Happy Holidays!

Let it snow! Because Maine should have snow and doesn't I went out and changed that. I visited 9 trashcans on the street of Freeport Maine and put chalk drawings of snowflakes on them. If you are in the area stop by and check them out. Tomorrow (Friday Dec. 23rd) I plan to put photos of all the flakes on Flickr! So keep your eyes open for them!

Best Images of 2011 search starts now!

New images just updated on the A.o.R.A. flickr page! Now to start look and figuring out the top 10 found art for 2011! They will be posted January 2nd. Just incase I find something so amazing in the next two weeks. But I should start looking over and making some choices. If you have any favorites please let me know!


check them out here!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/actsofrandomart/pool/

No Real Excuse

As much as I'd like to apologize for not writing a lot lately, I can't really. I say this because I have been busy making some sculptures and other art. But at the same time I should have been squeaking in some writing time. Breaking up time for those multi projects is still being worked out. Do not fear though! I do have some writings on the horizon and plan to get a couple more down this month. With a real push to getting more time set aside for 2012!

And thank you to all who have followed these writings and I hope you keep on checking in and passing the word on for the subjects you find interesting. And I'm always looking for more subject matters involving art and the streets.

Who decides Art is Art?

Even though I live in Freeport Maine a couple towns over and about 15-20 minute drive to Portland I am watching what is going there very carefully. Why should I care that much? Well Portland might not be the capital but it could be a place that sets some rules that will have effects across the state. Giving other towns and cities the light to tighten their reins on what art is.

Now don’t think that this is a completely new thing in art. Because this is  the kind of problem that art has had probably since the first cave painting. I can only picture the hunting scene be drawn with white powder and some one say it’s only real art when you burn the wood and draw with black charcoal. For centuries art also wasn’t even considered art. The early sculptures and fresco’s where not made just because someone wanted to. They where made because somebody wanted to to create stuff but was only allowed on commission and was very specific what and what not to do. When Leonardo was drawing in the dark and in secrecy the human body. His drawings of inventions and the human figure now are considered masterpieces. When what they really are are drawings for ideas and studies.

Jump ahead a couple thousand years and you will see the same thing going on. But now sculptors and painters can more or less make art for what it is. Art a form of entertainment. But then came photography, and that scared the hell out of artists, painters for sure because how where they supposed to compete with something that can capture a moment and in such detail? It was blown off for decades. Which it was used manly for commercial use and news reporting to give an image to help tell a story. Even though there where artists out shooting away trying to show that it is not threat to painters and the art world, but a new form of art. Ansel Adams is considered one of the best landscape photographers, yet he had to fight and prove that photography was an art form in the start. It wasn’t until roughly the 60’s that photography finally was given the green light to be an art form. In which even drawing the basis to most artists is still on shaky grounds of being art. It is more so an art but in the some of the more tight art groups it’s looked down upon. Even acrylics had a hard time being called paints. Which there are still oil painters that claim acrylics are not real because it’s a plastic paint. Which in my personal opinion if an artist knows how to use their materials and well, then it doesn’t matter if it’s watercolor, oil, or acrylic.

Now with that background what I am following that’s going on in Portland Maine is a quote from the cities attorney:

“The court has already determined what art is. It’s not up to an artist what art is.”
-Mary Costigan, City Attorney (Portland, ME)

Now how does that work? Artists can’t decide their work to be art? This day and age one of the hard things with contemporary art is what is art? You have performance art, fiber art, functional art, the list can go on and on. Now isn’t it easier to have the non art world settle the art worlds age long on going fight? And to use the courts to say that is and that is not art. Reasons why I am watching this is because of a danger that it makes me feel of where and how art is decided on. Because there are people that think that the jewelry they make is a true piece of art. Where someone looking at a painting that is all white and it’s all about the fact it’s 100 layers painted on, each layer at 10:56am everyday for 100 days. People will say, “That’s art?” But having the courts claim they know what art is, well that is dangerous. To me it’s not a Freedom of Speech thing. Because what this is all about is people selling art on the streets of Portland when they where told it’s open and now they are trying to slam the door shut. I see it as a problem for Portland’s Public Art groups having a harder time later when they want to put something in a public space and the courts say, that is not what we call art so no. And some of the internal bickering that will go on even more will be a problem. The reason why I don’t think that it’s a Freedom of Speech thing is only because it’s a commerce thing. To say selling art is a Freedom of Speech, that is different then saying you can’t make art that represents this. That is where blocking Freedom of Speech comes into play. But blocking what art is to sell, that’s a entirely different thing. Go to the MoMA, Milwaukee Museum, Portland Museum of Art, Boston, Chicago Art Institute, The Walker in Minnesota, any major museum anywhere and you will see from furniture and silverware in the design sections to Egyptian and Contemporary art work. All in which is called Art. Now for Portland to say a wooden spoon is not hand made and a form of art, they have not looked and educated them self on the history and show what is. The Portland Museum of Art will be having a show involving shaker furniture. Before questioning and saying what is and what is not, the courts need to really open their eyes and read up on somethings.

A response to another Yarn Bombers observation

After reading this great blog entry on the observation of another Yarn Bomber…(First if you want to read what they said before going on with this read Maluca Yarnbombing entry). I’ll wait...

