From the 60th floor of Cityplex towers in Tulsa early Friday evening.
Category Archives: Tulsa
Graffiti Wednesday
My blog friend Jen has been posting on Wednesdays about graffiti that she finds in and around Oklahoma City. She has spent a considerable amount of time learning all about the subject. She has become quite passionate about the subject and I love reading about her trespassing and running down trains in order to document good examples of graffiti.
When she started posting about graffiti I was a little apprehensive. To me a lot of it is vandalism with paint as opposed to an art form. Although I have to admit many of the practitioners have talent and I wonder why they haven’t been more productive with their talent.
(This isn’t graffiti, it’s a commissioned mural.)
With Jen one gets insight, summaries of research, access to deep thinking, insights, and great photography. Me, you just get snapshots, and a link to Jen!
Above is the worst possible graffiti. On a rock face on my beloved Turkey Mountain in Tulsa. Ughh.
I ventured to the Elm Creek Tunnel discharge into the Arkansas River. I had two purposes. One was to check out the graffiti, the other was to find a geocache hidden there. I find some graffiti, I have yet to find the geocache.
Lets just say that the most of the talent of the graffiti artists here is still rather undeveloped.
They are pretty good sloganeers though. I bet you didn’t know sloganeers was a word. Try it on Words With Friends if you get a chance. Let me know how it works for you.
I’ll have to do some more research to find the vivid examples that my friend Jen finds.
I like this sentiment, but the art needs a little work.
Tulsa’s storm drain system also fascinates me apparently we have a very extensive drainage system that attracts urban explorers from all over. Below is a video of a party that was thrown about a half mile into the tunnel in 2010. Personally, I think those attending the party are nuts. Attending the party in ankle deep water in the dark?
So, I’ll be on the lookout for a lot better examples of graffiti. My dream of unifying graffiti blogging and geocaching is getting off to a rough start.
Perfect Pairings – Tulsa’s Temple Israel
Temple Israel is a reform congregation in midtown Tulsa just off Utica Square. Their synagogue is a beautiful midcentury modern building. Check their web site. They have a virtual walk through of their facility. They also have a very active congregation. Lots and lots going on there.
(Great rules of life, regardless of your beliefs.)
I love their depiction of the Ten Commandments. From their website; “This sculpture of the Ten Commandments by Bernard Frazier shows the commandments superimposed on twin pillars to symbolize “The Pillar of Cloud by Day and the Pillar of Fire by Night.” This concept comes from Exodus, Chapter 13 Verse 21-22:”
(Sorry for the bad photo, me and my camera are having issues)
They have a beautiful Menorah also. I am going to quote again directly from their web site:
“This menorah was designed by Calvin Albert and takes the form of a pedestal with seven unfolding limbs in the form of a Tree of Life (Proverbs 3:17 — “It is a Tree of Life to them that hold fast to it.”). Part of the sculpture shows a circular binding piece symbolizing the universality of God’s presence. The menorah is fueled with a specially prepared oil.“
Even their sign out front is beautiful.
(I’m just hoping the mid-century modern mafia doesn’t hammer me).
Tulsa Home and Garden Show
Friday was my day off so after scraping dropping off the brat SuperPizzaBoy off at school and eating breakfast Sweetie and I headed off to the Tulsa Home and Garden Show at the fairgrounds.
This year features a sand sculpture of the Golden Driller. It looks like he is emerging from the sand.
And I liked this colorful take on Adirondack chairs.
And where did you go to school? Let me see, Oklahoma State University, University of Kansas, University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Texas in Oklahoma.
You don’t think that the economy is economy is doing better? Well look below, they are selling two story tornado shelters here in Oklahoma. I highly recommend these guys if you are looking for shelters and high quality roofing services.
Back in the day when I was courtin Sweetie we played lots of shuffleboard. So we had a trip down memory lane. I still can’t beat her.
