race I Can't Win - carousel horses at Riverfront Park in Salem Oregon   A Mask To Hide Her Beauty - Lady Camoolot - carousel cow at Riverfront Park in Salem Oregon   A Race I Can't Win - carousel horses at Riverfront Park in Salem Oregon

The carousel was built by volunteers who spent many months giving their time to this beautiful creation. The cow (pictured above) stands in the entryway. Her name is Lady Camoolot.

The Pier And Willamette Queen:

Willamette Queen on the Willamette River at Riverfront Park in Salem Oregon   Tempt Me To Drift Away - the Willamette River at Riverfront Park in Salem Oregon   It All Comes Down To This - a ramp at Riverfront Park in Salem Oregon   Something Along Those Lines - the pier at Riverfront Park in Salem Oregon

According to the Willamette Queen web site, the sternwheeler was designed as a scaled down likeness of the former Mississippi and Yukon Territory Riverboats with paddles that really do propel her.

Related links:
Tomorrow I'll show you a church in Salem where my grandparents and my aunt and uncle were married.

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Monday, February 25, 2008

Inside The State Capitol Building

Capitol Dome at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon

Everything In Moderation - the front windows of the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem OregonYesterday I posted some photos of the Oregon State Capitol Building and surrounding grounds. Today's photos are from the inside the rotunda, which is the main entrance to the building.

The photo above is the Capitol dome. My friend Steve actually set up the shot for me and let me use his tripod. The only thing I did was press the shutter. :)

The photo at right shows the front windows looking out towards the beautiful cloud-filled sky. The photos below show various things -- the bronze Oregon state seal, some text engraved above a doorway, part of the murals on the curved walls, and the steps leading up to the state senate chambers. Click on each photo to see bigger versions.

I also took photos from the gallery areas in the house and senate, but they all... well, they suck. The lighting inside the building really isn't conducive to happy picture taking unless one has better lenses than I possess. Thank goodness for the big windows in the rotunda area for the photos you see here.

Tomorrow I'll post some photos from Riverfront Park along the banks of the Willamette River in Salem.

On Guard - a police officer walks by the state seal at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon   In The Souls Of Its Citizens - engraved lettering at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon   The Union - part of the state seal at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon
Wagon Train Migration - a mural in the rotunda at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon   Dr. McLoughlin And The Women - a mural in the rotunda at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon   Steps To The Senate - stairs leading up to the senate chambers at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon

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Sunday, February 24, 2008

Oregon State Capitol Building

Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon

Contained Within These Walls - a side view of the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem OregonI took a photography trip to nearby Salem on Friday, and thought I'd spend the next few days sharing the sights.

First up is the Oregon State Capitol Building. I'd never been there despite living so close, so I was a happy camper to finally make a visit. I have my friend Steve to thank for that.

First up is the outside of the building and grounds. The photo above shows the front of the building, while the photo at right is a side view. Below you'll find a few more photos. Click on them to see the bigger versions.

The photo on bottom right is of the Oregon Pioneer, a hollow bronze statue covered in gold leaf. I remember back in fourth grade (1984) being part of a state-wide school effort to help raise money for the periodic re-guilding of the statue. We brought in pennies. It was cool.

For more information about the capitol:
Tomorrow I'll take you inside the building to see some beautiful architecture and people. Click below for more views of the capitol and the grounds (click on each thumbnail to see bigger versions):

State Of Oregon - the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon   The Circuit Rider - a statue at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon   Gold Man - Oregon Pioneer on the top of the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Oregon

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