Okay, now I’m assuming you have read the entry and now know that they were looking at monster feet and chicken feet moving up on a post and finding that it’s the city workers moving them so that they will not be damaged when cleaning the streets. I personally think it is fantastic and choose to assume that the workers liked having something different to look at other then the usual post. Now, it’s funny, because when we bombed Freeport, Maine, for International Yarn Bombing Day and Monster Foot day it was very interesting to see what happened to the works and who seems to really like them and who, oddly, has a problem. One restaurant, Azure Café, really enjoys it. The monster feet from June 11^th, as well as the additional ones on Monster Foot Day, were such a success they are still on the lights outside the building. The book store across the street leaves work up until it gets to a point that it looks a little shaggy and they take it inside. Some things they have even put aside for us to recollect and use later or just for display behind the counter. Surprisingly, Banana Republic, has left monster feet up on lamp posts, the Historical Society cracks me up by protecting things put up there. I even hear people talking about how when something fall off they pick them up and put them back! This means people around town are protecting these random works of art. Which is really pretty funny, sweet, and telling that art touches all of us in surprising ways.

Now, one thing I find funnier than the places that keep stuff up, is some of the ones that take them off right away. For example, a store that on International Yarn Bombing Day, June 11, 2011, my team was pretty sure this one store would be all for it. It’s a “Hippie” personality of a shop. So we figured that they would be laid back and want it. But, they were the first to take the two or three small things off the bench in front of the store. I went out early that morning to photograph the work in the morning light, the bench items were there, but when I talked to someone who went by an hour or so later, it turned out that the store people had taken it off. While I was pretty sure Banana Republic would have removed the feet that morning, they didn’t. And the other shop is a closer “local” shop. How ironic is that?

Now, I think one reason why yarn graffiti is more accepted is that it’s not permanently affixed to things. That is why I think most gorilla art that is not fixed to things and just placed is more accepted. It can be taken down when it fades or if it’s not liked by someone and it does not damage anything. Chalk, yarn, sculptures are all things that can happen without really getting people’s feathers too ruffled up. That and it is always safer when it’s humorous. Please share with us what your see happen and your observations of public art, from Yarn Bombing to stickers to graffiti. Keep your eyes open because little things may pop up when you least expect them! And if you can’t find any in your area, you can always make things happen.

A Lack of History

After talking with a friend I was thinking further about the lack of Art History understanding among artists. They seem to have no history knowledge, knowledge of only recent history, or only knowledge of particular history. I thought that was it, but it seems to be a larger lack of overall art history knowledge. Do they need to have everything perfectly on recall? No. Personally my best knowledge is Pop Art and Dadaism. But I can still understand and talk cave works to renaissance, the difference between Modern and Contemporary and more. It just seems that Artists have been working so hard to forget art history, that they may not be able to be part of the future history. Artist that will, are the ones that can look at the past, think about it, draw from it. To use elements of the past now and down the road will enrich current and future arts.

Do You Get Better Public Art When It’s Allowed?

When you go around and look around and look at or spot forms of public art which is more likely to draw your attention? “Street Art” (which in this writing is to sum up all non-traditional public art) or “Sanctioned Art”? For myself it’s a combo of both, depending on the style. I’m not against the traditional monumental brass sculpture. I just have a tendency to gravitate to grittier or more contemporary works.

With that said, I feel like that if more “Street Art” style where to combo with the traditional, it could help liven up towns and cities. When I walked around the Walker’s Sculpture Garden about 6 years ago it combined both contemporary and traditional. Something that groups trying to bring art to their towns should think about. This could be either having “Street Artists” work closely with “Traditional” and to show both methods in action. Or allow Contemporary to stand next to Traditional and not be afraid that they will clash. This could help bring young people to respect the work and also feel more included in town workings rather than feel kept away.

Now, the question was, “Do you get better public art when it’s allowed?” as always the answer is “Yes” and “No”. Depending on who is looking at the work and their taste. Being open to work - new and old, traditional and contemporary, street and non-street art you may be able to shorten the gap between the “Yes’s” and “No’s”.

PACA - Creative Conversations: "What's That? Public Art in Portland"

On Tuesday, September 20, PACA is hosted the first Creative Conversation in the fall series, "What's That? Public Art in Portland," from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. There are few things more controversial in the art world than Public Art. Who decides what becomes public art and what is the purpose? PACA is teaming up with Portland's Public Art Committee to bring you this introduction to those sculptures you see around town. We'll look at public art examples throughout history and in our own backyard. We'll discuss the opportunities and pitfalls for public art in Portland. Artists will also have the chance to find out the submission process for future projects.

I sat in and recorded the talk, I apologize for the technical problems that occurred during the recording.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Stickers

I have talked about graffiti, wheat pasting, yarn bombing and a lot more. I have yet to write about the art of Stickers. I find stickers come more strongly into play in areas that graffiti and wheat pasting get more aggressively fought against.

Stickers are smaller, quick, and easy to make. You can make a sticker, peel the back off while walking and can slap it on without stopping. You can also take a little more time, an  extra second or two to place  it more carefully. With digital editing printing stickers is easy! Plus it is also a lot cheaper these days to get them printed at Kinko’s or some online company. There are also “free stickers” that people use. People snag a small pile draw, paint or print on them then stick them around. The size is usually small so they are not seen as quickly, which means they can last a little longer.

There is a lot one can do to make a sticker and a lot of places to put them. Stickers are no longer just something kids buy to put on school stuff, but small and often multiple works of art. Look for stickers, you could be surprised at what you see. I’m just waiting for small stamps to move in.

A Last Minute Snail Mail Project!

Hello! Yes this is a slightly different Snail Mail Event then the others. Send Letters and Postcards to your State and Local Representatives and tell them we need are Postal Offices and Mail Carriers! No matter what political party you are in. So pass the word on!


