Importance of Sighting

It could be argued that Street Art is the most socialist form of art. If socialism is a theory that promotes shared owenrship for an entire community, then who could argue that street art is not attempting to do the same thing for the general populace?

That may be a slightly volatile accusation to begin this post with, but its one that I think is necessary to note. Street art gives all viewers access to art. That media form that has always been a symbol of class and socio-economic status. So when we come across street art how should we act? Do we ignore the piece? Do we take our picture in front of it?  Do we immediately share the photo on every social network we have?

There is no set "Etiquette" when it comes to an art form that, well, seeks to break rules. But there is one idea that seems brilliant and empowering to me. This is one promoted by Shepard Fairey and his website. (Page pictured below)

This is the idea of Sightings. For Shepard Fairey, famous street artist and perpetrator of both the Andre the Giant Sticker and our generations most iconic image of a president, has found an ingenious way to create a social input that is focused around him. This is his page of sightings, where anyone who sees a Shepard Fairey piece can link their photos and ideas into the main website.

What does this do for the artist?

In my opinion this is brilliant on several levels. First it allows the artist to comprehend the stretch of his or her work. By seeing where these sightings are happening, or if the image has been tampered with , an artist would be able to know if someone were cashing in on their style. Additionally, the artist never has to divulge all of their works onto a website. Instead the artist can complete things and place them in public domain and have faith that the work will eventually be tagged as theirs. Finally to brings the artist a sense of community. When viewer are submitting works you know that those viewers are so literate in your style that they can identify it. Also, viewers suddenly have access to this world-wide map of works. If an individual considers them self an avid follower of an artist it would be fantastic if they would go on trips to collect memories or in person images of these random acts of street art.

So what is the power of sighting?

To reiterate, sighting gives the artist a sense of community. It reminds the artist of what is so individual about their style. It gives the artist a sense of mystique and the viewer a sense of exploration.

So how should we consider this idea of sighting?

I would assume that many other street artists have formats similar to Shepard Fairey's, although I find his the most useful. Maybe in the future more street artists will upload pages like this to their websites. Hopefully there may even be a platform that provides this street art location service for the general public.

To return to the comparison of street art to Socialist thought, we are reminded that street art is a community outlet.  Sighting only aids this process and gives the publics art form real access to the public.

Bibliography

Shepard Fairey, http://www.obeygiant.com/fine-art, 2013

Day 1- A Street Art Class Introduction

This blog is an examination of Street Art and Artists.Swoon

So where do we begin? Today let's dive into the world of the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010). The movie focuses on Banksy and the maddening Mr. Brainwash (MBW) two characters in the ever present Street Art scene. MBW, a filmographer turned artist, becomes the focus of the film when we begin to see him as a vilification of all things "bad art". (I will be writing an off-shoot of the film, if however you have not seen the documentary and wish to the link below provides some more information, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587707/)

When talking about this documentary I am lead to the theory that many others before me have expressed, that Exit Through the Gift Shop is in reality another Banksy piece. The idea that MBW, the actions of the film; all of it was designed by Banksy. If this is true the film shows through characters a history of street art and the problems the movement faces tat Banksy himself has defined.

What captures the imagination when examining the film through this lens is the potential that Street Art is on the verge of a collapse. When talking about Contemporary art we are always marked with the idea of the inevitable. Will a movement fall apart? Will an offshoot become popular? Where do we evolve to next? Street Art falls under this umbrella of contemporary art and benefits from artists willing to work in a similar medium. The piece that allows street art to remain contemporary however is the forced evolution of the movement through artists individual drives on paths to uniqueness. What this documentary may be trying to warn us of is the severing of the DNA that has made street art, street art, and that is the streets themself. With the advent of street art galleries and the need for a sense of validation created by a gallery wall, artists have been taken from the streets. In addition the renaissance that photoshop at one point allowed art, creating the digital versions and alterations of famous works, editing has been overused to the point of boredom and predictability.

Exit Through the Gift Shop  is not the only horseman of this potential future. The Rare Bird Radio podcast, focusing on Street Art and Artists especially in the LA Area, hinted at the undulating wave of street arts creation. The December 2012 interview turned briefly to the idea that the MOCA show Art in the Streets 2011 has had the adverse effect of slowing down Street Art culture. Was it the prolific amount of work shown? The idea that street art could now be classified as a historical movement? The heralding of the mainstream or the pull of the galleries? Whatever the reason may be street art seems to have entered the downward curve of its current wave. If history repeats itself then we will see the movement rise up once more. But Banksy's words and works still strike the viewer. Has art become predictable and repetitive? Is there anything new?

Bibliography

The Green Contemporary, "Art In The Streets", (2011)
James Daichendt "Rare Bird Radio", (2012) http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rarebirdradio/2012/11/27/stay-up-los-angeles-street-art-podcast