Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
I can pretty much list the players on either side of this issue, but what the hell:
Quote:
One for the Road Friday, 08 July 2005
Depending on who you ask, Montreal-based guerilla artist Roadsworth is either on the vanguard of a vital form of public political expression or is simply a self-important vandal who sticks taxpayers with the bill for cleaning up his messes.
For years, the artist formerly known as Peter Gibson toiled anonymously in the wee hours of the morning spray painting stenciled additions to the city’s concrete canvasses: overnight a crosswalk would become a row of bullets or a giant footprint, or a parking spot marker would transform into a perch for an owl. His luck finally ran out last November when the notorious nocturnal stencil pusher was literally caught red-handed by Montreal’s finest, and now finds himself facing a total of 85 counts of mischief (which carry a max fine of $5000 a pop) as well as the possibility of jail. Sentencing has been put off until next January.
The arrest has turned him into something of a minor cause celebre while also reanimating the debate about the role of political art in public spaces. Regardless of opinions on the merits of his work, most people are uncomfortable when artists are arrested — many feel the city would be better off commissioning his services rather than prosecuting him.
For a play-by-play history on the Roadsworth saga, and for info on how to let Montreal’s mayor know how justice should best be served, visit the Zeke’s Gallery Blog.
If you have a jam, event, conference, or campaign that you'd like to see featured on Adbusters.org, email us at < websubmission@adbusters.org >
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:38 am Posts: 5575 Location: Sydney, NSW
That's crime and art. Love it.
_________________
Jammer91 wrote:
If Soundgarden is perfectly fine with playing together with Tad Doyle on vocals, why the fuck is he wasting his life promoting the single worst album of all time? Holy shit, he has to be the stupidest motherfucker on earth.
He did break the law, but he also created some art that made his city look better (at least until the city eradicated the "grafitti").
I think a small fine for his gueilla artist tactics is in order, because we do have law for a reason, and the city can't not prosecute just because his graffitti happens to be more aestetically (sp?) pleasing than your run of the mill graffitti.
But then the city should look into putting his artistic energy to good use. I especially liked the footprint crosswalk.
_________________ cirlces they grow and they swallow people whole half their lives they say goodnight to wives they'll never know got a mind full of questions and a teacher in my soul and so it goes
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
genxgirl wrote:
He did break the law, but he also created some art that made his city look better (at least until the city eradicated the "grafitti").
That's a matter of opinion. City's spend a lot of money on forming committees to determine what should be put up as public art. They spend a lot of money on projects.
Now this guy adds things that people will complain about and the city has to clean it up because they can't say, "well, we formed a committee and it was open to public comment at the town council meeting ... blah, blah, blah."
A lot of people don't support money going to public art at all, now this just means they'll have to pay more.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
A lot of people don't support money going to public art at all, now this just means they'll have to pay more.
That's because they are morons.
Boston coul use more public art because there are places that are so butt ugly you might think you were in Detroit
Unfortunately, we are still battling with the Big Dig. But at least some of that old ugly highway has come down and we can see the light of day above Causeway Street now (the road the Boston Garden--now Bank North Center is on).
A more attractive city will attract more commerce and tourism and then everyone wins.
_________________ cirlces they grow and they swallow people whole half their lives they say goodnight to wives they'll never know got a mind full of questions and a teacher in my soul and so it goes
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
genxgirl wrote:
B wrote:
A lot of people don't support money going to public art at all, now this just means they'll have to pay more.
That's because they are morons.
Yeah, well, most cities are able to do public art projects despite the whine of this minority, but grafitti artists make that job a lot harder.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
A lot of people don't support money going to public art at all, now this just means they'll have to pay more.
That's because they are morons.
Yeah, well, most cities are able to do public art projects despite the whine of this minority, but grafitti artists make that job a lot harder.
agreed
_________________ cirlces they grow and they swallow people whole half their lives they say goodnight to wives they'll never know got a mind full of questions and a teacher in my soul and so it goes
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
NC State University has a place where they encourage graffiti:
Quote:
Other hotspots on campus include the Free Expression Tunnel, one of three pedestrian tunnels underneath the railroad tracks bisecting the main campus. This particular tunnel is the site of sanctioned graffiti; anyone may paint there, and it is often the place for announcements, birthday messages, and unique art.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2004 12:47 pm Posts: 9282 Location: Atlanta Gender: Male
That's actually kind of cool and unique. The footprint is still a crosswalk, that's not a big deal, and the owl is pretty. It's not like he was tagging it up or something.
