Moss Street Paint-in
Last Saturday was the annual Moss Street Paint-In here in Victoria. Moss Street is around the corner from my house, so even I didn’t have an excuse not to go. It was a lot of fun: tremendous crowds, the art was a mixed bag (Miles Lowry stood out), and there were a couple of life-moments that jumped out of the art frame. First, there’s the guy on a front stoop chatting up a lovely woman; behind him sits a man with a make-shift sign, complete with arrow pointing directly at the chatting man’s head. The sign says: “Smart, funny, intelligent MAN looking for a positive relationship.” Everybody (women) who walked by the house wanted to talk to this guy! 
Next up, this guy with his Harlequin Calf, er, Harlequin Great Dane, caused a stir. The dog was more painted than some of the art. I wonder if his human has a snow-shovel-sized pooper-scooper at home? 
Some artists brought their own models for live drawing: 
And some decided to draw directly on the sidewalk, irrespective of models, transience, permanence, or material gain: 
I liked this last one, Michelangelesque bodies on the floor instead of the ceiling. The car tire-tracks add a particularly modern, insouciant touch. The people-watching was the best part of the afternoon. I kept wondering what happened to that chatting couple and what the relationship between the man holding the sign and the man being designated was…?
yule, it was pretty weird that i parked right outside your house and then you recognized me on the sidewalk the other weekend, but it’s downright spooky that you happened to photograph my boyfriend (sans me) at the moss st. paint-in and then post it on your site! that’s him sketching in the third photo down on the right. *and* i also know the man in the orange shirt at the back and the lady standing beside him.
haha! i know victoria is small, but that’s pretty crazy!
Comment by julie — July 24, 2003 #
Well well! Not the one whose parents you visited recently??
So how come I didn’t see you in the throng? Yup, Victoria is still very small in the ways that matter, even if judging by the crowds on Moss, all the way from Fort (Art Gallery) to Dallas (ocean), you wouldn’t know it.
Congrats on quitting smoking, by the way. I used to smoke, and I’m so glad that that is one bad habit I kicked out of my life.
Comment by Yule Heibel — July 24, 2003 #
yes, the same boy! i wasn’t at the paint-in, unfortunately, so that’s why you didn’t see me. i dropped morgan off there and then i attended a friend’s fifth wedding anniversary celebration out in gordon head.
thanks re: quitting smoking. it has been relatively easy, but i have had my moments. yesterday was tough, but today has been a breeze. ya for us non-smokers!
Comment by julie — July 24, 2003 #