Friday Randomness

Welcome to another edition of random Friday. Last week we talked about animals that sent the internet in an uproar. This week I am talking about something that I really like, art. We are not talking about your normal Mona Lisa’s or Starry Nights though. Instead I am talking about the art of graffiti. I bring this up because today while doing my normal routine of catching up on all the latest news (not sure if you call the yahoo headlines news though) I came across a story about the world famous artist Banksy. If you have never heard of Banksy, let me give you a brief description of the person. I say the person because no one really knows who the person behind the can is. Banksy is the pseudonymous of an English artist. Mostly doing political paintings, his or her work can be seen all over the world and some pieces have even been auctioned off. Unfortunately you are purchasing a wall and it is your job to try and figure out how to move the art to your desired location.

So the story I was reading today was about David Possee,who owned a house in the small English town of Cheltenham. Possee rented the house out. After a tenant moved out Posseereturned to the house to find a painting on one of the outer walls. It was one of Banksy’s. The piece is known as the “Spy Booth” it shows spies listening in on conversations to the phone booth that is standing next to the wall. Possee liked the artwork and wanted to preserve it. He went to the local board to see what could be done. What happened has brought him nothing but trouble. His house was found to be a landmark. He was told he could not use a special chemical to preserve the painting. He also wanted to fix the deteriorating wall but was told he could not since it was a landmark. He was also fined for the wall not being up to code. Kind of a catch 22 if you ask me. Possee now has no one living in the house he frequently rented for income, and to think all this trouble came after a famous artist decided to use his wall as a canvas.

Here are my thoughts on graffiti, and please remember this is just my opinion you don’t have to agree with me. I think graffiti is one of the most underappreciated arts of the world. What is art? By definition it is a diverse range of human activities and the products of these activities, usually involving imaginative or technical skills. I understand graffiti is not your basic art on a canvas or paper, but the people that do this have unreal talent. It’s a shame because most of the artist will remain faceless and we will only know them as a pseudonym. I do see why so many people have a problem with graffiti and see it as vandalism though. No matter where one does his or her art they are doing it one a piece of property that does not belong to them. When Banksy came to New York in 2013 the mayor was doing everything in his power to capture him. He had no such luck. For one moment though look past the act of vandalism and actually focus on the ART and I am sorry but there is no way you can argue the people that do this have such talent it’s amazing. In my opinion some of these artist are actually better than the mainstream artist you see in museums. Graffiti artist mainly do their art in the dark of night and are rushing to get a piece done. There is no time to stop, take a look, and then decide your next line. Next time you see a train passing by stop and take a look, there is a good chance you will see some amazing art work pass your view. Yes graffiti is considered a crime, but for once can we call it for what it really it is……..an art form.

What are your thoughts on graffiti?