prospectus

My involvement in blogging is minimal; however, through this type of composition, I am hoping to venture my way towards becoming involved in the urban street art community. I have been closely involved with art of many mediums since I was in grade school and continue to keep track of my life by the led end of a 3B pencil.

I’m interested here in exposing myself, and potentially others, to a broad variety of new mediums that gain most of their exposure through the use and “abuse” of public property such as: wheat pasting, graffiti, reverse graffiti, installation, etc. My interaction with bloggers within this community will become crucial, and the kind which will hopefully create a strongly informative relationship, if not just a subject developing conversation.

The allure of urban street art is what developed my disposable camera throughout visits to France and Canada and has in turn stimulated my interest in the influence, opinions and controversial messages being expressed by the artist through his/her work. I am especially interested in the effect this type of art has on the public. Is the message they’re intending to send getting out to the correct audience? Or is it simply just pissing people off? Because street art has such a largely diverse audience, I want to work in comparing this type of urban art to the same style of art displayed in a gallery or a controlled environment.

What kinds of recognition does either of these art forms get?

Which has more of an impact on society?

I will be looking at blogs acquainted with both types of urban art and compare them to answer such questions.

Where I’ll begin is to analyze the major mediums used in this type of art. Why certain mediums are used to express individual issues, when one medium is used over another, which medium is more effective in its response from the public, etc.? This is going to involve a lot of research on particular current events, from the large scale to the small scale.

The interaction part of my blogging is mostly going to come from my interest in the public’s reaction and/or relationship with the artwork that is being produced. What is their interest in the works, what is their interpretation, and how much do they understand of the message the work is trying to get across. Does the attitude of the artist affect their response from the audience?

I found a few blogs which deal with specific areas/cities including one from Jacksonville, Florida graffiti artists, and one based in Berlin and the graffiti being produced over there. This will help me to understand how different cultures, societies, and politics may influence the artwork and/or reaction to it. This will also help me add a bit of my interest in travel into my blogging with a focus in art.

Some of the outside research for my blogging I want to get involved in begins with stencil graffiti of my own, in a legal way of coarse (?). I’ll take time talk to local street artists around Tampa and Boston, and explore the artwork within these two cities and how they may respond to issues going on around each area. I can also update pictures and compare them to ones updated on the blog sites I’m reading. The interaction I have with the other bloggers may help to open up the underground art scene and give a better understanding of how, when, where and why it exists, as well as what can perpetuate or stop it, etc.

I ultimately want to answer the question I, myself, am curious to answer: Is street art effective in provoking, stimulating and/or challenging for the human mind? And does it ultimately produce change? I want to see how these artists have developed their expression throughout history, and what they are doing now to break barriers and recreate standards.