Photograph by Sara B. Healy
You Gotta Love Graffiti
This is a picture of some cool graffiti that had been painted on the wall of the apartment building where we stayed while visiting Switzerland last year.
It was part of a contest where kids painted graffiti on the wall and in other areas around the apartment building. I was pretty impressed with their artwork.
What’s interesting about Switzerland is that you seldom see bad or messy graffiti; even on the overpass of a highway.
It’s like the Swiss kids who painted the graffiti had to take art lessons before they could go out and deface public property:~)
This picture was my favorite because I felt like this creature was about to say something to me.
Picture Story Challenge + BONUS
I’m offering a BONUS with this Picture Story Challenge.
If you answer all the questions I will highlight your blog in a list on my next Picture Story Post. Otherwise, just choose one that appeals to you.
Either way, please leave your answers in the comment box. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
1. If this creature could say something to you, what would it say?
2. What’s the name of this creature and how did it get its name?
3. What place did it come from? Share something about this place.
4. Is it a hero or a villain and why?
5. Make up your own question and answer it. Be sure to include your question with the answer!
I hope this picture will challenge your imagination. Have fun, be creative and enjoy:~)
"Stand the test of time by placing your roots deeply!"
Like puzzles? Try this one. Using this photo, you can create a puzzle and put it together.Go to JigZone at 
Fireblossom32
Hilary
Patty - Why Not S...
talon
Chris Edgar
Davina
Jannie Funster
Keith Davis
Tony Single
Barbara Swafford
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice, Sara! This graffiti is good enough to be called a mural. Wouldn’t it be great if all graffiti artists took just a little more time to make something pretty and turn us into fans, instead of just leaving a mark that doesn’t speak to any of us? There’s a neighborhood in San Francisco where artists have been commissioned to create beautiful graffiti. I never remember where they are so it’s always a thrill to turn a corner and be greeted by inspired art. They have them too in Santa Fe, NM.
Love the questions! Let me take a stab:
1. Hey, lady! You like magic?
2. Greenie the Graffiti Genie
3. From a graffiti bottle on a wall in a forgotten place. Its people are all very artistic but lately, they’ve lost their inspiration, until a deeply artistic but frustrated artist rested her head on the wall where the bottle is drawn, cried a tear, and let Greenie the Graffiti Genie out.
4. Definitely a hero. He wakes up your creative side.
5. Does he go away? Never. But he disappears as he has many walls to cover and many creative hearts to inspire.
Belinda Munoz´s last blog ..ALL CLEAR: FeedMedic Alert for thehalfwaypoint
Hi Sara .. hey are U looking at me?
2) The eye man
3) from the banking sector?
4) Could be good or bad .. not sure .. he doesn’t look too evil
5) Where are you going? I’m off to Beijing .. bigger banking markets .. more $$$ – and LOTS MORE SPACE for pictures?? Will I end up in prison?
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
Hilary´s last blog ..A bet on the Eleven Cities Tour or the Winter Olympics being held?
Hi Sara – Great photo! As soon as I saw it all I could think about was Gollum/Smeagol from Lord of the Rings. So here goes:
1. Where’s that ring?
2. Smeagol, Jr. You didn’t know he had a kid, did ya?
3. The River Lands, and then the caves, caverns, darkness. I’m from all the dark places.
4. Both. I’m hero and villain. I remind you of all that is evil AND good.
5. Smeagol, Jr., can I offer you a raw fish? Mmmmm, yes, please!
Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..The Kindness of Strangers
It is an amazing piece of art. Yes, it would be great if graffiti had a higher purpose. So much of it reminds me of dogs marking their territory.
To me it’s like he (I’m thinking male, but can’t say why – lol) is watching someone approach and he’s holding up a finger as if to say, “Wait! Someone’s coming. Hang on a minute.”
talon´s last blog ..Fresh…
1. If this creature could say something to you, what would it say? Please don’t paint over me. I want to live.
2. What’s the name of this creature and how did it get its name? Flannery is her name. It is of Celtic origin and means “flat land”, which is what the wall she lives on is… only vertical.
3. What place did it come from? Share something about this place. “Flatland” is a place frozen in time. Nothing will change for her or her surroundings until the day of her creator’s return. She longs for that day, and longs for her creator to make her beautiful.
4. Is it a hero or a villain and why? Flannery is just herself. She could be a hero if she weren’t trapped in her circumstances, and most folks think she’s a villain because of her evil smile… but it’s not evil, just crooked and awkward.
5. What is Flannery’s favourite colour? Blue for hope, for that is what she’s filled with whenever she’s feeling blue and looks at the sky… a realm of endless possibilities.
Tony Single´s last blog ..Darwin’s Regress
Wow – another contest – ok
1. Didn’t you WANT that? he said, incredulously.
2. His name is Greedo and he got that name because he was never satisfied, he is GREEN with ENVY, and there is no way he will feel sated.
