Graffiti and Cities

Graffiti and Cities

Graffiti and Cities

Graffiti and Cities

Walking along sparkling sidewalks below dizzying buildings that cast a continuous shadow over whirring streets, I felt like a rock star. Strutting in slow motion. Everyone's a star when the concrete sidewalks have glitter embedded in them. Hot dog vendors, hip hop fans, punk rock kids, businessmen -- they all look like they're in a video. They're part of what everyone thinks of if you've ever dreamed of living and making it in New York. Dive bars, the MoMa, Alphabet City,
 Thompson Square, Soho. $10 cocktails, high heels, black, sidewalk restaurants. A pulsating metropolis. Any time, every day. The quiet city after bars close at 4 a.m. It's lovely; it's your friend; it's you; it's anticipation; it's naked; it's emotion. It's excitement. It is a desperation for everything you always wanted and it is everything you need at that moment. It has anything you can find.

And Paris. It is the European New York, only a little more elegant. Romantic, of course. Inspiring. You need to explore the "non-white" neighborhoods.

Amsterdam. A cacophony. Youth.

Vegas. Rat Pack. Makes you wanna be a gangsta, go back in time and just party. American.

Madrid. Earthy. Surreal.

Florence. Lace. "Supër cocktail."

Chicago. History. Hidden gems.

Lake Como. Village.

Milan. Bubble.

Naples. L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele. Old School.

Colorado Springs. Book store. Manitou.

Austin. Home. Sun, water, east side, zen, architecture unadorned low spots, sparkly downtown, glowing high rises, entrepreneurs, ambitions and do-nothings. Admirers, singers, sangers, soft air, Tex-Mex, vintage, trailers. Memories and hopes. Desire. Endless exploration.

These are the cities you'll find in these pictures. And here is some awesome graffiti on the East Side of Austin I photographed during E.A.S.T. 2010 (East Austin Studio Tour). More Austin & graffiti during E.A.S.T. 2009.