Join in and pass the word on at Save the Postoffice! Also check out http://www.saveamericaspostalservice.org/index.html

What?! Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp! #3 Suggested Theme!?

That's right ladies and gents, I announce "Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp! #3" date is (!) December 1st 2011! I know it's in the middle of holiday season. But that's more of the reason to use this day to send such things as cards and what not. Not only that, the US Postal service is in such hard shape let's help them out!

Okay! There is something else for this third Snail Mail Event. You might have seen that I kept mentioning a "suggested theme" to help some people out. Here it is. It's not something that has to be holiday related, but it could be. Are you ready? Not just Bring Back the Stamp this time but The Mixed Tape! (If you want you can burn a mixed cd). So make a mixed tape stick it in the mail and send them off to far corners of the world! Again this is suggested, if you just want to stick to postcards, or send tapes and postcards and letters and coconuts and anything else have at it. Just send something!

So please tell your friends join the event on Facebook at the Acts of Random Art page and tell all your friends. Until the next post I will see you around the internet!

Acts of Random Art does accept mail. Mailing address is on Facebook or contact actsofrandomart@gmail.com.

One Minute Video Project

Now, Random Art does not need to just be out in public as the streets. You can also find Random Art here online at such sites as youtube and facebook, just for a couple examples. The list is really much longer. That is not really what I am trying to start.

This is a video project. These are the rules:

Video's are to be no more then one minute long

Please post the video's on Acts of Random Art Facebook page

And if you would like them to be on the A.o.R.A. YouTube Channel please email your video to actsofrandomart@gmail.com

Please have fun with this project and I want it to be an on going project. And on November 30th I will be asking for people to vote on the video's up to that point. In which the movie with the most votes on Facebook and/or YouTube there will then be a winner! And with that a prize (which is in the middle of being made!)

Here is a one minute video to be used as an example. Subjects are open for anything, but please be tasteful!

example video - Night Ride

Nothing is Permanent in Public Art

Most think, when it comes to ephemeral art, about environmental works. The kind of work that is built from rocks, sticks, grass and leaves and anything that is natural to the environment around it. Art that can the return back to the earth and not do any damage.

But that is not the only ephemeral art. Graffiti even though it is spray paint, yarn bombing and wheat pasting just to name a few gorilla art forms are very ephemeral. Some just last longer then others. Even a commissioned piece of public art work might not last forever. Some work lifespans are shorter than others. Richard Serra, had a piece in New York City that was designed to break up a giant space, it made people angry and it was ultimately taken down. His work is made site specific (a piece made for the one place it is placed and nowhere else) so the metal was then scrapped. 

Richard Serra - NYC - Tilted Arc

Occasionally, other works get taken down and cause a stir. Maine’s own controversial labor workers mural in the Maine State Labor Building taken down by Gov. Lepage (without seeing it himself but because of an anonymous request) is a case in point. Maine Labor Mural Check this site for ongoing information on this active controversy.

Graffiti is sometimes taken down in a matter of minutes and sometimes left for years. But at the same point it will ultimately be cleaned off or painted over, by a property owner or another Graffiti writer. This continuum of artwork stirs controversy, generally less formally than commissioned work and sometimes in graffiti spats and wars between or among individual or groups of writers.

In the end, it seems that all the public art is ephemeral or short lived. That is, in comparison to more “formal” art forms in galleries or museums. But even for those works, being in the public eye is usually brief, with the work leaving galleries to be moved to storage, the artist’s studio or private collections. So remember that nothing is permanent in public art or for that matter, in art in general.

What is “Random” about “Random Art” really?

After posting all kinds of work under the title “Acts of Random Art” and thinking about the title I think there needs to be a change in what people might consider to be “Random Art”. Even graffiti, yarn bombing, and publicly authorized works themselves are not placed as randomly as one might think.

Graffiti artists, yarn bombers and other street artists never just randomly choose where to place their work. It’s someplace that is seen well before the spray paint goes up, or the yarn is wrapped, or maybe a sculpture is placed. The person who puts work in a location has spent some time prepping for what they are going to do. Some people will actually measure their target location after spotting it and checking for cameras. The finished work - in the artist’s eyes - is not placed in a random space.

Authorized works are planned out far in advance by a property owner and or committees that choose the location of a piece. The idea (sketches, mock ups, etc.) are then brought, if necessary, to a city or town ordinance committee to okay the work and site. Even the art work itself is be put to a test by the people planning for the location - if the artist’s work is what people might want, changes that might need to be made and so on. This is why some people choose an illegal route to make public art works.

The “randomness” defined in this project is really not about the artist putting work out, but for where you (or I) stumble across it. The randomness is the surprise that the viewer experiences. It might be something little that pops up. It might be something large that is unexpected. To tell the truth, random is never really truly random from the maker’s point of view. So keep your eyes open for random art. It might be around more then you think – ready to take you by surprise

All Art Stirs Controversy

When it comes to ‘Controversial Art’ most think of it is showing political, sexual, violent or all of the above. But in the art world and general public sometimes that is not what gets people going. Sometimes it stems from something that is new to the art world, or funny and non-threatening that academics might find most fearful. With the general public it can be the most academic work that gets them going, the “Nude” painting or drawing. If you attended art school, you drew a nude or two. I always laugh when friends tell me, “oh I could never have done that”. At my school the model’s I drew were friends.

Some of my own work has been somewhat controversial. I have had people tell me that my work is not serious enough. That is fine with me. I find there is a lot of serious work and I like mixing in a little fun. Somehow fun scares some academics. I can’t quite figure out why that scares them. I have been told it not their cup of tea. Which is fine, not everything can be. I’m not a personal fan of everything, but if it is well done I will give it a chance.

