Music for Recovery

Today, recovery is in the works. Following glorious days of spring rain, the sun breaks through with warning signs of summer, and winter recovery is a wonderful thing. Recovery has also been a theme for a friend, JohnnyG, who is recovering from a wrist injury. [Read JohnnyG's commute blog, More Miles Than Money.]

I stumbled across this from YepRoc and it seems to fit right in with a recovery theme. In January 2009, Peter Case suffered from both health and the massive costs of emergency healthcare, and was fortunate that his friends and fans rallied to help ease his hospital costs. According to reports, he's feeling better now, and has recorded some new pieces on an album called, Wig!

Surf over to ReverbNation to stream Wig! for your listening pleasure. Wig! is slated to be released in June 2010. Here's a preview of the track list:

1.   Banks of the River
2.   Dig What You're Putting Down
3.   House Rent Jump
4.   New Old Blue Car
5.   Look Out!
6.   Thirty Days in the Workhouse
7.   Ain't Got No Dough
8.   My Kind of Trouble
9.   Somebody Told the Truth
10. The Words In Red
11. Colors of Night
12. House Rent Jump

LA Murals - Chinatown

While researching these items, I discovered a website called Public Art in LA. On the one hand, public art helps to redeem LA for me, but on the other hand, the volume of murals, mosaics and sculpture is almost overwhelming. Who knew? I mean really, who knew there was so much public art in LA? 

There are two dragons overhead as you enter the gates of Chinatown. This is one of them. They were designed by Rupert Mok and dedicated in 2001.  The plaque, in both English and Chinese, tells us that:

"The majestic dragons above the clouds usher in good luck and harmony.
This Gateway and the Chinatown skyline reflect the community' prosperity.
We came from far away--crossing the ocean to seek our dreams;
Together we have worked to create our new homeland.
Hundred years of success were brought about by our forefathers;
Continual prosperity relies on our children from generation to generation.
Blue skies and blooming flowers can be seen everywhere;
But these roots in Chinatown are forever the heart of our family."

-Public Art in LA

The day I visited, the blue skies were, in fact, rather grey.

Next is the Chinese Celestial Dragon Mural, created by Tyrus Wong in 1941, and located in Chinatown at 951 Broadway (between College and Bernard) on the exterior of what is now a United Savings Bank. This mural has been carefully restored twice Fu-Ding Cheng, once in 1970 and again in 1984.

In traditional Chinese culture seeing a dragon is a blessing. Here he is chasing a fireball, which represents the raw power and energy of the universe.

-Public Art in LA

This tile mosaic appears on the opposite face of the building, on Broadway.

Finally, this tile mosaic entitled: "Four Beauties Catching Swimming Fish". It is located at 913 N. Broadway, Chinatown, LA. Created by an anonymous mosaicist in 1968, it is one of three that apparently were created in Hong Kong prior to being installed on the building's facade.  I'd like to get a clearer picture of this one, along with the other two mosaics on either side. A project for my next trip to LA.