Street Art New York: Fall 2019 Edition

(Drivebycuriosity) -  It got chilly in New York City and the leaves are falling. But street art is still blooming and delivers a rich harvest this fall. Being an ambitious amateur photographer I took a lot pictures from the murals, graffiti and stencils I spotted in my neighborhoods, the streets of Lower East Side, Soho & East Village. I show here my favorites from this fall season, a very subjective selection as usual.

Above images from Chinatown and from Ludlow Street.

I spotted the girl with the US flag on 4th street in East Village.

Above the latest mural on the wall of rag & bone at the corner of Elizabeth & Houston. This fashion shop impresses with frequently changing art work of high quality. The next mural - seen on Houston Street - is apparently from the same artist.
 

Above another mural from East Village.

above some beautified doors

To be contined

Traveling: A Hike On Indio Hills Badlands Trail Coachella Valley California

 (Drivebycuriosity) - My wife and I are staying in Palm Springs and are exploring the neighborhood of the Californian desert town. On Tuesday we hiked the Indio Hills Badlands Trail, which starts in Indio, a town about 20 miles south east of Palm Springs, which is also hosts of the famous  Coachella Festival, an all-you-can eat music event. The trail went through a harsh desert landscape, which looked like a place on Mars, up onto some rocky hills.

This view reminded of some Western movies. 

On the start of our hike we spotted an artificial pond, beautiful but also kitschy.

A glance onto the gorgeous rock formations.

Some spring floods created these very narrow mini canyons, dangerous when it rains. Fortunately we had dry weather.

To be continued

Stock Market: Happy Thanksgiving 2019

(Drivebycuriosity) - Today the Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. The feast reminds of the pioneers who lauded their harvests and their survival in the harsh environment of the 17th century. Investors also have plenty reasons to celebrate. The US stock market (S&P 500) gained 25.8% year-to-date and 14.9% y-o-y. 2019 is on the way to overcompensate last year´s loss of 6% by far and to finish a strong decade.

The stock market rally restarted this year as it did in 2012. The recession, which many had predicted and was almost priced into the stock prices, did not happen and is not around the corner. The trade war against China did not escalate and it´s damages are constrained so far. Trade war or not, the US economy is still sound, jobless rates & weekly jobless claims are close to all-time lows and consumer spending, the engine of the economy, is growing solidly.

I suppose that the rally will continue in 2020 and beyond. During the recessions of the years 2001/02 and in 2008 companies restructured and reduced costs significantly in order to survive. Now they are much fitter and more efficient than before. I believe that this learning process will continue and will translate into a long term trend of rising company profits.

Companies are benefiting from a new industrial revolution: Advances in Internet, mobile computing, 3-d-printing, robotics, nano- & biotechnology and other technologies are reducing costs, raising efficiency and creating new markets. Interest rates are low, thanks to a constraint inflation, and oil costs about halve than in 2012, thanks to US fracking. Reduced taxes and less regulation in the US also are supporting the growth of the company earnings.

We are having solid tailwinds from the emerging markets which are even getting stronger. The catching-up process in China (which is still growing about 6%), India, Indonesia and a lot of other countries translates into high growth in large parts of the global economy that creates continuously rising revenues & profits for global companies like Starbucks, IBM, Caterpillar, Apple, Microsoft, Google and other members of the S&P 500. I assume that the global economy will re-accelerate coming year, thanks to relative cheap oil and the reduced US taxes.

 Happy Thanksgiving! 

Street Art: The Murals Of Coachella, California

(Drivebycuriosity) - My and I are staying in Palm Springs and are exploring the neighborhood of the Californian city. Yesterday we visited Coachella, a largely a rural and agricultural community with a population of about 40,000. The town has a certain fame for her street art created by local & international artists.

Above 2 murals even Manhattan`s Lower East Side, where I live, would be proud of.

To be continued

Traveling: A Visit @ Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve Palm Springs California

(Drivebycuriosity) - My wife and I are staying in Palm Springs, a Californian desert town 107 mi (172 km) south-east of Los Angeles. The town, which has a about 40,000 residents and many more visitors, is located in the Coachella Valley. This weekend we drove to the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve east of the town. The oasis in the midst of the Coachella desert  is irrigated by water seeping out of the San Andreas Fault.

The plants are very crowded there, all attracted by the rare water. I have never seen such strange palms.

The center of the oasis has a swamp which is the basis for a lush vegetation, a kind of rain forrest in the desert.

There is not much place left between the plants.

Above some detail shots.

To be continued

Contemporary Art: Sheetal Gatttani @ AlconGallery New York

 (Drivebycuriosity) - Contemporary art is global. At AlconGallery in Manhttan`s artsy Chelsea district I spotted nice abstracts by the Indian artist Sheetal Gatttani (aicongallery). I display here my favorites, a subjective selection as usual.

I like the wonderful monochrome patterns which remind me of Rothko but have their own style.

To be continued