Showing posts with label neighborhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label neighborhood. Show all posts

Monday, August 16, 2021

Washington D.C. Alley

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Washington D.C. Alley #447
colored pencils and ink on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202108069

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) is frameable, collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion.  It is a one-of-a-kind original work of art, NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION. It is signed on the back and lends itself to framing in a standard trading card frame or book.


Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Baltimore Alley

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Baltimore Alley #439
ink and colored pencil on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202107057

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) is frameable, collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion.  It is a one-of-a-kind original work of art, NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION. It is signed on the back and lends itself to framing in a standard trading card frame or book.


Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

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Friday, March 5, 2021

Chicago Street

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Chicago Street
acrylic paint on canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
202103015
© copyright Mike Kraus
It's so cold outside that the door handle has frost on the inside of the apartment.  I eat my toast as I put on my layers of clothing: thick socks, long johns, undershirt, and ski goggles so my eyes don't freeze waiting for the train.  I top off my thermos of coffee and grab a few office papers.  I prepare myself for the wind chill as I put on my hat coat and boots.  As, I open the door, I know it's going to be a great day as the landlord already cleared the sidewalk. 


Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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Monday, July 29, 2019

On a Chicago Street Corner

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


On a Chicago Street Corner
acrylic paint on canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201907065
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/614691323/on-a-chicago-street-corner-original

On this plots of land, the long grass of the Illinois prairie gave way to squalid tenements of Irish immigrants in the 1840s.  They escaped famine and oppression in their homeland to find abuse, poverty, and the backbreaking labor of digging canals, building roads, and constructing the railroads.  The neighborhood had frequent Cholera outbreaks because of the constant flooding.

Seeking religious and political freedoms from the Austrians, Czech immigrants moved to this muddy Chicago neighborhood.  They opened a restaurant called "At the City of Plzeň", which inspired the Pilsen neighborhood's name.  When banks refused to loan them money to build homes, they formed their own credit unions to finance the neo-Bohemian Baroque architecture that is treasured today.

In the 1950, the construction of the Stevenson Expressway forced Mexican immigrants from their homes to the Hull House Neighborhood.  Soon after, they were forced from their homes again to make room for the University of Illinois Chicago campus.  When the Latino community began to appear in Pilsen, they fought discrimination to have a place to live, to be members of churches, to open shops, and to have their children receive decent educations.  So, when another Urban Renewal plan for Pilsen was discovered, they fought back to save the neighborhood they worked so hard to create.

These streets bear the scars of injustice and the hope for opportunity for all.  Overcoming our prejudice to the cause of freedom is what gives us hope in America.        



Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.


Jakelin was a 7-year-old fleeing gang infested Guatemala.  
Felipe Gómez Alonzo died of an infection and the flu at 8-years-old
Juan de León Gutiérrez was 16-years-old when he died from an infection.
A 2-year-old died of pneumonia.

These are just a few of the 15,000 children imprisoned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other United States Government Agencies and their for-profit contractors.  They are being kept in concrete cells, deprived of basic necessities, and starving from hunger.  The filth they are forced to live in has led to flu, lice, and respiratory outbreaks, that are purposefully being neglected.  And guards punish these children for minor offences by taking away their blankets, mats, and forcing them to sleep directly on the concrete floor (Southern Poverty Law Center)


I am extremely disturbed that a country that has shown me and my family such kindness is so cruel to others. This is not about politics. This is about justice, kindness, and truth. These children and parents are fleeing Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala because government-supported gangs are violently attacking them (United Nations). After a dangerous journey, we deny them their rights to asylum (Amnesty International), we kidnap and lose their children (American Civil Liberties Union), cage and sexually assault kids (New York Times), and deny them due process and indefinite imprisonment at detention/internment/concentration camps (Los Angeles Times).  We're allowing them to die in these terrible conditions (NBC News).  And we arrest and try to imprison good, Christians who provide food and water to those in need (The Guardian).

