Despite this graffiti, we're pretty sure Chuck Berry is still alive.

You never know how someone’s creative energies will be channeled in this town, and a shrine – or whatever it is – in Liberty Plaza is pretty good evidence of that.

The Chronicle came across this piece of urban art on Christmas Day. The day after Christmas, it was still there.

It is positioned on a snow-covered ledge on the Liberty Street side of the park, and includes a world globe, a coffee can with some Jesus literature inside, various plastic toy animals, some colorful Mardi Gras beads, playing cards and honestly, who knows what else is buried under that snow. Maybe we’ll find out after Saturday’s Big Melt. From yesterday to today, the number of pot-holder-sized crocheted squares has dwindled from three to one.

On the orthogonal ledge, someone has chalked “Chuck Berry RIP” and “Run Run Rudolf” onto the concrete. According to Dead or Alive, Berry is still with us. This may or may not be part of the same “installation” – we’d like to think it is, though we can’t even hazard a guess as to its meaning.

But maybe you can. More photos are after the jump.

A possible Mardi Gras bead belay for this plastic gorilla to use in scaling Mt. Liberty Plaza.

Some playing cards and holiday gift cards are scattered around the shrine. (Image links to higher resolution file.)

Chuck Berry first popularized the song "Run, Rudolph, Run," which includes the lyrics, "Run, Run Rudolph" (or "Rudolf," if you're into alternative spellings).

Lyrics for “Run, Rudolph, Run”

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Out of all the reindeer you know you’re the mastermind
Run, run Rudolph, Randalph’s not too far behind
Run, run Rudolph, Santa’s got to make it to town
Randalph he can hurry, he can take the freeway down
And away went Rudolph a whizzing like a merry-go-round
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Said Santa to a boy child “What have you been longing for?”
“All I want for Christmas is a Rock and Roll electric guitar”
And away went Rudolph a whizzing like a shooting star
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Run, run Rudolph, Santa’s got to make it to town
Can’t you make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
And away went Rudolph a whizzing like a merry-go-round
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Said Santa to a girl child “What would you like most to get?”
“I want a little baby doll that can cry, scream and wet”
And away went Rudolph a whizzing like a Saber jet
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Run, run Rudolph, run, run Rudolph, a running like a son-of-a-gun.

Work by Ann Arbor artist Janice Milhem, on exhibit at Cafe Verde.

When a Chronicle reader saw our article on graffiti art, she shot us an email saying we should check out Janice Milhem’s work, too.

Milhem isn’t a graffiti artist, but she documents urban landscapes – in Detroit, Berlin, New York, Marrakech and Ann Arbor, among other locales – through photographs that reflect both the grit and gravitas of life on the streets.

Her work is on exhibit this month at Cafe Verde in a show called “Shout” – a name Milhem said she chose because her pieces give expression to those who often don’t have a voice in society. The graffiti that Milhem documents is one way that people with few educational or economic opportunities express themselves, she says, and despite the bad rap it often gets, “it’s really quite beautiful.” Going into an abandoned factory that’s been adorned with graffiti “is almost like being in a cathedral.”

Janice Milhem

In addition to images of graffiti, Milhem captures other types of “social chaos,” such as protests, as well as architecture throughout the world as she travels. “It’s a way for people to see things and how other people live,” she says. Getting away from your accustomed world view “really opens up a lot of ideas.” She hopes her upcoming trip to Nepal with the Foundation for Global Leadership will provide even more fuel for her creative work.

Meanwhile, check out Milhem’s efforts closer to home. Cafe Verde isn’t officially part of the Oct. 17-18 Art Walk, but it could be – it’s just down the street from the Gallery Project, on your way to Kerrytown Market & Shops.

This is Milhem’s first solo show, though she’s been exhibiting for the past few years. Her work is for sale, and ranges from about $85 to $175. The exhibit runs through Oct. 26. You can also check out her work online.

Cafe Verde is located next to People’s Food Co-op at 214 N. Fourth Ave. The cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Customers at Cafe Verde mingle with those attending the opening reception for Janice Milhem's "Shout" exhibit.

A piece in Janice Wilhem's "Shout" exhibit.

But you’ll prove you really know the city if you can identify the locale of this work:

Close-up of a large work of stencil art.

It’s part of a much larger work on the south side of Catherine Street, on a concrete retaining wall across from the loading dock for UM’s 300 North Ingalls Building. The stenciling alone is interesting, but even more intriguing is the commentary – “IT’S ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE” – written beneath it.

A larger view of an adorned retaining wall on Catherine Street.

What you can do now, or what The Chronicle will do when we have time, is help answer these questions:

• How long has this stencil work been in place?
• Did the artist who put up the stencils also write the philosophical commentary?
• Who’s better looking – the Mona Lisa or Marilyn Monroe?