Roadtrip Photo Diary Graffiti

Click on images to supersize. (Photos by C-M.)

'Permission walls' help bring graffiti art into mainstream

Rex Thomas, a writer out of Florida, has an excellent piece out on the relationship between street art and civic spaces, arguing that failure to bring graffiti into the mainstream postpones "treatment of the urban malaise." I was particularly taken by Thomas' discussion of "permission walls" and his analysis placing graffiti in context with more traditional, accepted art forms:

In Orlando, the trend of giving street artists “permission walls,” or walls where they have permission to paint their work, has tamed some of the sabotage. By allowing graffiti artists to work with permission, they are free to develop their craft without fear of getting caught before completion, and the artwork becomes a colorful, mural-sized effort to which the artists can point with pride. These permission walls encourage friendly competition between teams, or crews, and there is a sense of pride among them for having created something with great exposure.

Two permission walls exist to the east of downtown, but it is the cluster of warehouses at 630 E. Central that showcase graffiti

artwork at its best. Artist Robin Van Arsdol owns part of this cluster and has been sponsoring an international graffiti conference for several years, bringing in artists from Europe, the Caribbean, and North America for a weekend of painting at his studios. Driving by his property is a study in converting urban form into art, and perhaps suggests the urban future of more than one city.

For the graffiti artists have offered a philosophical change-up that should not be overlooked. The conversation about postmodern art seemed to have reached a dead end some time ago; artists first threw out figure, then form, then color, then the frame, and then wandered into their process itself as an art form. Graffiti artists begin with the end: their signature, or tag, becomes the art, and by using this as the starting point, and the city as their canvas, they unconsciously offer a new beginning to think about the relationship between art and the city.

We must accept the challenge that graffiti artists offer us; we must confront this takeover of the physical urban form and push back. While street art is a fresh, interesting language, it should not be mistaken for the language of knowledge or power. Instead it is the language of a city that is weak and divided. We must hear what graffiti says to us as a society, and retake our physical urban character as a common, broad place that offers security, sacred, and special places for all citizens, not just the privileged few who, by choice, enter the physical realm. By ignoring graffiti art, we postpone our treatment of the urban malaise. By confronting it and bringing it into the mainstream, we can better treat our urban condition and improve the city as a dwelling place for the benefit of all.

Prague prepares for its first festival of graffiti and street art

Graffiti is a form of street art, it appeared 30 years ago; later, stickers and stencils came to carry on the legacy, still – graffiti is the most wide-spread street art form. Names Fest focuses on legality, graffiti is going to be presented as a form of creative art, not from the side of an adrenaline sport. A few legally rented walls are waiting to introduce Czech and foreign authors and their art.

There are going to be presentations of famous international art pieces and cult movies. The artists, who left an imprint on walls of many cities are welcomed to introduce themselves.

Names Fest takes place since 26th August to 6th September in Trafacka gallery and around the famous movie theatre Aero. The festival culminates by the contest of the best artpiece, and continues by an exhibition in Trafacka until the end of October.

A bonus of this exhibition is an auction of graffiti created on canvas.

Sticker graffiti craze takes

But one new invention could put paid to all that – a sticker book full of graffiti creations by some of the world's best street artists.

Now would-be graffers can walk around sticking up masterpieces all over their favourite patch (although we should warn you this is just as illegal as the real thing).

The love affair with 'stickerbombing' – or slapping stickers on street furniture with merry abandon – has a long history with young rebels.

But only now has a collectable, fully peelable sticker book with more than 250 specially commissioned stickers been developed.

London-based agency Studio Rarekwai took up the challenge with writers Ryo Sanada and Suridh Hassan compiling Sticker­bomb, their newly rel­eased book.