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:51 pm Posts: 14534 Location: Mesa,AZ
I think well-done graffiti (murals, etc) are nothing but excellent, but at the same time, the artists should definately get the proper permit to create it. I can see where this artist is coming from though--the footprint crosswalk is pure brilliance, and there's no way the city council is going to have the vision to allow something like that.
_________________
John Adams wrote:
In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:46 pm Posts: 9617 Location: Medford, Oregon Gender: Male
I think as long as it's not blatantly offensive to the community then cops should have more important ways to use their time. I do understand that in places like LA and other big cities there is definitely a gang element to graffiti though.
_________________ Deep below the dunes I roved Past the rows, past the rows Beside the acacias freshly in bloom I sent men to their doom
Yeah? See how you feel when the art is on your property.
You want to be an artist? Go buy your own canvases, and don't paint anywhere you damn well feel.
True, but arent highway bridges technically my property since it was my taxe dollars that built them? Hmm, ok weak arguement, anyway, I see your point. I would not want gang symbols, I do know that. But I believe as stated above just because you like the medium doesn't mean you like the method. I see the lettering and the colors as beautiful. But the method/canvas is somewhat controversial. But that is part of it I guess?
I was stopped at some train tracks last week and every train car had graffiti on it, and it was like being at a rolling museum.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:25 am Posts: 3942 Location: The Harbour Steps
punkdavid wrote:
jacktor wrote:
Blind Melvana wrote:
I love graffiti. Art all the way.
Yeah? See how you feel when the art is on your property.
You want to be an artist? Go buy your own canvases, and don't paint anywhere you damn well feel.
That's partly why I like graffiti so much, though. It's daring. In my opinion art SHOULD be daring and forcing people to think at least a little bit. If it's tacky or simply blatantly offensive, though, obviously, as with any art, I think it would be best if never created.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
Blind Melvana wrote:
punkdavid wrote:
jacktor wrote:
Blind Melvana wrote:
I love graffiti. Art all the way.
Yeah? See how you feel when the art is on your property.
You want to be an artist? Go buy your own canvases, and don't paint anywhere you damn well feel.
That's partly why I like graffiti so much, though. It's daring. In my opinion art SHOULD be daring and forcing people to think at least a little bit. If it's tacky or simply blatantly offensive, though, obviously, as with any art, I think it would be best if never created.
I used to think that graffiti had some artistic merit simply for the canvas that was chosen, and that it was revolutionary or something. But 99% of graffiti artists have nothing of any worth to say except to fuck up something that doesn't belong to them.
If somebody painted Guernica on the side of the headquarters of a defense contractor, it still should wiped clean and the artist put in jail.
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:25 am Posts: 3942 Location: The Harbour Steps
punkdavid wrote:
Blind Melvana wrote:
punkdavid wrote:
jacktor wrote:
Blind Melvana wrote:
I love graffiti. Art all the way.
Yeah? See how you feel when the art is on your property.
You want to be an artist? Go buy your own canvases, and don't paint anywhere you damn well feel.
That's partly why I like graffiti so much, though. It's daring. In my opinion art SHOULD be daring and forcing people to think at least a little bit. If it's tacky or simply blatantly offensive, though, obviously, as with any art, I think it would be best if never created.
I used to think that graffiti had some artistic merit simply for the canvas that was chosen, and that it was revolutionary or something. But 99% of graffiti artists have nothing of any worth to say except to fuck up something that doesn't belong to them.
If somebody painted Guernica on the side of the headquarters of a defense contractor, it still should wiped clean and the artist put in jail.
I agree a lot with what you have to say, David, but my problem at this point is that "graffiti" has not been defined in anyway. We're not talking about the same kind of art here.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:01 am Posts: 19477 Location: Brooklyn NY
_________________
LittleWing sometime in July 2007 wrote:
Unfortunately, it's so elementary, and the big time investors behind the drive in the stock market aren't so stupid. This isn't the false economy of 2000.
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