Bored? Wanna take a drive? Why not check out Florence Street, Sebastopol, CA (in Sonoma County)? Last July, when I was driving out to our bi-annual Scrapbook Weekend in Bodega Bay, I found this street quite by accident. Our freeways are hideously backed up and I was already running later than I wanted to be. So, instead of taking the main roads, I decided to try the back road to see if it was any faster. It’s definitely prettier anyway. So, I drive out 116 and head into Sebastopol. When I realized there is a one-way street up ahead, I turn into a residential area thinking I will pop out just west of the one way/downtown area. To my surprise, almost every single house on this street had a metal figure in their yards. These are old Craftsmen style houses, small and cute, with tidy yards… adorable really- and then there’s the huge, brightly painted, ”Burton-esque” people and animals, cars and machines with kooky expressions and sprung out eyes in the midst of quiet suburbia!
As I’m driving through, slowly now- not so much in a rush anymore, I decide that this is worthy of a day-trip with Keith. Hmm… how many months has it been since July? So last Saturday, we head out. Turns out, the artist lives on that street and his neighbors are more than happy to have his art in their yards. Even more silly? There’s one of his pieces just 2 blocks down from us and while we see it daily- we had no idea there were more! And then even MORE silly? We found out that Keith’s mom and her friend, Anjali, knew about this street for years and there is actually a calendar put out every year that benefits the Charter Schools in Sebastopol! Hmm. Gotta get out more.
Here is the artist’s website: http://www.patrickamiot-brigittelaurent.com/
And some pics i took… more on my flickr site. Click on the pics to see if you recognize any vacuum parts, shelving standards, silver teapots, painted chains and golf balls, headlights, taillights…
Hilarious- the chicken is so silly!
I love the dog in the passenger side- and the girl’s ear is a padlock
Keith’s favorite- Fisherman, truck and Airstream trailer!
Lauren
October 29, 2007 at 05:53
How cool are those!!!! Looking at those characters keeps reminding me of that Hallmark character Maxine. This is what her family would look like. Thanks for sharing – his work is incredibly clever.
Linda McClain
October 31, 2007 at 20:46
Wow, these are a hoot. Thank you so much for sharing – would be a long trip for me to come see from TX.