Wearable Graffiti By Bleach

Funnily enough I run a and was a little torn as to which blog I should feature the graffiti artist Bleach’s tees in, but as this gives me a chance to showcase some of his stunning art I think I’ve made the right choice. Bleach as with many graffiti artists is particularly hard to track down on the Net so it’s probably a good thing I’m writing this post, the best place to learn about the artist is at the excellent UK urban art site UKadapta (don’t ask me why the homepage is in Japanese – all I know is there’s an English version of the site so you won’t need to take a crash course in a highly complicated language).

MELBOURNE GRAFFITI ART

I’ve always appreciated the work of graffiti artists and in Melbourne, Australia, spectacular graffiti art seemed to be everywhere. Bursting off the walls in vivid explosions of color, the urban artworks brought their surroundings to life and helped give the neighborhoods that much more of a pulse.

Melbourne has a rich and impressive selection of graffiti art lining its streets and alleyways. So much so that the British street artist, Banksy, said it was arguably Australia’s most significant contribution to the arts since they stole all the Aborigine’s pencils. However, it’s not just other street artists that think highly of Melbourne’s graffiti, as Australia’s National Trust and Heritage Victoria are both in favor of protecting the city’s graffiti art.

Unsurprisingly though, not everyone considers graffiti as a valid art form to be celebrated. Scott Hilditch, chief executive of Graffiti Hurts Australia says that protecting graffiti would signify the acceptance of society’s decline and open the floodgates to vandalism by sending a dangerous message that graffiti is acceptable.

Graffiti Fonts

Nice. Maybe sometime I’ll try to feature some of the best gaffiti arts around the globe here in GDFR.

Here some screenies of the fonts included in the 100 graffiti font pack.

Railroad Graffiti Picture Derby Connecticut

I know there is graffiti all over the United States, especially in New York and Brooklyn along the subway route, but here's a cool graffiti pic for ya.

We sure were surprised when we went to our secret spot in to go fishing in Derby CT, and as we were walking along a path by some old railroad tracks, and found some graffiti that I would consider art under the railroad tracks.

The 1800's railroad tracks are above me in this picture.

I was so amazed, I couldn't help but take a pic of as much graffiti as I could, but this picture is the best one that turned out.

Click here to see a larger photo of Railroad Graffiti

Did you know that graffito is singular for graffiti? How old is this graffito? From the looks of the rest of the pictures I would guess from the early 1970's. To me it's like art, and appears to have taken a lot of thought in creating something like this, and because of where it's located, I wouldn't consider it vandalism, it's pretty well hid. How many people do you know that can draw graffito letters like this? Not me! See the old Shelton Railroad where we took the picture.

The classic wild style practitioner

For my money, the best style writer in the world today. At a time when many people literally paint the same outline dozens or even hundreds of times and just change up the colors, Bates paints a different style pretty much every time. If you're a writer, know one thing: Bates can probably do your style better than you.

Paralyzed Graffiti Artist Draws With His Eyes

In 2003 Tony Quan, a Los Angeles-based graffiti artist, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, leaving virtually every muscle in his body paralyzed except for his eyes

A group of artists created a gadget, costing about as much as an iPod shuffle, that lets Quan continue making art using only his eyes.

How does it work you wonder? Inventor Zach Lieberman breaks it down for NPR:

"He can plot points. And from plotting points, create letters. And from creating letters,
create words. And then color the words, shade the words, extrude them in 3-D, add different features." The contraption looks like eyeglasses but works like a miracle.

They've just won a FutureEverything Award for innovation which includes a cash prize but Lieberman sets the record straight: "We're not in it to make money. This is really coming from the heart."

Interview: Mohammed Ali

God works in mysterious ways. Most of the time beyond our feeble comprehension, like in the case of graffiti artist Mohammed Ali (aka Aerosol Arabic), who after rediscovering his faith, began to fuse street art with the eloquence of Islamic script and patterns. Describing his work as “taking the best of both worlds”, this highly-charged, charismatic aerosol-slinger has travelled across the globe challenging the oft-heard term “clash of civilizations”. In full spirit,juice hooked up with the man who was brave enough to spray light on some of the darkest streets in the world

Artist creates 'light graffiti' with torch across British landscape

Light graffiti: Like an advanced-photographic version of writing your name with a sparkler on Bonfire Night, Michael Bosanko has spent the past five years developing his art Photo: BARCROFT

Created by Welsh artist Michael Bosanko, the Light Graffiti effect is achieved using only five coloured torches and a long exposure on a digital Canon camera.

