Blog- Graffiti vs. Street Art
I was having a discussion with some friends the other day about graffiti and street art. I was a bit more knowledgeable than my friends and it inspired me to enlighten my audience. Many people see these art forms as nothing more than vandalism, but it is difficult to ignore their aesthetic qualities. I will begin by explaining the differences between graffiti and street art, both are very broad terms but I will give you my refined definition.
Graffiti is primarily created with the use of aerosol paint. Its central subject is generally a word that represents the identity of the artist. These words may be accompanied by ancillary elements such as cartoon characters, portraits, and clouds, among other things. Several common lettering styles include tags, bombs, and wild style.
Street art is less egocentric than graffiti. Although the artists often “sign” their work, their name is not the focus of the work. Street art generally has a deeper purpose than aesthetic value, containing a message that is either implicitly or explicitly stated. Some common examples of this art form are stenciling, wheat paste posters, and installations.
I understand that people tend to over generalize when then hear the term graffiti. I hope that this information will help you to better appreciate these forms of art and to recognize that these artists have real talent.
If you are interested in seeing pictures of some of my work and my favorite graffiti writers and street artists click the links below.
Sicks One Zero - a Pennsylvania artist collective of which I'm a member
Banksy - UK street artist (Probably my favorite street artist)
Swoon- Female artist from NY
Artcrimes - Graffiti website
Stay tuned…
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2 comments:
I'm actually really into stenciling. A friend of mine lives in Philly, but "tags" (even though that's a graffiti term) in Lancaster. There are some really moving pieces out there, and I love when they surprise you. Like one in a shoulder wide alley in Annapolis of a mother and child. That stencil took time, and it made me smile to see it. Plus, it's always funny to find all of the anti-Bush and anti-war stencils out there. I think that those, both nationally and internationally, are probably the most prevalent.
A good amount of street art is subversive, so it makes sense that an unpopular leader, such as George W. Bush, would be a common subject.
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