OUR "Volunteers" ROCK!!!

I'm sorry, but I really can no longer claim this meandering mural "mine" in ANY respect...it is "Ours".  These past 5 days have been filled with folks lending a hand(s) both on and off Jackson street.  Before I show you the three new panels, I just have to shine a spotlight on...

 

 

Lisa Doyen - new recruit, but definitely NOT new to the paintbrush. 
 This wonderful gal "settles in" and gets the job DONE!

 Porschia showed up, jumped in. End of Story.



Carol and Ginny...ever-present when truly needed.  They have the experience and grand good humor to keep us all going-

Great asset to the team...GREAT! 

Huzefa, (an actual "resident" of Grand Terrace)
lent HIS skills in the "detail dept." assisting this very tired
"Whomever-I-Am" with all of the last minute touch-ups.
This fellow is WILD about "straight, smooth lines".
GOTTA love him!



Denise Garner made a rather surprise visit which turned into a fascination with trees.  I DO believe that she has found her niche!



 
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...and here is the second panel of last weeks "Hayward Airport" double-panel piece



  Zaineb, right in line with her husband, managed to create a "process" by which one would complete the outlines of the various animals while the other filled in the missing spaces -worked QUITE well - I must admit.  I did Joy in witnessing the creativity!





Followed by the Hayward Animal Shelter, which has accomplished a great reputation for it's efforts in animal adoptions and overall, the true "Well-Fare" of SO many domesticated creatures.  Bravo Hayward Animal Shelter and Services!



    



....ummm I'll explain the presence of the Swallowtails NEXT week.  In the meantime, enjoy the sun, be at Peace and celebrate Life.

That's pretty much "it" - don't you think?
yup.
Jean

Guess I got to spinning one too many plates...

Kinda "missed" a week there - didn't I?  Well, the team  WAS indeed hard at work last week - as were they again this week.  Amazing bunch.  Our die-hard "regulars" and the welcome presence of 2 new volunteers really made for some great stuff...

So here are the three latest completed panels along Jackson.  Know that two more are each 75% complete as well, so next week ought to be an exciting one for all involved.  (Did I mention that someone reported us to the Police again? - I mentioned to the Officer that if this indeed were a"tag"...we'd have to get it into the Guinness Book!)   Thankfully, the man had a good sense of humor...



Hayward's Official "City Flower" - the Carnation
Just a bit of trivia...it's always been my favorite as well-



The Ranch Restaurant - established in 1948 and still
thriving today @ the corner of Mission & Jackson



At left, is the first of a two-panel piece on the Hayward Airport.  (and note the "ghost images" of WWII planes filling in the background!) A Resident of the Grand Terrace Community asked if we'd feature it, provided the photographs and made a "timely" arrival today just as we were finishing up.  I am pleased to report that we have yet another "Happy Camper"
(way to go Wall-Wonders!)


So, 51, 52 & 53...
Life is Good

Jean





#50...FIFTY!

The Home Team

Yes, I have a dog (his name is Jack, and he has LOTS of "friends")

this particular bunch just had a bath-

What a trip this has been...roughly 8,376 sq. ft put to bed, and a meager 2,176 sq. ft. awaiting the creative hands of my most awesome crew...really, what a bunch.  Want to join us?  Give me a call!  Seriously!  (com'on...be a part of something "Big")...Seriously, This IS "BIG"

 So.  Nos. 49 & 50...hmmmm Guess you could call #49 something of a triptych, as there are three panels wrapped around a most lovely Oak Tree - Depicting the High Loop Trail of Garin Park...(complete with the Cliff Swallow - The soon to be "Official Bird"of the City of Hayward

Still, there's the issue of those cows.. 
I double-dare you to check 'em out for
yourself!  Their eyes DO follow you!

No. 50, completes the "depicted"
features of the Hayward Area Parks
Department - rounding it out  with
Jordan Pond (left)

Happy Trails my friends.

And we'll see you NEXT week!

Your most ever humble servant,
(and havin' a blast as such)
Jean







What a Difference a Day Makes

Well, I took a couple of days away from the Wall...and just fell short of Plan for this week folks, my apologies...it wasn't for a lack of "help" though...I own this one. Lesson:  "Goals are as good as they are realistic".  So here's the "New Twist" -

The surface of the Jackson Street panels is far more rough than anticipated.  So, (see Matt left) we now have to "float" each panel with a leveling agent so as to make the surface smooth enough to paint upon.  This adds generally two hours and a myriad of sore muscles to each panel.  (at right...the remaining 18 panels...yes, you read this correctly...49 down - 18 to go)

 ...and as per usual, we would NOT be where we are without my "A-Team" (A stands for Awesome by the way)...Matt, pictured above, Sarah Hilen (who came over from RENO for two days, and Liz and Bob Bathgate - (The ever-determined Bob arrived with a gas-powered generator today and I am pleased to announce that the once mighty gecko feet have fallen to his creativity! ....and one slightly "worn" wire abrasion disc- GO BOB!) 

