The Talking Simian's Review of Street Art

Street Artists and Muralists

The one thing that I love about art is the fact that it can be anywhere if you're paying attention. When I lived in Amarillo in the panhandle of Texas, I did some public art with one of the best guys I've ever met, Stanley Marsh 3. We both had the same idea that art shouldn't be locked up in museums and galleries, but instead it should be out for everyone to see as they're driving to work or stopping for lunch. Of course, we didn't think the Mona Lisa should be hanging from a light post in the 1st Arrondissement in Paris, but maybe it could be displayed on a truck and driven around all day. The point is, more people should see great works of art. Some art that is doing this are murals, graffiti, and street art. Some call it an eyesore. Others call it necessary. No matter which side of the fence you sit about the artistic value of street art, you have to admit that there are some pretty talented people with intensely creative minds making art for everyone to see. Below, there is a photo of a wall full of tags. They are what I would consider unimaginative vandalism. They serve no purpose other than letting everyone know that "Flaco was here" or this street must be Harvey's territory since his name is on every flat surface for six blocks. To me that isn't art. Some might disagree. Don't care. Creativity and artistic talent are what took street art from spray painted names on mail boxes to retrospective shows at the Museum of Modern Art. Keith Haring was a street and subway artist. He was arrested a few time for vandalism. A year later he was making thousands of dollars per painting in some of the most prestigious galleries in the world. These works can be political, silly, or simply beautiful. Art has the ability to transcend its environment. You could be walking through the scariest slum and happen upon a masterpiece that someone planned out and executed with spray paint. Check out the works below and see what I mean. Some of these works are commissioned pieces that someone asked to be put on their building. Some are rogue artists with a lot of time on their hands. Can you tell which is which?
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