Blinky the Three-Eyed-Whale

 Posted by Bob the Hamster on August 4th, 2005

Current mood: Happy

If you drive all the way down Gaffey street in San Pedro, all the way to the Korean Friendship Bell, and you look on the west side of the road, you will see two famous pieces of street-art, which I have always called Blinky and Inky. Blinky is a three-eyed fish, and Inky is a one-eyed octopus. I named Blinky after a three-eyed fish in a episode of the Simpsons

I have always wondered what Blinkey’s real name is, and who originally painted him, and why. I found my answer this week on the front page of a copy of Random Lengths which I found on the floor of the Lobbey of Vagabond Inn on Gaffey near 2nd street. I found an online copy of the same article.


Blinkey is also known as The Three Eyed Whale, The Mutant Fish, and Charlie the Tuna. He was first painted in 1991 by Cartoonist Dave Butkus. Dave’s original art has long since been painted over, but other local artists keep Blinkey alive by re-painting him whenever he is erased or defaced.

If you happen to be in San Pedro, be sure to say “hello” to Blinkey.

Still no word on who originally painted Inkey. According to the article, Dave himself doesn’t know that.

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