Graffiti Artists in a new line of Work

Graffiti Artists, Kings of Walls, Now Dress Windows. Several graffiti artists have been recruited to create  graffiti based paintings as a backdrop to Lord & Taylor’s windows along Fifth Avenue, following in the footsteps of other artists like Red Grooms and Larry Rivers whose work has appeared at the flagship store.


This happened last year. I hope they do it again.

The Berlin Wall

Not only was it a massive wall, The Berlin Wall was also one of the major graffiti / street art venues of Europe if not the world. Yes it is good that the wall is down, but did so much great art 9much of it political) need to be destroyed? For the nilhillist in you, you can recreate the destruction at http://www.fallberlinwall.com/ where through texting you can knock down the wall yet again.

Street Art and Graffiti in Ireland

I just returned from a vacation in Ireland and found some nice examples of street art in both Limerick and Dublin. Here are some photos:

From a skateboard park in Limerick

 From the sidestreets of Dublin:

Great Flickr Graffiti Site

Spinstertoo has a great selection of graffiti photos - mostly from Australia, it seems. Check it out here: Spinsteroo

Light Graffiti

I have seen this in various forms - laser shows on the sides of buildings, for example. But I have not heard of light being used in a three dimensional type of way from a graffiti artist. I am not especially happy that this is linked to an advertising campaign but am sufficiently impressed that it looks so neat. It is your call, folks:

Photographer Michael Bosanko swapped spray cans for flashlights to graffiti British landmarks in a new set of images commissioned by TalkTalk to mark the launch of an advertising campaign that uses the same technique

You Say Street Art, I Say Graffiti. Let's Discuss.

Here is an article from the San Francisco Chronicle discussing the finer points of street art vs graffiti. As for me, I see little difference - unless you want to get nit picky. In my mind, graffiti is essentially spray paint while street art uses wheatpaste, stensil and stickers. However I think an argument can be made that says that graffiti is anything applied illegally or surreptitously in the environment while street art might be, like a commissioned wall mural, just another pices of art on the street. Read the article and decide.

Whole in the Wall 1970-Now

The Village Voice reports this graffiti based travelling art show. Check it out:

J'Aime Graffiti BY ARACELI CRUZ

Helenbeck Gallery curators and twin sisters Chantal and Brigitte Helenbeck have a distinct love for the French Revolution and contemporary art. So much so that they've decked out their galleries, based in New York and Paris, in certified antique Louis XIV furniture, crystal chandeliers, and the most radical graffiti works. This play on eras in Whole in the Wall: 1970–Now examines graffiti through this very comprehensive and traveling retrospective, from the local street-art pioneers of the '70s and '80s (Blade, Crash, Daze, Jonone, Quik, Lee Quinones, Rammellzee, and Sharp) to their contemporary European counterparts (Victor Ash, Banksy, Blek le Rat, Ikon, Sozy One. and sculptor Plateus). The group show also has photography pieces by Martha Cooper, Henry Chalfant, Jamel Shabazz, and Silvio Magaglio.

The Beauty and Grace of Pure Scrawl

There is something to be said for the pure essence of graffiti. The "scrawls" and short tags that seem to crop up everywhere. I have to admit that I like some of them and am unimpressed with others. But there are a few that have a wonderful lyricism and grace. Here are a couple of examples:

Toronto Now Magazine

Dr Douglas Frayn is a psychoanalyst who writes for Toronto Now Magazine. He has a recent article on Toronto graffiti and writes on it from a psychological perspective:

As noted from earliest cave-man's markings, individuals have depicted their hopes and fears through art. Graffiti is a graphic art form of contemporary underground language. A "graffito" is a rough drawing or bit of lettering superimposed on a public structure. Such communications often surface as hurried artistic letterings and drawings, furtively displayed in public places and usually expressed in an anti-establishment slogan form.