It really never seems like there is one thing that won’t offend someone. The Vietnam Wall generated much controversy when it was being made. That was why there was a realistic bronze sculpture installed at one end of the wall to make some people happy, but no one talks about it now because of the power that comes from the Wall. Most controversial art wouldn’t be such a big deal if some people didn’t stir it up as much as they do. A lot of people would have never realized the show in New York City in the late 90’s (look for copy of story) was even going on, if it wasn’t for the Mayor making such a big deal out of it. It probably would have stayed in the art world and no one else would have known about it.

Now I’m not forgetting the main subject of this blog, street art. Just by work showing up on walls, sculptures being placed and all sorts of other things, street art has controversy stamped on it right from the start. Some like it, others don’t. Vandalism or not. (Personally if it is insults, racial slurs, and so on, to me that is down right vandalism, other wise a grey area.) Some say public spaces are allowed, but if an owner allows it on their wall, and the neighbor doesn’t like it, well then what? It’s hard to not get someone mad in art, no matter how hard you try.

Urban Environmental Art

I took an art history class in college called Environmental Art History. The first half focused on Andy Goldsworthy and other artists in his area – a form of art that was first recognized in the 70’s. We had a visiting artist named Roy Staab  and I worked with him on a piece for the college. These artists make art using local natural items. They build sculptures or make works with leaves on rocks or in water. Now how is that different then Gorilla Art or Street Art?

I ask that because sculptures are made from plaster, clay, metal, Graffiti is paint, wheat paste, marker, ink. Yarn Bombing is done with all kinds of things that you see in your urban Surrounding. Maybe what these styles need is new name branding of the work. People always call it street art or graffiti. These terms are ones that the general public sees in negative terms. So maybe it’s time that we start using more positive terminology in a more academic way. We can start calling it Urban Environmental Art - that would probably make it be a more friendly movement title for art text books.

Urban Environmental Art - using all of the items you would see in the surroundings of the work of art. Different environment equals different material, the woods - sticks, leaves, moss, rocks, desert- sand, rocks sticks,  town- pavement, rocks, sticks, paint, brick, plastic, metal and the same goes for cities. So let there be a new Environmental Art in the list of movements. Even though these things have been around for a long time, lets tweak the name to be more ‘movement’ friendly, introducing Urban Environmental Art!

Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp! #2

Hello! Just wanted to let you know of a second Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp! September 1st. I hope you join in the fun and pass the work on! Join the event on facebook!

And feel free to print this out and share with your friends!

Contest Number 2!

A.o.R.A. is starting it second contest!

Here is how to play.

Get your friends to follow on Facebook.

Now the 150th person will win a prize (which is getting made and will be posted later this week!)
But wait there is more! The 150th person is not the only winner! Who could also win because of the 150th person? It would be the person who suggested and got your friends to join! So you are a winner along with your friend! (Again prizes will be posted later this week when they are complete) So get your friends to start following on Facebook and if you are not on there you better join before and tell your friends to join!

Here is what you could win!

Cultural Controversy

Members of different cultures want to be understood – including those in artistic sub- cultures. During a discussion of graffiti in Portland, it was said, “Graffiti is for the other writers and people in that culture.” That seems to be a mantra that many in the community of graffiti writers repeat. I‟m not sure that it is completely true. I think that the people in the culture and who know the unwritten rules, the stages of graffiti and where different styles come from do have a better understanding. People in the culture, however, recognize that they are doing it for an audience. If it was just for the other artists involved, it wouldn‟t need to be done so publicly.

What happens in many cultures and the graffiti culture is no different, is that those involved complain of not being understood. Often when people from the “outside” try to make an effort to understand, they are pushed away. I do think that for graffiti artists to generate positive public response, they need to be willing to talk to the public and not put down people speaking out in favor of their culture. At the event, it was a good to have well art-educated people speak on behalf of graffiti. More education on this art form is needed – including not only how it is done – the mechanics of the artwork, but also its story and impact around the world and throughout history. I think that those making graffiti need to accept their position in history.

Graffiti has been in and out of the main-stream art world, the fashion world and advertising for centuries. It‟s everywhere - you can‟t avoid it. From small towns to the busiest, largest cities, graffiti is part of the mainstream. That seems to be what frustrates both the academic art world and society at large. It‟s an art form based on the street and will always be on the street and as it has also been co-opted by the pop culture, it will not be able to be controlled. It can, however, be appreciated and understood.

The appreciators and supporters of the graffiti culture also deserve recognition for their efforts from the artists. A building owner who allows the use of their wall often has to contend with neighbors who do not appreciate the art form. This is a problem not only for the graffiti culture, but for public art in general. Monument designs have been argued time and time again - the Vietnam Wall is one of the best known modern instances. Currently, the situation that comes to mind is what should and what should not happen at the World Trade Center location. Locally, „Tracing the Fore‟, in Portland, is an example of the controversies public art can generate.

Public art has moved beyond the dedicated monument to large scale installations, earthworks, and even beyond traditional graffiti to mass productions in flash mobs, planking and yarn bombing. It is time that traditional graffiti artists acknowledge their place in art history. It is time that academics, critics, audiences and the public become aware of the historical and social impact of all public art. For everyone‟s sake, it is time to become involved in more discussions in a proactive way rather than wait for controversial and antagonistic situations to develop.

What did A.o.R.A. and MESS do for the Fourth?

