As I sit here, sipping my hot mug of lemon ginger tea, 100.7FM is blasting rap in the back round........ to get me in the mood for researching today's theme - urban art!!!I'm KIDDING, of course - about the rap!!!
When I think urban art - I immediately think - GRAFFITI!! Growing up in NY, tagged buildings, subway walls, and freight trains, were common sights, especially the closer you got to "the city" (NYC). I was amazed at the artistic bent of these unknown artists, whose huge bubble letters or amazing works of art appeared overnight. I am sure most of this "art" was not viewed with appreciation, by the building owners, or public works folks who need to paint over it! My parents always dismissed it as destructive hooliganism!!!
Martha Cooper published a book in the 80's on Subway Art- a classic!
While googling "urban art", I discovered there is a gallery in NYC on E52nd, called monkdogz.com, featuring modern urban artists. I think they have a blog artblahblah.com I haven't had a chance to check that out yet.It is more than just "traditional" graffiti.
Graffiti, has spread from the walls of NY tenements to where ever there is an "inner" city, to outside of a city- the midwest, or to a train slowly passing thru a southern Va town. It is not just an art limited to the US. It is now seen as body art- tattoos, in clothing design, and has made it off the streets into art galleries.
I think there is much more to urban art than just graffiti tho'. I think Seth, of the Altered Page creates fabulous art with a definite urban flavor, totally unrelated to graffiti.
I recently reconnected with a childhood friend,now based in NYC, who has quite an impressive art resume - and paints beautiful art - very abstractly urban in nature.The city is her muse. I have absolutely no professional backround in art, and could be wrong categorizing her works as urban art. But she draws her inspiration from urban settings, so.......Take a look and see what you think - www.joannelobotsky.com
I am including a couple of examples of urban inmate art that came into my possession, done with the tiny ink stem of a pen- great examples of beauty emerging from despair.
Please join us for Tea on Tuesdays with a theme, and stop in to visit Kimmie for links to our other T.o.T. participants!
