Tuesday morning. My corner. The mural of the weekend has become performance art. A lesson, like Tibetan sand paintings, in the truth of life — change. And also like the ephemeral art of Tibetan llamas, we can remember it was primarily done to heal and bless the environment and all living beings. The young person I buy coffee from next door sympathizes and guesses that the owner of the building had it painted out. “Maybe it was too Oakland for them,” he offers.

I am sad to lose the artwork of Saturday, yet immensely grateful to those who have been nurturing a healthy and life-affirming street-art culture. A recent festival with a competition for these artists was held at Defremery Park in Oakland.  It was the 3rd Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle at “Life Is Living,” curated by Marc Bamuthi Joseph. The theme for the competing artists, who came from far and wide, including Honolulu, Harlem and Chicago, was GROW.

There was also a breakdancing competition.

And the crowd doing their own thing to the voices and drums of Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir.

Aspiring artists had a place too!

Here’s a good blog about the festival from Puck Lo.