Phew! What a busy couple days getting all kind of things ready for the Fourth of July with fellow Maine Street Stitchers (MESS). Now what - you must be wondering were we up to? Well decorating two of the most supportive Yarn Bombing friends - Azure Cafe and Sherman’s Books in Freeport ME. I’m not saying they will want to be overly bombed but the fact that they had such a positive response to International Yarn Bombing day, we thought we would help them celebrate the Fourth. Well, check out what we were up to on Acts of Random Art’s YouTube Channel, Flickr page and join us on twitter and facebook to see what other adventures, contests and events A.o.R.A. and the Maine Street Stitchers are up to!

Summer of the Art Attack!

This is the first day of summer. And I mentioned at the end of my entry on Art Schools in the area, a call for the Summer of the Art Attack! So let's do this! Happy Art Attack Summer of 2011!

Yarn Bombing

This is a newer blog and a new project of mine. One thing I have been surprised to not find in Portland Maine is “Yarn Bombing”. I know it’s been going on for some time now. But with the wide variety of ages of knitters and crocheters I know and have known around here I’m just surprised there hasn’t been an explosion of such a thing. 

You might be asking yourself what is “Yarn Bombing”?  It’s really people having a great time with Yarn and making everyday life a little cozier. What is funny I know someone in Freeport, Maine, who did start doing some, but I haven’t seem any more recent attacks of yarn. “Yarn Bombing” really seems to me, that in Portland Maine it would be a bigger hit. With Maine College of Art dead center in the city you would expect such a thing to happen. My question is why is it not? But, then again, I wonder how there isn’t more Acts of Random Art publicly placed around this area in general. And I don’t mean graffiti, but also sculptures and all kinds of things. I will cut that tangent short though and save it for another entry down the road.

Back to “Yarn Bombing,” I seriously wonder how this is not a bigger thing in Maine, really. Maybe I missed its hype? I don’t know. It’s too much fun from the images I have seen on blogs such as, http://yarnbombing.com/ and http://yarnbombing.co.uk/. (I will not take offense if you check these out before I continue on reading.) I know way too many knitters and crocheters around me, that if they knew about this, I would think they would take full advantage and make this into something here. I know a friend in Salt Lake City who talks about it. Is there a problem around here with it not using natural wools? Because we have plenty of the suppliers of sheep and alpaca natural colored wool for everyone. So why not take part? And to those who are anti-Graffiti, how can you be mad with something being covered with yarn? There is no damage and it might make a street sign pole something you want to hug.

How about more Snail Mail?

After a busy first two weeks of June sending mail on the First, getting ready and Bombing for International Yarn Bombing Day, I finally figured that the "Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp! 2" was ready to present. The first one was such a success, it feels like it needs to happen more then the once a year. Now this project does not require for mail to be sent to A.o.R.A. but you can if you like. The next Snail Mail Event will be September 1st! Plenty of time to plan, make postcards, find coconuts to try to send, whatever you want! And because of the response to the last event I figured it would be a quarterly event. Also it will be posted on Facebook as an event from A.o.R.A. so feel free to follow it there too.

Here are the up coming "Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp!" dates (some might get themes down the road!)

September 1st 2011
December 1st 2011
March 1st 2011
June 1st 2012

Keep your eyes open for future events. Also, plan to figure some more events between these events as well. And let me know what random art you find out there in the world. From man made to natural. What do you find in your everyday life?

And if you would like to send something to A.o.R.A. please send a mailing address request to actsofrandomart@gmail.com 

Flash Mobs & Graffiti vs Vandalism

As I watched the News they started to talk about Flash Mobs as a group of young teenagers getting together in huge groups beating people up and mass robbings in stores and just flat out vandalism. I was happy that they made a short and brief comparison to what Flash Mobs are with groups of people doing Freezes and breaking out in dance and things towards the more peaceful end of it.

This got me thinking. Mostly about how I read a person’s comment on a news paper article in Portland Maine talking about a local Mosque getting slurs and other things spray painted all over it. The comment was something like “How is that vandalism when I will be fined if I don’t clean graffiti off my walls, why isn’t that vandalism?” (The rule of cleaning your building or getting fined in Portland ME is a big thing right now  -listen to the talk I taped on here http://actsofrandomart.blogspot.com/2011/04/talk-on-graffiti-in-portland-me.html.

These things got me thinking. Some of it is not the problem people have with it, but the education of the differences. It is also how vandalism is easily tied to public, street or gorilla art. I think that there needs to be some clarification of these and graffiti would be the hardest to fight with. That is because there is a true art to graffiti. Then there is the doing things on peoples property with out permission. To me though a true difference between vandalism and graffiti, is that vandalism is when people put insults, slurs, racial comments and the like along with taking a can of spray paint and doing it just to do damage. Graffiti, on the other had is more thought out, and never to do it just to do damage. It is done with the thought of making something look better to the writer -making it colorful and interesting. As much as people say graffiti is for other graffiti writers it’s also very public and for everyone. I’m sure that people would not be happy with those comparisons though. And some would say that there is no difference. 

For Flash Mobs, I put that on the media and city officials who are calling the mass violent, vandalism groups a Flash Mob. Because that is not what Flash Mobs are about - it’s another art form that is for the public and the reason for it is to make something interesting different happen in the everyday. This can be people breaking out in dance to music or to have lots of people all of a sudden stop in their tracks, or for some way for a large group of people to do one thing all at the same time. This sometimes weird’s people out, makes them laugh and just all around have a different experience in everyday life.

Now the other “Flash Mobs” the media and city officials are calling “Flash Mobs” is a problem for the people who are out trying to do artistic Flash Mobs. Violent groups need to be called the violent mob that they are - just like protests that break into fights are usually started by people that just want to start a mass fight. Let’s figure something different for the media to call them. Flash Mobs are for fun. Don’t take that away because others just want to cause problems.