I don't care about politics and find involvement in them to be humiliating.  I do care about honesty, fairness, and respect.  I ask that you remember your family roots, that you search your heart, and confront cruelty in all its forms.

For ways to help, please visit:


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Wednesday, September 26, 2018

On a Chicago Street Corner

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


On a Chicago Street Corner
acrylic paint on canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201809114
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/614691323/on-a-chicago-street-corner-original

On this plots of land, the long grass of the Illinois prairie gave way to squalid tenements of Irish immigrants in the 1840s.  They escaped famine and oppression in their homeland to find abuse, poverty, and the backbreaking labor of digging canals, building roads, and constructing the railroads.  The neighborhood had frequent Cholera outbreaks because of the constant flooding.

 Seeking religious and political freedoms from the Austrians, Czech immigrants moved to this muddy Chicago neighborhood.  They opened a restaurant called "At the City of Plzeň", which inspired the Pilsen neighborhood's name.  When banks refused to loan them money to build homes, they formed their own credit unions to finance the neo-Bohemian Baroque architecture that is treasured today.

 In the 1950, the construction of the Stevenson Expressway forced Mexican immigrants from their homes to the Hull House Neighborhood.  Soon after, they were forced from their homes again to make room for the University of Illinois Chicago campus.  When the Latino community began to appear in Pilsen, they fought discrimination to have a place to live, to be members of churches, to open shops, and to have their children receive decent educations.  So, when another Urban Renewal plan for Pilsen was discovered, they fought back to save the neighborhood they worked so hard to create.

 These streets bear the scars of injustice and the hope for opportunity for all.  Overcoming our prejudice to the cause of freedom is what gives us hope in America.        

More About Mike Kraus Art
Boston Voyager Magazine Interview

Join my 540WMain Community Learning Academy workshop "How To Become A Professional Artist

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM​ Rochester at:


Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.
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Friday, May 19, 2017

Journey Through Montreal, Quebec, Canada


Journey Through Montreal, Quebec, Canada #232, 2017
ink and gouache paint on bristol paper
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
2.5" x 3.5" in a 4" x 5" frame  (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm in a 10.2 cm x 12.7 frame)
201705043
© copyright Mike Kraus

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) is frameable, collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion.  It is a one-of-a-kind original work of art, NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION. It is signed on the back and lends itself to framing in a standard trading card frame or book.

This piece would look best in a space that is red, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, beige, black, white, gray, or wood

For more information or custom order, please visit:



THE SHOW IS OPEN NOW!

THANKS SO MUCH TO UNION PLACE COFFEE ROASTERS for hosting a wonderful open house last night.  We had a great time and met lots of fun new friends.  I really enjoyed the coffee roasting demonstrations, Sweet and Cute coffee syrup tasting on ice cream, Dolce Cupcakery's treats, Southern Tier Brewing Company stout and IPA, and Rochester, NY's mayoral candidate Rachel Barnhart discuss her plans.

There's still time to see my work and have some amazing coffee too!  Whitman Work Co. will have my pieces up until May 25th.  More information at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/433621963677913/

Union Place Coffee Roasters
Genesee Valley Regional Market
900 Jefferson Rd. Building 15 Suite 1504
Rochester, NY 14623
(585) 784-0404
www.UnionPlaceCoffeeRoasters.com

Store Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Thursday 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-3pm
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Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Chicago Alley

 Chicago Alley, 2017
acrylic paint and ink on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/243101275/chicago-alley-original-acrylic-painting

 10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

After a long day of work in the Loop, I take the "L" train home.  It's so much better reading a book on public transit than fighting road rage in a traffic jam.  And today I'm just watching all the buildings pass by.  The brown line runs at street level in the alleys after the Western stop.  The alleys are somehow beautifully utilitarian.  

