San Luis Obispo's

"Garden Street"

by Diana DeMille

I love my "Garden Street" (52"x43", coloured pencil on masonite) because I peopled it with 48 real people who go to Garden Street.  Tall Scott, Paul, Debbie, Chris O'Connell, Mosaic, Ed (who faithfully carries his "Eternal Life" sign), and probably You.  This piece has hung in special places like Linnaea's, World Art (in Pismo Beach), Gail Johnson's Art Gallery.

Garden Street in San Luis Obispo is for me the soul of this town.  People just plain feel good when they come to this area.  Art and music everywhere.  Linnaea's.  SLO Brew.  Frog and Peach.  Mother's.   The trees on Garden Street are Australian Carrot trees that undulate like sensuous lovers.  Street lights filter through the heavy leaves like candlelight.  The young people have adopted Garden Street as their own on Farmers' Market Night.  Hacky-sac.   Conversations on the curbs.  Wearing black.  Wandering through the infamous "Gum Alley" with gum-smeared walls spanning a decade.  Reminiscing college graduates return and point, "See?  I stuck that gum on in 1988."   I love Garden Street!