Apologies and International Yarn Bombing Day!

Hello everyone, very sorry for the lack of posting any messages of late. At the same time, I would like to wish those of you who are Knitters and Crocheters Happy International Yarn Bombing Day!

Now that would be part of the reason why there has been a lack of writing. I have been busy taking part in preparing for today, then out late last night and getting pictures and video. So check out the Flickr group for Acts of Random Art and see what was hit in Freeport Maine by the Maine Street Stitchers! It was a fun night!

The other reason is because it has been extremely nice weather out here in Maine. We have been having a rough start to the spring and summer so I have been taking advantage mowing and spending time outdoors. I’ve also have been getting new photos of all kinds of public art. Again, namely right now, graffiti and today’s Yarn Bombing. With some crummy days ahead, I plan to sit and work on some writings.

Now, I hope everyone has been hard at work doing some form of art of their own. If so, please feel free to share with A.o.A.R. on facebook, twitter or flickr! And below is a link to the A.o.R.A. video made from IYBD. Enjoy!

Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp! #1

First Acts of Random Art event! And it was more then just local but an international event on it’s first try! What a fun project. Postcards were sent off yesterday and I started getting postcards in return that day!

Now, I know that there are people that are all about sending snail mail as it is. But I was surprised how many people jumped on board and so impressed that I will be doing this a couple more times over the year. I will let you know as soon as I catch my breath. There is another event coming up on June 11th. Which is not an A.o.R.A. event but, A.o.R.A. is taking part in and really encourage others to do the same. This is International Yarn Bombing Day 2011. So look it up and join the fun! Keep your eyes open for random art and more events to come!

Next Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp! will be announced shortly.


http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Yarn-Bombing-Day-June-11th-2011/104441312968198

Frustrating the Art World

Graffiti has been in and out of the main-stream art world to the fashion world to advertising. It’s everywhere now. You can’t not see it. In the smallest of towns you’ll find it, to the busiest and largest cities. I think, at times, that it frustrates the academic art world. They want to control it but they never will. It’s a form based on the street and will always be on the street. It will also, always now be in every other part of pop and academic world, never to be controlled.

And The Project Grows

This has been a fun project I started almost two months ago. Going and hunting down graffiti, stickers, and other random public art. I will admit I have been lacking on some of the more traditional public sculptures, but I’m working on getting those into my pictures. I do personally find old painted add-on brick, graffiti and more untraditional work to be more fun to hunt about. 

It’s also been fun working on some of my own works to leave behind. I’m not just taking part as an observer but also as a participant. Personally, my methods are sculptural and more along the lines of non-damaging works. I got making little men with camera heads out of clay. Down the road I plan to grow them in size and number. It is the three dimensional version of my logo.

The other thing is Yarn Bombing. It is something I had heard of over time. I know someone here in my town that had started doing it last year. Now I’m hooked on doing that too. It’s a lot of fun. It is a form that doesn’t actually damage anything. If someone does not like it, well they can cut it off and toss it. Or if it is something people do like they may cut it and take it home. That is something I enjoy with public art. It takes on a life of its own. For example I put a small camera man in a place in Portland ME, then someone added another little clay critter. That is something that could easily happen with Yarn Bombing. People adding things to things people already put up and so on. 

It has been a lot of fun watching this project grow. And A.o.R.A. has now become one of the two founders of the Yarn Bombing group Maine Street Stitchers (MESS). This project has been a fast growing one and pretty surprising. Now, I’m curious to see where it will go in the next few months? Projects and events are to come. Keep your eyes open and follow on facebook and twitter to know what kind of things are going on. Some will be local to A.o.R.A. Freeport ME, and others will be global like the first Snail Mail Event - Bring Back the Stamp!

Keep your eyes open and let’s all make this the summer of art and fun!

Follow up thoughts on allowing graffiti

One person says, “Okay, you can do graffiti on the walls of my building”. But what happens when that is allowed? It’s usually a neighbor who doesn’t like it. That is something that needs to be addressed. One person the property owner is good with it, and says “I like graffiti, please use this wall, and if it is good I will respect it.” Then what happens is the person next door, who may or may not directly see the wall says, “I do not like graffiti. This is not art to me, therefore I do not think you should be allowed to have it on your wall. It bothers my sensitivities.” This is where I think there is a problem. Now I don’t think that that is only a graffiti problem. That is a public art problem across the board. I’m sure that not everyone has liked statues that have been built, monuments have been fought over time and time again - the Vietnam Wall is one of the best known modern examples of that. Look at all the arguing going on about what and what should not happen at the World Trade Center’s location. So don’t always think that graffiti is hated by the property owner directly. Sometimes it’s the person who lives down the street and might not see it all but the idea that it is there, that is what bothers them.

http://actsofrandomart.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-can-happen-when-graffiti-is.html

Art School, I’d expect more Public Art

When I was in college, at a Liberal Art School with an art department, we learned about and were assigned public art projects. What surprise me with now with Maine College of Art in the center of Portland and and USM just down the road, along with a community college just over the bridge, is the lack of random art popping up. 

There has been an increase according to some about graffiti, I’m sure there is some truth to that, but I also  think it has to deal with people connecting to it because they have run out of things to complain about. It may be part of the cycle where it is a city problem about every 10 years or so. 