Like an advanced-photographic version of writing your name with a sparkler on Bonfire Night, Michael has spent the past five years developing his art.

Based in Cardiff, Mr Bosanko, 39, draws most of his light art either in the empty urban night spaces of cities like Newport and his home town, or in the more desolate landscapes of the Brecon Beacons hills.

"I use my torches like an artist would use a paint brush," says Mr Bosanko.

"I employ an exposure that lasts from ten seconds to one hour and then try to let my art manage to create what I had imagined.

"What I feel I am trying to convey is a sense of an aesthetically pleasing shape that clearly does not belong in that particular place or area," said Mr Bosanko.

Covering the lens of his average household torches in coloured paper allows Mr Bosanko to bring different shades of the spectrum to his work.

"To get the best results the shoot depends on the amount of ambient light that is available.

"If I am working in an urban environment like a city then there is lots of ambient light that means I have to work quickly.

"Some people have asked if I have ever used photo-shop on my work and I have to tell them that it is simply created with a torch, a camera and the canvas of the night," says Mr Bosanko.

"The inspiration for my Light Graffiti came to me around five years ago when I was on holiday in Greece," says Mr Bosanko.

"I was taking a picture of a very bright moon one evening in Greece when I noticed a swirling effect because the exposure had been left too long.

"I then realised the beginning of my work in light art and have continued ever since."

The Best of Kelburn Garden Party

Back in 2006, Brazilian graffiti artists, as part of the pan-continental art-clash ‘Graffiti Project’, flew over from Sao Paulo to hand-paint the walls of the castle, creating a visually stunning spectacle and an extraordinary festival backdrop. The free-spirited ethos of The Garden Party aimed to attract musically-aware, fun-loving festival-goers, with a passion for new, inspiring music and successfully created this relaxed and intimate atmosphere.

Side-stepping traditional festival line ups, The Garden Party took place on June 20th and 21st and had a strong focus on hand-picked local talent with a wide-spectrum of international underground artists, quite happily uniting gypsy folk and samba with electronica and techno.

This show brings you some of the tracks from the best acts recorded live from Saturday’s line up, including music and an interview with Simon Richmond from The Bays and music from Scottish based artists James Yorkston, Dave Donelly and Joe Acheson Quartet, in addition to Bonobo and Black Cats.

Want to see some cool graffiti

This site is great – it not only gives you a growing catalogue of the graffiti and street art that you can see in Brighton, but it explains possible explanations behind the graffiti, so you will no longer find yourself baffled by what it all means! Probably the most concise list of Graffiti in Brighton (Or at least it’s getting there!)

You can see some cool works of graffiti here, and it is updated regularly so keep checking back!

CArtoon Graffiti Art

It is difficult to give you the answer you are looking for with out more details, such as the name of the artist you are referring to. I will try my best, however.

In my research I found that graffiti art originated in the late 1960's. Later with the invention of spray paint it evolved into what we see now. The Graffiti Artists strive to be known as the best or as the "King" or "Queen". For more interesting detail on this art form you can refer to the source below or do your own search on graffiti art. Another excellent research source would be your local library. Ask your librarian for assistance.

I was able to find one site with lots of samples of graffiti art; you can see if this has what you are looking for. For more sites you can try searching with the key words: Graffiti Art Gallery.

los muros nos hablan / walls speak to us (Chile)

mELASO durante el encuentro "Lo Mejor de tu Ciudad" en la Sede DUOC Plaza Vespucio (La Florida - Santiago).