 ...so here's #48....the paint brushes are back (but then, they never really left!) and they are hiking through Garin Park - strewn with vistas and apple orchards...these two brushes are sharing a "find" of sorts...while the panel leading up to #48 features the brushes hiking the Loop Trail up to a view of the Bay and salt ponds.  (This panel WILL be completed next Wednesday...I guess I let my Hope get out of hand...but then, that's me and I have no intent of "changing" anytime soon).  As always, my thanks for your power-filled thoughts and most gracious support each week- YOU people are priceless. 
-Jean

Longer Days and Later Nights

Gotta love these longer days (especially if they're "dry")...however, that doesn't necessarily mean you need to be working EVERY minute of it!  Boy am I ever beat-  so, took a few days away from the Wall (can you believe it?) and have but one panel to share this week.   #47 depicting the Farmer's Market (which is a real "hit" here in Hayward).  We won't be back for a couple of days yet, but buckle in for Garin Park and a rather "unique" canvas!

I know some of you like to see the "transition", so I've added this photo where the Market melds into the sunrise of #46....                                              Catch you again this Sunday night! - Jean

...and they said it couldn't be done (Who are "they"?)

All I can say is : "WOW" 

Greetings Mural Maniacs and welcome to the "results page" of a most amazing 5 days.

My Awesome Team and I were able to complete the last three panels of Phase One (along the UPRR tracks) and finish the first two panels of the second phase along Jackson Street as well!

 ...and so, here you have it (them) the "Final 4" Panels of the Union Pacific Track Phase-

(i.e. the BART line) - this is our tribute to the Clean & Green Task Force.

Man, but are we going to miss the supportive "toots" of our BART Engineer Team-

  

Here are Matt and myself, "posing" alongside our personal "faves" of Phase One... 



...and then there's our pal Tony, as we catch that one little "spot" we feel he may have missed with the sealant.

 

 PHASE II

 Jackson Street

THIS, my friends, is an entirely different beast of a location.

With the traffic and sirens alone, it's hard to hear yourself THINK!

(fortunately, we've learned to keep thinking at a minimum and creating at an optimum....what a crew)

We had a surprise guest this week, with the arrival of my brother, Randy.  This guy just "stopped by to see the Wall for myself", and ended up spending a good 5-6 hours tearing down ivy and scrapping the Wall clear of the ever-tiresome "gecko feet".  Talk about a good sport! (and he's on vacation! - Happy Trails, Big Brother)

And so, off we go-

Liz and Bob were there, scrapping and painting for all they were worth.  Two more "guests stopped in" as well-

Our vidiographer, Sidney Nickels checked back in and provided quite a bit of inspiration, as well as an aspiring

(if not yet well-established) street artist who has since become this accidental muralist's "muse" of sorts.  (Don't be a stranger)

the First Two of the Last Twenty-Four



Yet another Beautiful Bay Area Sunrise....
being pulled along by our ever-present brushes, just about to turn that wonderful corner onto the Tracks-



46 panels down...roughly, 7,736 sq. ft. (but seriously,whose counting?)

You Don't Always Get What You Want...

 

 (MAN but I hope I'm not having a "Napster" Moment here...)

...but you most definitely DO get what you need-

THIS (photos left and right) is the surface we call a "canvas" here at the Wall-

 Our Volunteers as "present as ever" were in full force...AND the week even included a Birthday Brunch!  (This just HAS to be another "first"...)  Yes, SOME one, wanted to celebrate their Birthday on the Union Pacific Corridor...then again, guess not too many folks have that "opportunity".

A Most Happy Year Ahead, Carol!

 

 The photo left actually "appears" complete, now doesn't it?  Nope...no where near.  The second panel is in obvious need of more pigment and numbers 3 & 4 (below)...well, the term "Dating Game" did come up (shudder) so PLEASE promise me you'll all check out the Blog next week when we have a full explanation for all of this!



THESE ARE the FINAL 4 PANELS of the BART line phase of the sound wall; #'s 41-44 ...another 2 days and we'll be pulling our little wagon full o' paint down to Jackson Street for Phase 2...(20 more panels)