Weekly photo challenge: afloat

I love street art, but this seemed to be sent today as a gift. I’ve been travelling, irking my companions, no doubt (though they were too polite to say) as I was looking for an unusual subject to illustrate ‘afloat’ for this week’s photo challenge.

I had turned down several opportunities that had helpfully been pointed out – to float a leaf or a flower in a birdbath; to capture wisteria in full bloom, kind of floating over an arbour; and had just turned my nose up at a decidedly grounded, rustic boat: I wanted something different.

So I could hardly believe my eyes when we turned the corner and I realised what I was standing before. Is it just me, or do most of these characters seem to be floating on thin air?

Later in the day, I learned more from a craftsperson at the garden fair we were attending. He told me the long mural had been created by Art Students at New Albany High School, Mississippi in 2005.

There had recently been some talk of painting over it all, but I was very glad such a quirky design had so far been spared. It made an ordinary street special, more fun.

The bland is never far away, but this had made me think and put a big smile on my face.

I’d been delighted to come across something local, hand painted, charming and original for my theme. What luck!