Gimme, Gimme Shelter! t's just a bark away!

                           GIMME, GIMME SHELTER! IT'S JUST A BARK AWAY!


                    Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking the city of Philadelphia's Mural Arts Tour.  Despite the heat and stink of the city, it was exciting way to spend an afternoon field trip, taking in all the works peppered in Center City.
         
                  By far, my favorite (out of the fourteen murals we visited) was " Gimme Shelter" by artist, David Guinn. The mural, completed in 2004,  resides on the left hand side of the Morris Animal Refuge.  I am a sucker for shelters because I believe even misfits need a home.

                 Coming upon the mural, I had a smile on my face from ear to ear.  "WOW!" I said to myself, "This must be what heaven is like for dogs." As I approached closer to the mural,  I noticed dogs were not the only animals depicted. Among man's best friend were: cats, birds, rabbits, an iguana and a goldfish.

            The animals are not random images from Guinn's imagination but are derived from real life ex-sheltered creatures.  The subjects were determined by a raffle, which the proceeds went to fund both the mural and the shelter.  Since the raffle was highly advertised, the shelter received more than a few entries.

           During the opening ceremony of the mural,  Guinn stated, "Murals are so may things to me. each mural is an odyssey. Each design is like a map. With every mural I learn a lot about the people and place I am painting for, and about myself."

          For once I wished I had the power to transport myself into such a wonderful and uplifting work of art.  Guinn's composition certainly is a modern version of  Edward Hicks' Peaceable Kingdom.  But my only question is, "How the heck did he get all those animals to stand still?" :)

     

Ewwww, I hate graffiti, but I just have to have the new Louis Vuitton bag!!

If graffiti is considered to be a crime, ugly, unappealing, and not an art form, then why is it popular among the elite? By that,  I mean the big designers you find in those upscale, fancy schmancy, high end department stores and boutiques. Those are the same people complaining how it makes the city look ugly but don't mind it if it's on their $1,500 Louis Vuitton bag.

If society refuses to recognize it as a pure art medium, then why is it okay for those big name designers to have their merchandise splattered with it? I don't get it.

              I view it as a double standard among the rich and famous. They whine like spoiled brats when their houses and cars are painting with graffiti, but are willing to shell out $1,700 on a Chanel hobo tote, or shoes, or umbrella, or raincoats. The logic to me does not make any sense.

The following link goes made me shake my head. I don't get rich people...

http://www.crowdactivation.com/blog/chanel-graffiti

          I do support the stores (Hot Topic) and websites (Bombing Science.com) who are graffiti specific in their line of clothing. Those companies support the art and deem it as "expressing yourself". You guys rock!

    

Ain't No Party Like a Scranton Party

 

                            

THE ELECTRIC CITY MURAL:

AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A SCRANTON PARTY

   

                           Growing up in northeastern Pennsylvania was about as exciting as counting snowflakes in the middle of July. (Yes, that there is sarcasm). Up until some years back, a tiny, little show called, "The Office" made people take a different look at Scranton. We were getting popular. Not New York City or Los Angeles popular, but popular enough that when you said you were from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, people didn't look at you as if you had lava coming out of your head. 

                 When you were from Wilkes-Barre, going to Scranton was a big deal and vice versa. One of the highlights of driving to Scranton was passing the enormous Electric City mural on the right hand side of route 81 N. 

                 When I was a little whippersnapper I would ask my parents why Scranton was called the Electric City. Their answer surprised me. Scranton was the first city in America to have electricity in the year 1880. "Holy crap! That was back in the Middle Ages. " I thought. Well, actually it was the first city to have an electric trolley system in 1886. Well, the last time I checked we didn't use the trolleys anymore due to this wonderful invention called the automobile. The nickname stuck regardless.

          The mural represents Scranton at night with the multicolored lights streaming up to the sky. A painting of an old fashioned trolley train reminds the public that we were the first.  It has been there (I am guessing for the past twenty years) and it is still pretty as the day it was unveiled.  As Michael Scott so proudly explained, "They call it that cuz of the electri-city."

Lady Pink: Queen of the Graffiti Art Scene

 Lady Pink: Queen of the Graffiti Art Scene

            Born in Equador. Raised in Queens. Painted on the streets. Sandra Fabara's life mirrors a Shakespearean tragedy. She was maniacally in love with her boyfriend at the tender age of fifteen. Her romance was cut short due to him being sent back to Puerto Rico after an encounter with the law.

        Devastated with the loss, Sandra began tagging her boyfriend's name throughout the city. She took on the name Lady Pink as an homage to her love of Victorian romances.

