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