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Halx · 10-03-2008, 03:19 PM

There are few acts of vandalism that can actually raise the property value of a building, but if you ever were to get tagged by the infamous Banksy, your place could become a priceless work of art over night. Then there are the signs, stickers, stencils and markings that you encounter on your walk down the block. Some of them whisper little messages to you, in an unobtrusive way, but they are still scrubbed from their surface the moment the city orders a worker to do so. There are street musicians who gather crowds around them as they play, but simply annoy those who have to scurry around their noisy obstruction. The trash on the grass in the park is in fact litter, but its arranged in such a fashion... it appears to be a message. Will you listen or will you throw it away?

There is a place and a time for everything. Some people believe art should be confined to a museum. Nobody wants to live in a world cluttered with noise and garbage, but you also need flavor and contrast. Art provides just that. Sometimes an artist needs to bring the art to you because you're never going to go search for it yourself.

Have you had any experiences with "urban art"? How do you feel about people making artistic statements on public property?

I currently follow a blog that highlights various street art "installations" that make ways on the internet. They run the gamut from really creative ploys to political statements to outright vandalism. One initiative, for instance, encouraged people to deface Hummer vehicles by replacing the H with a D. There is also one that makes use of a shadow that a streetlight gives to a statue, but is also technically graffiti and defacement of public property.

I have to say that I approve the installations that can be easily removed and have inherent creativity (as opposed to some blatant political message). Many old-fashioned "pranksters" may find this to be weak in the guts department, but I feel that destructive subversion is something I grew out of several years ago.

10-03-2008, 03:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Halx Please touch this. Owner/Admin Location: Manhattan	Is it art or graffiti? (Urban Art) There are few acts of vandalism that can actually raise the property value of a building, but if you ever were to get tagged by the infamous Banksy, your place could become a priceless work of art over night. Then there are the signs, stickers, stencils and markings that you encounter on your walk down the block. Some of them whisper little messages to you, in an unobtrusive way, but they are still scrubbed from their surface the moment the city orders a worker to do so. There are street musicians who gather crowds around them as they play, but simply annoy those who have to scurry around their noisy obstruction. The trash on the grass in the park is in fact litter, but its arranged in such a fashion... it appears to be a message. Will you listen or will you throw it away? There is a place and a time for everything. Some people believe art should be confined to a museum. Nobody wants to live in a world cluttered with noise and garbage, but you also need flavor and contrast. Art provides just that. Sometimes an artist needs to bring the art to you because you're never going to go search for it yourself. Have you had any experiences with "urban art"? How do you feel about people making artistic statements on public property? I currently follow a blog that highlights various street art "installations" that make ways on the internet. They run the gamut from really creative ploys to political statements to outright vandalism. One initiative, for instance, encouraged people to deface Hummer vehicles by replacing the H with a D. There is also one that makes use of a shadow that a streetlight gives to a statue, but is also technically graffiti and defacement of public property. I have to say that I approve the installations that can be easily removed and have inherent creativity (as opposed to some blatant political message). Many old-fashioned "pranksters" may find this to be weak in the guts department, but I feel that destructive subversion is something I grew out of several years ago. __________________ You have found this post informative. -The Administrator [Don't Feed The Animals]