  

            She studied graffiti art at the Manhattan School of Art and Design, which became her new found love.  She began painting subway trains in New York City in 1979. Her style was a bold feminine design which made her one of the most photographed and interviewed graffiti artists of her time.

          Her first solo event was at Philadelphia's Moore College of Art and Design titled "Femme-Fatales." In 1983 her career began to take off  in several directions. She worked on a collaboration with fellow artist Jenny Holzer and had a role in the movie "Wild Style".  

        She had acquired the status of a fine artist when her collections were entered into several national and international museums ( the Met, The Brooklyn Museum, and the Groningen Museum of Holland to name a few).

       Today she is still going stronger than ever by working with teens by holding mural workshops, speaking at various college, and doing what she does best,
 PAINTING!                                                    

                                                               

Solveig: Banksy light

     
                   

                                  Solveig: Bansky light

                   You all have heard of Banksy, the famous European masked super crusader for art, justice, and the graffiti way.  Well, if you haven't heard, there's a new sheriff in town, and she is only ten years old!  Yep, you heard me true believers. Ten. Years. Old.  Meet Solveig, an adorable, young girl armed with a can of spray paint and ideas, and a million ways to express them.  Expert graffiti artists are deeming her "the young Picasso of street art." 

           Solveig, or Sol, as she is known in her art, has been painting her designs on legal graffiti sites since the age of eight. While watching other artists work she inquired if she could have a go at it, and the rest is history. She began painting sites around Brighton, Sussex. Her style is described as bold, colorful, and clean.  So far, the little Banksy has produced twenty large works which consists of cartoon characters. Her collage of characters include: sharks, snorkellers, zombies, and fried breakfasts.

           Unlike her predecessor, when she is finished with a work, she will date and sign it and stand alongside her work for a picture.

             You would think such a big wig would lead a fabulous life. Nope, Sol is just like any other ten year old and her interests besides painting are playing with her Barbies and collecting Dr. Who cards. You go Sol! You are my kind of artist....and geek!

Kids will be kids: Ancient Grafffiti

 

KIDS WILL BE KIDS: ANCIENT GRAFFITI

               Walk down any city street and you are bound to find some sort of graffiti displayed on its buildings, highways, or vacant spaces. At first thought one might think, "Ugh, don't these kids have better things to do than to deface other people's property?" or "Can't they keep their opinions and beliefs to themselves?" or " Now what statement are they trying to make now?"  But believe me, we are not the only civilization who have had people running amuck defacing property. 

             Any ordinary person might think graffiti had started in the 80's or 90's or even during WWII with "Kilroy was here".  Its origins go way back to the ancient times.  Now, I am not talking about the cave paintings in Lascaux where pictures of bison and people with spears running after their dinner. I am referring to the scribblings on the ancient Egyptians temple walls. Yep, they had problems with graffiti with little bratty pharaohs' kids running around with a stone carving tool making political and vulgar statements. 

            In the figure, on the upper left hand side, we see markings on an Egyptian male. These marks on his middle and trunk area seem displaced and random. I doubt those early artists would scratch up their work in such a manner.  Can you just see  it now? The pharaohs family is taking an afternoon hand carriage ride and stop at the temple to get out to stretch their legs. "Whoa! Honey! Have you been letting Rameses junior in the shed again? Get over here you little River Nile Rat!"

                 The figure on the right hand side shows an explicit image of a woman being bent over during the act of sex.  I bet that didn't sit too well with her, unless she was some type of Egyptian madame. Who knows? But this makes me think of the bathroom etchings of  "For a good time call Jenny".

        I guess it goes to show you no matter how advance we are as a civilization, we still find satire and sex a pretty funny thing.

     

           

The Mural Arts Program in the City of Brotherly Love

                           THE MURAL ARTS IN THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE

             As a Cowboy fan, it's hard to find love in the self proclaimed "city of Brotherly Love", but at The Mural Arts Program, it is busting out all over the place.  Besides cheesesteaks, it's what makes Philadelphians proud to be associated with "the birthplace"of Murals.

            Its mission statement unites artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives.

           Founded in 1984, The Anti-Graffiti Network took on Jane Golden, muralist extraordinaire, to redirect their drive from destructive and profane graffiti writings, to inspirational mural paintings.

          Recruiting an army of gifted graffiti artists, they transformed the city into a magical land of color, beauty, and energy. These new masterpieces changed the lives of those who worked on them and brought new aesthetic view to the city.

         Since its origin, the Mural arts program has produced over 3,6000 works of art which have become a place of interest to many visitors from all over the world.

       The programs offers self-guided tours of the murals for individuals or groups. (I highly recommend taking the tour!)  But on the flip side, their educational programs are offered without a fee. (Hey! What do you know? Some things in this life are free).  

