Ekalaka, Montana, USA

On one week-end every August, townsfolk and nearby ranchers assemble for a celebration of life in Southeast Montana. The good news is that the town's population has increased by a few dozen since the last census. The bad news is that it is only about one-third of what is was at its peak in 1950.[2019]

Ekalaka, Montana, USA

"The Days of '85" is how the people of Ekalaka celebrate their founding. The auction comes just after the parade and before the rodeo. What is auctioned off? Two townsfolk. The highest bidders get to douse them with ice water. Proceeds go to paving sidewalks around the new hospital. Not bad for a county seat of little more than 300 inhabitants. [2019]

Ekalaka, Montana, USA

What's going on here? Somebody is getting doused with ice water (complete with ice cubes), and.everybody else is smiling. To figure it all out, come back tomorrow! [2019]

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Sometimes murals are better than an art gallery. Better in the sense that a visible outside wall democratizes the interpretational experience, all the while challenging us to figure things out. The fire extinguisher is Chinese red and the flag emblem is that of 'Red China.' What did Escrif mean when he put 'Emergency Only' at the bottom? [2013]

Fennimore, Wisconsin, USA

Are bikers extraterrestrials? That seems to be the question posed by this mural with its silhouetted E.T. theme. But, there is also an E.C. theme there: Extra Chronological. When you are out on the open road, time and the universe stand still. [2019]

Folly Beach, South Carolina, USA

John Wayne and Clint Eastwood: together again on a wall for all to see them standing tall, getting ready for a brawl. Does a mural like this betray the demographics of this tourist town? How old do you have to be to even remember all those spaghetti westerns? [2012]

New York, New York, USA

Filling in the potholes: Isn't that what we all spend our lives doing? The highway of life runs smooth for a while, then we see a rough spot ahead and hope it is not a pothole large enough to swallow us up. If it is, we get out the shovel and try to fill it in before we cross. Or do we navigate our way around it and say a prayer for the next person coming by? [2018]