Art Movements- Graffiti

I'm always amazed at how many art movements there are. It shouldn't be such a surprise given the broad definition of art, which can include nearly anything that affects the senses or thoughts, or anything that evokes an emotional response. Is gluing several doll parts to a canvas and hanging it art? By definition, yes it is art. Even if it creates disgust, confusion or frustration in the viewer, or makes people ask why, that is art. I actually saw an exhibit of plastic doll parts on canvas once, so I'm not stretching my example here. While it did spark debate and evoke emotion, I tend to put that kind of art more in the craft category than the fine art category, though I acknowledge that it is, indeed, art- as much as I may or may not like it.

It might surprise some people to know that one of my favorite genres of art is graffiti, a form of art that dates back as far as the Roman Empire and even before if one considers cave drawings. Of course today's graffiti is often associated with a whole culture of music and style, especially hip hop that began to emerge in the 70's in mostly African-American and Latino communities. Graffiti has moved far beyond mere "tags" (names or words) and "bombing" (bombarding public areas with massive amounts of paint, usually delivered from a fire extinguisher with less concern about artistry and precision) and into true art forms. In fact, both in the United States and in other countries, some graffiti is more like elaborate murals than spray painted block letters. Though many graffiti artists will use their art to thrust political, social and economic issues into the spotlight, the creators tend to remain anonymous, and while graffiti has the reputation of being controversial, people of many diverse backgrounds have learned to see beauty in this expressive art.

A few stand out graffiti artists today include:

Banksy 

Banksy- Change

JR

JR- Son

And the team Cyclops and Sweet Toof

Cyclops & Sweet Toof- Pure Evil

One of our artists in the gallery, D. D. LaRue, did some graffiti art. However, long ago she gave that up to focus on sculpture:

D.D. LaRue's Dog in Red VW Door

More about D.D. LaRue:

D.D. LaRue is a visionary, self-taught, mixed media artist whose work has been featured in galleries, publications and on television. Using a combination of sturdy, lightweight material, including wire, wood, paper mache, gypsum, fiberglass, and air brushed enamel, Dede creates striking free-standing interior and wall sculptures which explore the complex relationships between animals, humankind and their environments.. Sometimes whimsical and sometimes challenging, D.D’s eye- catching animals combine a fearless point of view with a respect for the dignity inherent in all animal species.

She states, “As the human race’s relationship to the world becomes ever more complex and technological, I feel it becomes increasingly important to attune our emotional and spiritual connections to nature.”

Dog in Front of Fan by D.D. LaRue

Little Snarley by D.D. LaRue

 

Poker Party by D.D. LaRue

In the last few years, an extension of graffiti has emerged, and it's called Yarn Bombing. Instead of paint, yarn is used to make a statement on public structures. 

Yarn Bombing