“I spy the mural in the alley that leads to the 8 Ball,” writes Melissa Barnes. It’s “on the north wall of the Blind Pig and 8 Ball Saloon on S. First Street,” specifies Dave Bicknell. “The artist Dokebi (aka Chris Sammons) used a reference to dokkaebi, a creature from Korean mythology for the mural,” says Barb Tester.
“The mural was commissioned during the beginning of the COVID lockdown,” writes Dokebi on his website, “so I wanted to create a piece that represented the social interaction we were all missing. I gathered together a crew of dokkaebi goblins enjoying themselves, drinking, and playing pool.”
“I’d recognize this Dokebi mural anywhere,” says Lauren Mitchell. “That alleyway needed a refresh & this was the perfect thing.”
“Back in the day, [I] spent many great evenings listening to music in the downstairs of the Blind Pig,” shares Dan Coughlin. With roots stretching back to 1971, the music bar opened March 20, 1972, and expanded in the early 1980s, moving the stage upstairs and creating the 8 Ball Saloon below. The first performance was a one-man blues band called Dr. Ross the Harmonica Boss. “I wonder if he had any idea what history he helped set in motion with that first gig?” muses David Karl.
We received 17 entries in September, all but one correct. Our random drawing winner, Bailey Hulswit, will enjoy her $25 gift certificate at Zingerman’s.
Order The Fake Ad Book and I Spy: Ann Arbor Architecture at annarborobserver.com/books.
