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!