The best- known ancient graffiti are those excavated from the catacombs of Rome and ruins of Pompeii. Poetry, lover names, favourite gladiators, pornographic drawings and political abuse frequented such walls. Officials had placed inscriptions and religious emblems in public latrines to discourage these practices. During W.W.2 the graffito "Kilroy was here" (a cheeky little man with a long nose dangling over a wall) was found everywhere that U.S. troops were stationed. Most often it was in off-limits sections of town and meant to taunt authority. Although the origin of "Kilroy" is unknown, it could mean "kill roi"- kill the King. When a relatively powerless individual or group's ideas come into conflict with the main elements of society, graffiti remains one of the few ways available to express unacceptable commentary.

A sociologist from Simon Fraser University (Martin Laba) believes that Vancouver's graffiti is a reflection of increasing governmental restraint legislation. Graffiti is dreamlike production. Using symbolism, it primarily represents suppressed elements in our society. Through the use of a word, phrase, or neologism, graffiti demonstrates condensation, displacement, timelessness as well as immediate impulse and its expression through graphic discharge. These are the hallmarks of the unconscious. Graffiti then becomes a sublimation via explosive artistic activity with the graphic ritualism replacing the wished-for prohibited or destructive act.

Each city has its own type of graffiti and Toronto is no exception. Graffiti forms reflect political, sexual, commercial, artistic and recreational attitudes using slang, design and cabals arranged in idiosyncratic ways by the graffitist. Some view graffiti as a form of folk art while others see it as desecration of public property by vandals. By the 1970's the aerosol can was the favoured instrument for defacing public areas and formal advertising. Larger scale writing or "getting up" may be found along with the artist's "tag name" such as "Neon", "Flex" or "TCM" (common Toronto inscriptions). In New York, the display of the infamous artist's signature or code-name is most important and is said to represent "the faith of graffiti", while Toronto graffiti less frequently identifies its artist. The biggest name "writers" (graffiti artists) say they do it for local "anonymous" fame and excitement. Armed with spray cans and the hot rush of a midnight run, they "throw up" instant imagesand clear out before the cops or rival groups catch them "doing a burner". They sometimes go as crews, with several writers "jamming" off each others work. Their gear can include several types of spray cans, respirator masks and even skateboards to make an emergency exit.

In North America, politics seems to have replaced religion as the contemporary repository for spiritual aspirations and existential frustrations. This can be noted particularly in recent public graffiti. Exterior Toronto graffiti tends to show more political concern and unlike the more amateur indoor graffitists, there is little evidence of sexual or romantic preoccupation. These wall "canvasses" demonstrate political outrages against fascism, communism, chauvinism and public officials. Others leave poignant intimate messages, social comment, ads for rock groups and underground organization announcements.

Although the artistic style and handwriting may betray individual artists, Toronto graffitists publicly identify with the group behind the artistic message. In Toronto it seems to be "the message, not the medium" nor for that matter the artist either, that is the more important. Although graffiti can be found throughout the city it is not as common in the suburbs as in the downtown core. Particularly artistic graphics can be found in and around alleyways south of Bloor street (eg.Queen/King) between University and Dufferin avenues. In the following candid scenes what is depicted represents more than what is concretely transcribed and may publicly reflect some of our own unspoken inner feelings.

As presently noted on the walls of ruined Pompeii, these designs and expressions of vulgar art may even out-live us; the only remnants graphically reflecting the times of our society as well as our own individual psychology. One of the most enjoyable aspects of graffiti is its artistic simplicity and whimsical approach to rather profound concepts. This recreational public art can be artistically enjoyed as well as thoughtfully contemplated. Consider the textured backdrops as well as the more obvious colored messages and script. I am hopeful that some of the "Toronto Graffiti" as shown here will stimulate memories of your own favourite pieces. What is depicted here is only a small sample of this varied and often transient art form. The life span of graffiti can vary from a matter of minutes through thousands of years. What you see today maybe erased tomorrow - so enjoy it!

Here are his graffiti galleries:
http://www.psychoanalyst.ca/graffiti.htm
http://www.psychoanalyst.ca/graffiti2.htm
http://www.psychoanalyst.ca/graffiti3.htm