But where are the Random Art projects by students? I know when I was at college, we took part in public art. Granted the way our campus was spread out we did more directly on campus. We put up signs for an assignment and rather then making flier size posters I made little drawing scanned it, made a sheet of it, photocopied them, cut them out and taped them all over the place. I made a tail end of a missile and left it on campus.  I put up miniature street signs which I played with words changing “Stop” to “Flop” and more. A friend and I painted bed sheets and put them up. I did mine where an old score board was and only the support rods where still there. We went out to two old unused billboards and draped his over them.

So where is any of that in Maine, Portland of all places? I do sometimes think that there are too many people forgetting about the fun part of art. As I was writing this list I will say “Yarn Bombing”, more flash mobs, sculptures just appearing. Where is that from the students? Better yet where is that from the Maine Art community? 

I’ll admit I haven’t been doing the best on my end and it’s time to pick up on that. At the same time I have been starting to leave little men with camera heads randomly about. They are a little harder to find, because they are only a couple inches tall. Sometimes small is the most fun, it’s a little harder for people to find. I would like to see this kind of thing showing up more. There is way too much seriousness going on in this world right now and we need more then one Royal Wedding for a day to cheer us up. So go out leave a surprise for people to find and make them smile. It was the summer of love in 1967. Let’s call the summer of 2011 the Art Attack!

A.o.R.A. First Contest Results

Here is what a few others found and will receive pins for sending in. Future events and contests will be coming. So follow on facebook for event information and contests. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Acts-of-Random-Art/108164949265323

It’s a culture

Cultures of all kinds want to be understood. The funny thing is watching sub-cultures. After sitting through a talk about graffiti in Portland a few weeks ago I thought about something that was said. “Graffiti is for the other writers and people in that culture.” Now as I have been thinking about that I’m not sure that is completely true. Now I think that the people in the culture and who know the unwritten rules, the stages of graffiti and where different styles come from may have a better understanding. The thing is, is that people in the culture should understand that they are doing it for others. If it was just for the other writers, it wouldn’t be done so publicly. 

Now what seems to happen in many cultures and the graffiti culture is no different, is hearing people complain of not being understood. What follows that is that when people from the “outside” try to make an effort of understanding they are pushed away. I do think that for graffiti artists to get some public credit, they need to be willing to talk to the rest of the public or have people speaking out in favor and not put them down. I was well impressed and it was good to have well art-educated people speak on behalf of graffiti at the talks I attended. There needs to be more discussion. An education on this art form is needed and not just how to make it, but its history and impact around the world.

Flash Mob Video

So today is the first Flash Mob caught by Acts of Random Art in Portland Maine. I'm looking forward to seeing what Local News Channel WCSH 6 (Local NBC) is going to end up with! That should be showing up later this week!

Follow up thoughts on allowing graffiti

One person says okay you can do graffiti on the walls of my building. But what happens when that is allowed? Well, it’s usually the neighbor who doesn’t like it. That is something that needs to be addressed. One person, the property owner, is good with it, and says “I like graffiti, please use this wall, and if it is good I will respect it.” What happens is the person next door who may or may not directly see the wall says, “I do not like graffiti. This is not art to me, therefore I do not think you should be allowed to have it all your wall. It bothers my sensitivities.” This is where I think there is a problem. Now don’t think that that is only a graffiti problem - it is a public art problem across the board. I’m sure that not everyone has liked statues that have been built, and monuments have been fought over time and time again, the Vietnam Wall is one of the best known for that. Look at all the arguing going on about what and what should or should not happen at the World Trade Center’s location. So don’t always think that graffiti is hated by the property owner directly. Sometimes it’s the person who lives down the street and might not see it all but the idea that it is there, that is what bothers them.

http://actsofrandomart.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-can-happen-when-graffiti-is.html

Public Art? Why and what is it good for?

An on-going argument that seems to never stop and that never will stop is - what is Public Art? Not only what is it, but what is it’s purpose? Is it to please everyone? Or is it to please just a few?  Now, the people who think it should please every single person do not realize the complication of the art world it self. In the art world it never seems like anyone can make the big choice at any given moment of what is Art, and should it or shouldn’t it please everyone? Personally, I make work to hopefully please the masses more then for my work to completely please the art world.

The question is about Public Art, and why should it be done? Who is it for? Isn’t it a waste of money? But the same could be asked about movies, people spend millions and millions on something that is for entertainment. Public sculptures and murals are a form of entertainment. Public art can be something to make you possibly laugh on a crappy day, or just to look and learn the history around you, depending on what the work is. It’s impossible to make the one work that will please everyone. If someone does that, everyone might as well stop making art because that’s an artist making a work and saying this is the best work I have and ever will make and if everyone agrees, that can be the end of art as we know it!

One of the arguments right now in Maine around the Labor Mural is it was not in a public space. The mural was hung in the lobby of the Department of Labor in Augusta Maine. And even though this was all started by someone contacting Gov. LePage and saying that as a business person they found the history of Labor in Maine being depicted with no sign of business in the Department of Labor Lobby offensive they are working at redirecting it to being that not enough people had access to it and it wasn’t a public space. The thing is it was in a Government building and therefore, it is a public space.

This is what I have been trying to figure out since this all started - the “who” is Public Art for? And who has the say on what is or isn’t allowed? Artist? Politicians? The general public? Or private business? It really is all of the above. If it is a public project by the Government, then it applies to everyone. And as with the discussion I attended last week there is a process that needs to be followed. In gorilla art, it really is the person putting it out against the person who takes it down. Private business is sometimes are the best ally for a public work. It brings cash forward, makes a choice for their property and deal with what ever local politics that might need to be dealt with. But when the private tells the government what should and should not be done and the government doesn’t blink, then there is a problem. Those cases are for everyone.