Mastering Graffiti Art

Graffiti art doesn't aloof beggarly art we see sprayed on walls. In fact, graffiti art has such able characteristics that it's accessible to atom them everywhere - in schools, on sidewalks, on bicycles, on automobiles, on skateboards and on textbooks, aloof to name a few examples.

Graffiti art has a apart feel about it. There are no austere rules to creating graffiti art, except a few audible characteristics that consistently accomplish graffiti art arise stylish. Let's see what those characteristics are.

First, graffiti art are usually apart forms. But these forms are usually aloof bright abundant to represent what they're declared to represent. The shapes are about created, and the capacity overlap one addition in a rather accidental manner. Highlights are activated to the angel if bare but again, these are about applied.

Second, texts are usually visible, and fatigued in an arresting address that gives a 3D impression. These texts usually anatomy a few words or a abbreviate phrase, and makes up a allotment of the absolute graffiti artwork.

graffiti Artist Ben Matthews creates incredible images using his camera and light

Incredible never-before-seen pictures show the latest spectacular work from the UK's best light graffiti artist

graffiti Artist Ben Matthews creates incredible images using his camera and light

A golfer drawn entirely in white light checks his next shot on the putting green at Guildford Golf Course

Graffiti Arts Classes

GRAFFITI ART CLASSES FOR INDIVIDUALS: ZAP GRAFFITI ARTS are running graffiti art classes for individuals of all ages. Learn the basic skills of the art form with a professional tutor to create you...

The Best Graffiti Art

After posting Painting with Light, I had the pleasure of speaking with the LICHTFAKTOR crew, the artists responsible for the photos posted. The 3-man creative force behind LICHTFAKTOR is VJ sehvermoegen, graffiti artist jiar, and VJ 10X.What drew you to become light graffiti artists?

Light Graffiti Artists

Light Graffiti Artists

BMW car with graffiti art

For someone with a less certain art do not like people who like the art, for example in the BMW in all this that there is a body art graffiti attached, for the love of art is a solitary pride, but for those who do not like this is a act that can be less work, how do you respond?

GRAFFITI ARTIST FOR HIRE

The popularity of graffiti has soared over the past decade becoming ingrained in various facets of popular culture. The graffiti artist can be viewed as an outsider or a revolutionary, a voice of the people speaking out from the streets, altering our pre conceptions and leaving indelible commentaries that can challenge the status quo. In recent years graffiti artists have made the general public sit up and take notice and a large quotation of the populous has realised the practice of graffiti can now truly be considered an art form. As a result the graffiti works and the artists themselves have become accepted and highly sought after. It is widely accepted that the spraycan is a challenging tool to use and takes years to master only the elite can earn the status of 'Kings' among their peers.

Graffiti Art || Graffiti Alphabets Art Collection

Collection graffiti alphabets of how to make it, writing or letters used, the symbol as a complement in graffiti, and also form an interesting design view to be enjoyed by the fans, give comments on the image above for the progress of this blog, thank you ...

Tagging a Champion

Have 24 cameras handy? Too bad, because if you had 'em (along with a cabal of the East Coast's best graffiti artists and some flashlights), you could make a stab at the below. We've always liked Graffiti Research Lab, but after taking a peek at their winning Intructables entry (How to Enter the Ghetto Matrix (DIY Bullet Time), we're downright smitten.

The Graffiti Laser

Australian artist Chris Poole was driving around his native Perth recently, when some curbside garbage caught his eye. Unlike the average scavenger, Poole wasnt searching for couches or chairs. He had his eye on an old slide viewer—a key component for his next project, a laser-based projector that could display family photos (albeit with a green hue) to the entire town.

Cool Colors In The Graffiti Alphabet 2010

All kinds of colors that is so attractive about graffiti art alphabet on top of this, the colors are made very very sharp and interesting, so it is very feasible ifgraffiti alphabet was included in the high-level artwork.