And many brushstrokes to go before we complete ...

Now that we have painted the predominant images on the facade, the artists are working on those details ... where we can find God, or if you prefer, the devil ...

Word is getting out ...

Our project was mentioned in the local Highland Park blog yesterday! Needless to say, we're thrilled about the local response and level of engagement. And, the unfurling of the project is offering us terrific feedback.

Throughout the day, all types of people walked by, cycled through, slowly drove by and stopped to ask questions. The Metro, which literally runs right through the middle of the street, even came to a complete stop, and the conductors took a few snaps, and learned more about the project!

Our dear friend, Maestro Litz -- painter, woodworker and illustrator extraordinaire -- motored over with victuals for sustenance; and ended up with a paintbrush in hand, adding some flourishes to the flora...

Artist Daniel and Litz discuss a few aesthetics...

More time lapse...

Now, a few days respite to catch our breaths and clear our lungs of any residual fumes so we can think clearly...

Off a painting we go ...

We are busy at work...

CaCaCakakakaw...Cakaw.

It was one of those nights that turned into early morning caw-caws of our local avian pals. Speaking of which ... we began projecting and sketching the artists' images onto the canvas of the Zuniga house.

The Nicaraguan Motmot (Guardabarranco) is well on its way to gracing the western facade of the edifice. The plumeria motif and volcano imagery, all family-inspired design concepts, are also in the sketching phases...

(Note: the resolution on these videos when they uploaded is quite poor. Suffice it to say, we painstakingly have become one with the big barrelled Sharpie that outlined each feather plume and flower petal)

Better late than never...

I'm totally late to the seed planting party known as spring.

However, with projects and travels and life's interferences aside, I've finally managed to do a bit of seedling-ing on my own patio. Potting soil, with amendments, including volcanic ash and chicken poop...

Beau staked his claim once the okra went in...

Let's see what comes up ... we've planted 'Gigante' parsley (high hopes, people!), marigolds, watermelon, and nasturtium.

Everything under the new umbrella...

Garden swapping--the new green trend

Here's an article I wrote about one of our local community gardens re-invigorating the notion of a swap, garden-style.

Please click on the link and feel free to share the article broad and wide.

Photo courtesy of Milli Macen-Moore/Nicole Gatto

A little guerilla here, and there...

Did a little double-take when I came up to this stop sign by my house...

Painting the house blue

Priming, people, no need to freak out just yet....

Sad little thoroughfare, needs weeding

I'm consulting on an art intervention. What's that, you may ask? The house is the canvas; where art is the catalyst, the agent. Three artists, two from LA and one from Tijuana, Mexico are collaborating to beautify and connect a Highland Park neighborhood through art. The local commuter train runs right through the street, offering the perfect hostage audience to a neighborhood that could use a little artistic flourish. The first house for this ongoing project is in the works. We anticipate more to follow.

We've been preparing the house for the actual intervention. The landscaping is not the number one focus at this point; however, here was a patch that I cleared out.

Before.....

After....

Once the project comes to a concluding phase, we will most likely plant some shrubs and flowers. What we were able to salvage, for example--grandmother's rose bush and the Easter lilies--we did. The home owners have all been quite gracious and excited about having their home be the first on the block to represent an artistic intervention.

Watch this space for further updates....