     The curriculum engages its youth to use their problem solving skills, so they can have a more  productive and successful life. Incarcerated and released men and women inmates can also benefit from the program provided by a stipend so they can participate in creating murals for community centers and schools. What a wonderful asset this is to the city of Philadelphia!  The program can be summed up in three simple words (which is Golden's personal mantra) Art Saves Lives.

Hey Hey, Whaddya Say?

                                                       HEY HEY, WHADDYA SAY?

                 Yesterday, I was surfing the web and found some interesting (and humorous) quotes about graffiti. Some are by the graffiti artists themselves and some are not.  I hope you enjoy them! :)

"Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place." -Banksy, Wall and Peace

"Graffiti is beautiful; like a brick in the face of a cop."-Hunter S. Thompson

"Everyone has to scratch on walls somewhere or they go crazy."- Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion

 "Grey hair is God's graffiti."- Bill Cosby

"Graffiti is not about clean lines, pretty colors and beautiful blends. Graffiti is my life's turbulence exploded on a wall."-Mint Serf

                                            "I was here but now I'm gone

                                             I left my name to carry on

                                             Those who liked me

                                             Liked me well

                                             Those wo didn't can go to hell"

                                            -The bathroom wall"

                                           -E.M. Crane, Skin Deep

                 "Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint."-Banksy, Wall and Peace

                 " I think I can get into this graffiti street art ."-Lynese M. Spinelli

Shepard Fairey: GraffittiGuru

SHEPARD FAIREY:

GRAFFITI GURU

          You would think a son of a doctor and a real estate agent would have a career in the white collar world, but for Shepard Fairey his future was painted with different colors.

Fairey founded a passion for art in 1984 when he began creating his graphic designs on skateboards and t-shirts. The graduate of Rhode Island School of Design had his first exhibition in 2009 titled "Supply and Demand"which consisted of screen prints, stickers, collages, and works on metal, canvas, and wood.  His mantra of the body of work was entitled "Question Everything."

           He is best known for his "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign in which he augmented comedic images from tabloid newspaper. The  image of the Princess Bride's star quickly morphed into his "Obey Giant" campaign. Originally his stickers were meant to be a humorous idea to his college friends and classmates, but later broke into the mainstream.  

          Helen Stickler, a documentary film maker and fellow RID graduate, made a short film about Fairey and his work which premiere in New York's 1995 Underground Film Festival. The film has ben shown internationally in over 70 museums and festivals.

           In 2003 along with his wife, Amanda, they formed the Studio Number One Design Agency which has produced work for both the film and music industry.

           Even with fame and success, controversy is no stranger to the boyish looking Fairey. He has been criticized for not obtaining permission to provide credit for certain works he has used, and is also  accused to turning his street graffiti art into a self-promoting campaign. In  2009, while on vacation in Amsterdam he was attacked outside a nightclub for being a supporter of President Obama.

          Whatever life throws at Fairey, he is still one of the best known street and graffiti artists in today's world.

My First Graffiti Blog!

 
                                                    My First Graffiti Blog


             Today I watched  Banksy's documentary on Thierry Guetta's (aka Mr. Brain Wash) "Exit Through the Gift Shop" which featured graffiti artists such as Banksy, Space Invader, and Shephard Fairey. What started out as an amusing story, turns into a big pile of rubbish and self absorbsion.

           Guetta is a self proclaimed camera junkie who films EVERYTHING from his life.  Guetta begins following Space Invader's daring antics while they roam from building to building putting up Space Invader's alien icons.  He then films other street graffiti artists from Los Angeles, and winds up in London following Banksy, an elusive, hooded Batman of the graffiti art scene. (Banksy was asked to be filmed with his voice and image blurred to keep up his mystique).

         Over the years, Guetta has a plethora of tapes  and puts together a documentary which he believes is a brilliant film. To Bansky's disappointment, the film is a bunch of warbled images shifting from one to another, making no sense at all. Guetta becomes enamored with Bansky and believe he could do his own style of graffiti art.
   
       Guetta produces his art with the help of other street artist-who he absolutely gives no credit to in the process. The artists fervently work day and night to make his one-man show a success, but Guetta is only interested in boasting to the press what great art he has created. To my surprise, the public adores Mr. Brain Waste, er, Brain Wash and sells his poor excuse of prints for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

      Guetta's delusions of grandeur is downright nauseating as he boast about the accomplishments of bringing a fresh look to Pop Art. Bansky, Shepard, and a few others have a completely different view on his art which Bansky has eloquently sums it up by stating "Mr. Brainwash is a force of nature.... and I don't mean in a good way."