This is part of Oklahomas response to Obamacare. In Oklahoma if you get your roofing contractor’s license you also get a medical license! That’s the kind of out of box creative thinking we got going on here in the heartland.
Puppies, I had to drag Sweetie away from this.
I found this kind of creepy. First I couldn’t figure out what they are looking at, second, what is he trying to do with her hand, it looks like some sort of reverse handshake, third, why is he wearing the same dress as she?
Now this is a bad pic below but I’m showing it anyway for a couple reasons. These are fellow gas company guys. They work in the gas distribution end of it delivering gas to our homes, businesses and factories, I work on the other end connecting natural gas wells to the pipeline system and processing the gas to make usable on the other end. Anyway, the man on the right, turned out I worked with him 20 years ago. He recognized me, I didn’t recognize him. The younger guys at work laugh at us older guys. Whenever old gas guys meet we always recite our past employers and there is almost always a connection there somewhere. In case you are wondering,
The second reason I show this bad picture is that the striping on it happens in about a fourth of my pics with my Canon SX120 and has been going on for some time. I’ve changed to a faster memory card, keep fresh batteries in it, reset the camera to the factory settings. Nothing seems to work. I have googled and and searched the Canon support pages. Nothing. So I would appreciate any advice you could give me.
Generally I take two copies of each picture that I really want and I’ve never had two pics that were both bad. I didn’t take a duplicate this time.
Anwaywho, Sweetie and I had a good time at the Home and Garden Show.
Weekend Reflections – Tulsa Garden Center
I was at the Tulsa Garden Center awating my assigned duties from Sweetie for carting stuff from the attic of the Center to the basement while I took this shots.
The Garden Center was originally built by an Tulsa Oilman back in the day who then donated it to the city.
Lots of events go on here but if nothing is going on they let the public wander through. It is quite interesting.
Sweetie is involved in their “Little Green Thumbs” children’s gardening program there. She was getting everything ready for the coming season. They don’t have their schedule set yet but check the link above periodically if you are interested.
The Tulsa Garden Center is part of a complex that includes the Linnaeus Teaching Gardens, a huge rose garden, an arboretum, green house, and Woodward Park. They also share a parking lot with the Tulsa Historical Society. If you visit Tulsa you have to come by. You just gotta!
SOOC Sunday – Cubes
A photograph shot from my office window seems almost abstract.
A new office building is going up nearby.
I’m having fun watching it go up.
Walk in the Street – Where is Everybody?
Tulsa has a very nice and attractive downtown area. But just try and find somebody at night.
Weekend Reflections – Spotlight Theater
The Spotlight Theater is an attractive (it could use some paint) art deco building, designed by Bruce Goff, from the 1920’s situated on Riverside Drive just across the street from the River Parks. In all the years I have been running I have never seen the lights on. Not because the building is abandoned but because they are open only on the weekends. One day last Fall though people were there and the lights were on.
The theater has hosted “The Drunkard” every Saturday night since 1953. Supposedly it is the longest running play in America according to their web site.
Check out Tasha Does Tulsa for her report on the Spotlight Theater.
Occupy Tulsa Returns
Occupy Tulsa returned after an extended break. No camping this time, they gathered at the Federal Courthouse in Tulsa. They brought a drum this time. But they were all by themselves.
Except that Tulsa’s welcome wagon was there. No gift baskets though.
Everybody seemed to be having a great time during a chilly noontime.
So, what do you think about the Occupy movement? Has it got legs or is winding down?
Signs, Signs – Central Library
I’m a big fan of libraries. Tulsa has an excellent system of libraries scattered all over the City and County of Tulsa.
Two views of the sign at the west door for Central Library of the Tulsa City County Library System.
You’ll find me at lunch at the library two or three times a week using their free wifi to play Scrabble and Words with Friends on my ipod or actually checking out books. I’ve been doing that for about 20 years now.
My fellow patrons are in doing their homework, listening to music, reading newspapers and magazines. For some, they are getting a respite from the cold. Everybody is treated with respect. I love libraries.