3. He came from the Land of Plenty, a cluttered place full of “stuff”, a hoarder’s paradise.
4. His hero-villan classification depends on the heart and soul of the individual. Some say he is a hero motivator and without him they would be stagnant. Others say he is a greedy green monster who causes unrest, craving, and a desire for massive accumulation of money and stuff.
5. My question is “Can you not be grateful or satisified with what you have?” Now Greedo would answer “Hell no!” I would answer this by saying I am already in the Land of Plenty and whatever I would want is not something Greedo would provide.
I’m glad he’s looking to his left because there’s what appears to be a large spiky rock that’s just about to graze his head, if I have the perspective right. So I guess my reaction to this is a sort of paternal concern about the creature.
Dear Sara,
If this creature could say something to me if would be,”Miss Jannie, have I got a deal for you!”
His name is Tiki Tim, he used to run a surf shop on his native Oahu. He was born as normal as you or me but fell in with an all troll gang as a teen and eventually drank their potion of seawater and peptide418, turning him forever into that creature we see.
He broke away from the trolls tho when they insisted he do all the housework. He found gainful employ as a surfboard waxer, then inherited the shop when Tiki Bob died.
He is definetly a hero because when he moved to Switzerland to fulfil his life- long dream of owning a Swiss chocolate factory, he started giving away 12 free 1-lb milk chocolate bars each day to passersby in train stations.
What is Tiki Tim’s hobby?? Well blogging of course! He mostly posts his poems.
The Truth!
The End!
xo
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..“Yes – Kids Sure Do Say The Darndest Things” Part 2
@ Belinda — I love “Greenie the Graffiti Geni” and that he’s a hero because “he wakes your creative side.” This is a very creative answer to this contest. Thanks for participating:~)
@ Hilary — Your comment is great…the eye man from the banking sector. Sounds rather like Bond/007….I also like that you picked up the fact the creature looks like he’s going somewhere. Beijing might be a really good place. With all the people, he might be able to keep a low profile:~)
@ Patty — I agree about Lord of Rings. Perhaps that was the graffiti artist’s inspiration for this picture! It’s kind of cool that you saw this creature’s duality — a hero and a villain. I’m not so fond of raw fish, but it does seem that Smeagol, Jr. might like it:~)
@ Talon — I can see what you said about the creature watching someone approach and then saying. “Wait! Someone’s coming. Hang on a minute.” There is something mysterious about him:~)
@ Tony — WOW. I should have these contests more often. You really made me see the gentleness of Flannery, even though her frozen expression seems otherwise. I especially liked what you said about when she looks at the blue sky and see “a realm of endless possibilities.” Thanks very much for participating:~)
@ SuZen — It’s my contest month…fortunately, February is right around the corner:~) I loved that you participated in Challenge 2. Your answers are really cool! I like the name Greedo and the hoarder’s paradise. It sounds like where you are is a much more content place than where Greedo is:~)
@ Jannie — I love it when you let your imagination go wild:~)
It sounds like Tiki Tim has had a very interesting life. I especially liked the fact that Tiki Tim gave away Swiss chocolate to people who passed by in the train stations. YUM. And what a smart guy he is to become a blogger! Given his background, I’m sure his poetry would be very unusual. Thanks for sharing this:~)
@ Chris — I didn’t notice that!!! How could not see that….what good eyes you have, Mr. Edgar:~)
Here in LA, I wouldn’t call that graffiti, but public art. Graffiti is the stuff that destroys public art.
Now, to answer your questions:
1. If this creature could say something to you, what would it say? Hey, Baby, am I handsome or what?
Just look at him.
2. What’s the name of this creature and how did it get its name? BGU, Big, Green, and Ugly, obviously.
3. What place did it come from? Share something about this place. He was born and bread in the subway system. It’s dark and dank down there.
4. Is it a hero or a villain and why? He thinks he’s a villain, but he just can’t quite do villainish things.
5. Make up your own question and answer it. Be sure to include your question with the answer!
6. What’s that white thing you’re holding in your hand?
It’s a soap bubble. The only time I “come up for air” is to bathe.
LisaNewton´s last blog ..Sunday at the Theater – Million Dollar Theater Addition
That is so cool!
He looks like he is waiting for you to follow him.
Mama Zen´s last blog ..Review: No, Never!
@ Lisa — Thanks for participating in Challenge Two. I loved your answers, but especially your question! I didn’t even see what was in the creature’s hand!!! Having it be a soap bubble and the only time he comes for air is to bathe was GREAT!
That’s what I love so much about photographs and pictures. You never know what another person will see in the photo/picture that you missed. So, kudos for you….you made the list of those who dared to answer all five questions:~)
@ Mama Zen — I can see this. He does that come-hither look about him….like he might be inviting you into something. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this picture:~)
Hi Sara.
I will answer the first question; only took a couple of seconds before the answer came to me. “Oh uh… here come those seagulls again.”
Davina´s last blog ..This Effortless Brilliance
@ Davina — LOL that’s such a great comment and perfect for the picture. I imagine when you’re stuck in the ground like this piece of wood….you would say, “Oh uh… here come those seagulls again.” What a great sense of humor you have:~)