Personally, I think that the people that have problems with public money being used for public art projects and creating those jobs, were the kids that where told that they needed to stop making art and get a real education and a real job and are jealous of those who weren’t guided away from art making and appreciation.

Can you find a Random Art? Contest

Hello, and welcome to the first contest! What I am wondering is can you find some random art?

The first 10 people to find and email a picture of random art from today, April 25th- May 9th will win an Acts of Random Art Pin! (seen below)

Your image will then be posted on this blog, and the daily twitter feed on May 10th. If you want your twitter name attached to the image and or name please add that under the writing.

Here is how to enter:
email your image to actsofrandomart@gmail.com
say what city, state, and/or country the image is from
and here is the important part if you want your prize
there will need to be a mailing address attached to this email. So please remember to do that!

This is not to ask people to go and vandalize properties or anything of the sort, just for people to find some random art! And your email and mailing address will not, I repeat, will not be given to anyone else.

Thank you and I hope to see images soon! 

A talk on Graffiti in Portland ME

This is a talk held by PACA and Space Gallery in Portland ME about graffiti. The title of the talk was Street Art vs Graffiti, which I think indicates an academic fight against it and not a look at it as an art form. When the talk started and as it went on, there was shown a clear reason why it is an art form. It was really a talk more about what graffiti is about and the people who have a problem with it - property owners and the city. It was also asked what can be done among the graffiti community and the non-graffiti community to see if some kind of agreement could be reached between the two. 

Now if you where unable to attend, or did make it and want to re-listen to the talk here you go. It seems like it will be an on-going, hopefully discussion, rather then fight.

Graffiti Talk Part 1

Graffiti Talk Part 2

Graffiti Talk Part 3

Graffiti Talk Part 4

Graffiti Talk Part 5

Graffiti as Street Art & A Second Look at “Street Art”

Graffiti as Street Art

This is an on going battle in the art world. Is graffiti street art or is it just vandalism? Now I’m not saying all graffiti isn’t vandalism because there is stuff that is and it is done for that reason.

One of the things that I wonder is why ‘street art’ seems a more art-world politically correct term for graffiti? Why not just call it what it is? It feels like many people who call it street art want to call it that just to give it “cache” in the art world. If you call a ‘street art’ painting in a gallery, graffiti, does that devalue the work? Not really, to me - it is what it is. And street art is a completely different thing to graffiti, so why not let it be what it is. This does not solve the on-going argument if graffiti is art or not. That will probably be never solved. Just like what is public space and what isn’t when it comes to graffiti remains a question. At least give the name it’s own credit.

A Second Look at “Street Art”

With a second look at “Street Art” as a title of Graffiti, I know I questioned it. And said in the right way by the right people and direction of their nose I will question it. Here’s how I really think about it. “Street Art” should be looked and treated as the overall movement. It’s a movement that has spread over time more then any other. People have to start putting graffiti, public art, flash mobs, monuments and more into subcategories under “Street Art”. Other categories of street art have been since cave paintings and Egyptian monuments to public sculptures in today’s cities.

I accept “Street Art” as one term for all art on the street and out in the public spaces, but it has to not be used to discount the other sub-groups.

No Damage

One of things like for Acts of Random Art is placed sculptures of all sizes and chalk. They are really the most temporary, especially if they are small sculptures. People tend to snatch those up when they walk by. I always like hiding little sculptures that some one might catch out of the corner of their eye. And if its gone, I can only assume that it is from someone spotting it and like myself picking up a small toy found with no one around. Now I’m not saying I don’t like it when someone installs a sculpture. But that doesn’t fit to this topic, unless it is bolted to a post that already has the holes and it is not damaging any property. But placing a sculpture somewhere and walking away, or even just a distance to watch reactions is also a lot of fun. I enjoy watching to see if someone from a town or city comes and gets it or if some random person picks it up to bring home to their own home.

Chalk is also a good “no damage” tool. It’s quick, portable; you can’t really get in trouble for it. And it confuses people when they see that doesn’t like graffiti because it is, but it’s not. Chalk is something that can easily be hosed down and no extra paint to match a concrete wall that has aged. Sometimes the blocks of various grays do not look any better then what they are blocking. I will also say that I think that by many a stick of chalk is over looked. One thing I also like is that it really is a temporary mark. So to get the chance to see it is by few. And if it’s something interesting it will be talked about and people will hope to see it before it’s gone. Just like some of the other graffiti marks.

In the end I truly enjoy in the non-damaging works. Only because part of the fun is watching people, like cops question someone but not really be able to do anything because someone isn’t really doing anything at the same time.

What can happen when Graffiti is allowed

A friend posted an article about 5 Pointz in Long Island, New York. I have heard of this place and seen small sections of it on TV. After reading this article and checking out  the couple pictures I decided to look at the more image option which lead to a flickr page showing many images of the place. It’s really amazing. Not only is it bigger then what the article images make it seem, but when you look at some of the wide shots and the number of images covering the place, it’s incredible.

Now, I think that 5 Pointz it’s a great example of what can happen when you allow Graffiti in an area. When you let it happen you can get better work and it’s going to be one of those things that is constantly changing. The ones that won’t get covered are the ones memorializing people like artist Jaen-Micheal Basquiat and rapper Notorious B.I.G. Why not allow Graffiti in places? It could become a rotating work of art.

Article

http://gothamist.com/2011/03/06/5_pointz_may_be_eliminated_in_owner.php#photo-1

5 Pointz flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimkiernan/sets/72157611768993791/with/3146152997