This painting would look best in a space that is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, beige, or wood

For more information or custom order, please visit:



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Friday, December 2, 2016

Chicago Alley

 Chicago Alley, 2016
acrylic on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

After a long day of work in the Loop, I take the "L" train home.  It's so much better reading a book on public transit than fighting road rage in a traffic jam.  And today I'm just watching all the buildings pass by.  The brown line runs at street level in the alleys after the Western stop.  The alleys are somehow beautifully utilitarian.  

This painting would look best in a space that is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, beige, or wood

For more information or custom order, please visit:




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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Chicago Alley

Chicago Alley, 2014
pen and colored pencils 
© copyright Mike Kraus

 I like to look at the back of buildings while riding the "L."  The ugly mess of twisted wires, garbage, and feral strays can open up to something more beautiful.  It reveals how the city works just as the facade hides it.  
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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Adventures in the Flower City

 The High Falls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Falls_(Rochester,_New_York)) of the Genesee River in downtown Rochester.  This 96 foot high waterfall is the reason Rochester exists.  As evidenced by the foundations and structures around the falls, these falls provided energy for early industrial facilities.

Genesee Brewing Company (Genny) (http://www.geneseebeer.com/) overlooking the High Falls.  Someone told me recently that the new paint job reminds them of Santa's Village.  It is really festive this season with all the snow and all.  

A view of the High Falls/Brown's Race District (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown's_Race_Historic_District) and downtown. 

RGE power station to the northwest of the High Falls with the Kodak Headquarters in the background.   This station is still in operation using coal, gas, oil, and hydroelectric power, but is scheduled to be demolished after 120+ years in use.  There's great potential for redevelopment/natural rehabilitation in this area.

Panorama of the High Falls with downtown Rochester in the background. 

A close up of the High Falls. 

 Pont de Rennes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_De_Rennes_bridge) over the Genesee River Gorge.  It use to be a street bridge before being converted to a pedestrian bridge.  It provides the best view of the High Falls

A view of the Pont de Rennes bridge looking toward the northwest.

 A close up of the High Falls.  The pavilion to the top right of the falls is a viewing area for the falls.  To the left is a railroad bridge with supports in front of it.  Rumor has it that a pedestrian bridge will be built there in the near future.  A great idea to complete a High Falls Loop trail.  It will also provide better access to downtown and improve the Genesee Riverway Trail (http://www.cityofrochester.gov/grt/).

Phoenix Mill Building (http://www.communitywalk.com/location/flour_milling_phoenix_mill/info/2981412) at the base of the Pont de Rennes Bridge.  It's kind of a strange building because it's been burned down, replace, destroyed, restored so many times.  It's a mutant of a building with lots of different building materials and styles.

A view of the Brown's Race District looking southeast of Browns Race Street.   To the left, you will see little bridges between the buildings and street.  This was once a water raceway that provided hydroelectric power to many of the structures.  There are plans to convert this into a sunken garden.  Plans can be viewed at: https://ioby.org/project/sustainable-sunken-garden-browns-race

Victorian Rochester Water Works Building with the raceway in front.   

 Brown's Race Market.  It's a converted maintenance building with a view of the High Falls gorge.  Again, with the raceway in front.


Once home to the Rochester Button Company on State Street.   They were the Apple Computers of buttons back in the day.

High Falls Business Center (http://www.highfallsbizcenter.com/) 

This building on Mill Street is my dream building.  I've always wanted to own a building like this, live upstairs, and run a business on the first floor. 

This was once a paper box factory. 

The Stantec Building (http://www.stantec.com/) was once a powerhouse for the New York Railway Company.  

 To find out more about the High Falls/Browns Race area, you should check out: http://gardenaerial.org/  They are doing great work with developing trails, gardens, festivals, and sooooooooooooo much more.

I recently drove up State St/Lake Ave and was surprised at how intact the neighborhoods are and the quality of architecture.  Seems ripe for a north/south street car line between Ontario Beach Park/Charlotte-downtown-U of R/Marketplace Mall/RIT.  

