Personality Counts

I first saw him walking on the street a few blocks from where this photo was taken.

I saw only his back but he had a strut that would've put John Travolta to shame and I was interested.

So ... to my surprise and a smile on my face I found him, "singing" into a tin cup and oh, how I wished he would walk that walk.

You would have liked him. He had an exuberant and electrifying personality that would make any street performer proud.

I love the street artists and got to know some of them pretty well in Barcelona.

A street-performers life is very hard and a little kindness (like a coin or two) in their direction wouldn't be a bad idea for either you or them.

I invite you to view my flickr photo gallery of the these special people who made my life a little bit richer.

View barcalunacy's Barcelona’s Street Artists FLCKR photoset.

Metro Gig

We were descending the stairs of the metro, when we heard this strange but beguiling music.

As I got to the last stair, the young man moved his body to the music without skipping a beat on a most unusual and unfamiliar instrument I’ve ever seen.

Barcelona, 2008

Even if he did skip a beat, I wouldn’t have known better but the music did sound enticing.

I had my wide angle lens, and I so wanted to get a shot with fantastic distortion.

For those who have used this type of lens you have to almost get within inches of your subject, invading their space, becoming familiar with one another that you almost feel like you should put them on your Christmas list

And,

Sometimes causing them to wonder why the heck they let you even take a photo.

But, the wide-angle is lots of fun. In the next few week I will post more photos and show you what I mean.

By the way, if anyone knows what the name of the stringed instrument is, please let me know.

Eusebi

He's a special guy whom I've been getting to know just a bit lately.

Because of Eusebi's unassuming, quiet demeanor and child-like innocence, the young waitresses, at a café I frequent, lavishly nurtured him, much to his delight.

Eusebi

Barcelona, 2008

He sings American tunes "out of tune" but he's got charm and grace.

His weapons of choice are a crayon and pen.

For pocket change he will do a portrait of you and yours.

Here's mine.

Eusebi's Drawing of Luna
Barcelona, 2008

Envious?

Support your local street artists!

Aluminum Can Artisan

Click here to watch the video.

Barcelona, like any great city, has its fair share of a variety of artists, like the dulcimer players I mentioned in August of 2005.

At the Gothic Quarter, we came across Isabel fashioning, from aluminum cans, small ashtrays. Last year there was a handful of these people and this summer many more seem to have learned this simple art.

A myriad of tourists are buying this item. For you parents out there, you might want to reconsider the old fashioned lemonade stand!

Anyway, just click on the photo or the link and meet Isabel.