Public Space – Street Art

1. Definition of STREET ART:

An amorphous beast encompassing art which is found in or inspired by the urban environment. With anti-capitalist and rebellious undertones, it is a democratic form of popular public art probably best understood by seeing it in location. It is not limited to the gallery nor easily collected or possessed by those who may turn art into a trophy. Considered by some a nuisance, for others street art is a tool for communicating views of dissent, asking difficult questions and expressing political concerns. [External Website]

2. The news article I will be using is:

Graffiti: Street art – or crime? [Published by The Independent]

 SUMMARY:

The article talks about the rise of street artists and the widespread of their art work on street walls and other public surfaces. People, especially officials, are unsure if the graffiti on the walls today can be called vandalism or art. Many famous street artists, such as Banksy, have their works sold at very high prices or exhibited at art shows. Each person feels differently about the art they see in the streets. Some feel that they want to stop street art. They believe jailing them is not the solution. Others enjoy the expressive opinions and want street art to stay. The article also talks about how street art will be viewed as vandalism or not if the owner of the property deems it to be. The media organization of this is a British newspaper called 'the Independent'.

3. PHOTO 1:

  

•   The location of this street art is on a road in Geldern, Germany between a couple of residential buildings.
•  The street art contains many jagged lines from the rocks. It's a whole image of water and molten lava. There are a lot of reds and blacks from the lava and the rocks and shades of white and blue for the rushing water underneath.
• This street art grabbed my attention because this piece looked very realistic. The details on this one makes it look like it's actually happening right in front of your eyes.
• The street art is making me think that the end of the world, or apocalypse, is coming soon and it's going to be devastating.

PHOTO 2:

• This street art is located in Bethnal Green in London where the piece extends from the road, onto the sidewalk, then to a wall of a building.
• Images such as the flower and the man sitting with a paint roller can be seen in this piece. Shapes such as circles and flowing lines can be seen in this artwork. Colours such as white, and black for the man and yellow for the flower are visible in this piece.
• This street art appealed to me because it looks very simple and the way the piece starts out from the lines in the road and then flows to the wall is very impressive. The large flower grabbed my attention first and then I suddenly noticed the man sitting next to it. It also appeals to me because there is such a large contrast in size between the man and the flower.
• A comment this street art is making me think is that beauty can bloom almost anywhere even in the most unlikeliest places.

In Banksy's "Shop" section of his website, he encourages you to take anything from his site and make it your own but for non-commercial purposes. I think he does this because he creates his art out in the streets for people to appreciate or look at. He makes his art work an expression of mind and a way for his thoughts to be heard. He wants others to enjoy his art but not make money off of it.