Kodak World Headquarters (http://www.kodak.com/ek/US/en/Home.htm).  My camera has come home.

Kodak Tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak_Tower).  George Eastman moved his business here on State Street from a previous location in 1882.  The first 16 stories of the main structure was constructed in 1914 and the top added in 1930.  It has been surrounded and encased with a series of unfortunate buildings since.  
 What is that off in the distance?  It's Frontier Field baseball stadium (http://www.frontierfield.org/) (or outdoor hockey arena this week).  It's unfortunate that they located the stadium in the back along the highway and parking in the front near all the activity.  This really undermines the whole purpose of using a stadium to generate economic activity for the area.  This lot should be replaced with something like Patriots Place in Foxborough (http://www.patriot-place.com/) or Wrigleyville (http://www.chicagotraveler.com/neighborhoods/wrigleyville-feature.htm) in Chicago.  Obviously, on a smaller scale.  Removing or boulevard-izing the Inner Loop would go a long way to improving the area.  Better connections to the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood, which is cut off by 490 would also be mutually beneficial.
Heading back to downtown.  Here's a building that is a part of the State Street Historic District (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Street_Historic_District_(Rochester,_New_York)).  
 Column of the First National Bank of Rochester-Old Monroe County Savings Bank (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_National_Bank_of_Rochester-Old_Monroe_County_Savings_Bank_Building) on State Street. 
Wilder Building (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilder_Building) on Main and Exchange.
Reynolds Arcade Building (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_Arcade) on Main Street.  Another great Art Deco building downtown. 
A view west from Aqueduct Park.   
Rundel Memorial Library (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rundel_Memorial_Library) 
Court Street Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_Street_Bridge_(Genesee_River)).  Rochester has a great collection of bridges downtown within walking distance.  The San Antonio River Walk (http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/) could be inspiration. 
Flood control dam near Court Street.
"U Look So Good Today."  Finally, graffiti that makes you feel good about yourself.

The Broad Street Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_Street_Bridge_(Rochester,_New_York)).  The first level was originally constructed as an aqueduct to cross the Genesee River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesee_River) for the Erie Canal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal).  The second level was added about 90 years later for car traffic.  When the Erie Canal was re-routed, the aqueduct was repurposed as a subway.  The subway was shut down in 1956, leaving this portion abandoned.   
 A view of the Broad Street Bridge from the War Memorial at Blue Cross Arena (http://www.bluecrossarena.com/)/Civic Center Complex/Festival Grounds. on the west side.  On the other side is the Rundel Memorial Library/Rochester Riverside Convention Center (http://www.rrcc.com/)/hotels.  This could be the centerpiece of a river walk system.  It provides tons of connections with a historic and interesting location.    
Another exterior view of the bridge.  The automobile section should be upgraded as a part of any renovation.  The top looks like just an other boring bridge.  Some landscaping, railing work, pedestrian amenities, and lighting could go a long way.

The interior of the Broad Street Bridge Aqueduct. 
This was the former bed of the Erie Canal through downtown Rochester.  It's amazing how light this space is.  I'm imagining Millennium Station (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Station) in Chicago.
Crossing the uninteresting top of the Broad Street Bridge (mentioned earlier) heading to the Bausch and Lomb Place (http://www.bausch.com/) (tall building in the center) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bausch_&_Lomb_Place).  Not sure about the long term future of this Rochester institution since they were recently purchased by another company that seems determined to leave the area.
Bausch and Lomb Atrium. 
Interior of the Bausch and Lomb Atrium all decorated for the holidays.  Postmodern design and a fairly active space at lunchtime.  
Another view of the interior of the atrium.  I didn't add the twinkling lights or know how to make them stop.  But, enjoy...
A section of the Berlin Wall in the atrium of Bausch and Lomb.
This probably concludes my roaming of downtown Rochester for now.  My jury duty is at an end.  But, if you are interested in seeing more, please visit my previous visits at:

 Rochester
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