Blog Updating

So many more things are worked on and now pretty much all the pages have been at least formatted to look the same. The latest full up date is the A.o.R.A. Monster page. Added some photos and there is a lot more to come for that page. But things are coming along and to keep myself active in the A.o.R.A. Words page I figured this info should be posted here then shared to the Acts of Random Art Facebook page. There will be a lot more to come so keep on checking back in!

Acts of Random Art 2015

The start to a new year. This is already under way, finishing some 2014 things, while starting 2015 off with the boring things. Just did the finishing custom jobs, first it was a Dungeons and Dragons Figures, then I just finished customizing a Ski Helmet.

Now finishing a second Crocheted Mask while updating all my blog stuff. 

What’s being changed on the Acts of Random Art Blog you may not really be asking? Well let me tell you...

If you look above, you can see the main Acts of Random Art Blog. And you can see a long bar with many titles such as, “Personal Work & Artist Statement”, or “A.o.R.A. Words”. Well each one is being turned into their own blog. This will be to ease finding all the writings from the past, my personal work, and other A.o.R.A. sub projects and categories. Along with access to all the various social media sites that are frequently used by me to spread the word of Acts of Random Art.

So right now those sites/blogs are being worked on or have been started up and roughly laid out. There is a lot yet to come for 2015. Both online and offline. So keep your eyes open and soon ears as well (hopefully by mid summer). 

Styrofoam. Not a Street Art Story.

This is one thing I thought should be shared and yet not related to art, my usual subject mater.

First, I just want to say that traveling across the country by Greyhound is always fun for me. This last trip was Freeport, ME to Salt Lake City, UT. The bus is a great way to see the country and note a few things along the way. 

The one thing that seemed to stick out this trip was as I left Maine and headed further west was how much Styrofoam was used to serve coffee. (I am sure it was also used for other things but I was mostly buying coffee on the road, so for the purpose of this note, that is what I will concentrate on.) Thankfully, for myself, I had a travel thermos that I would pour my coffee into. Living in Maine I often have a travel cup in hand or sit with a mug at the place I grab a drink. If I don't have my cup I know I’ll get a paper cup, either because that is what is offered or I can request one. That just makes me really happy about living in the state of Maine. It feels like far less foam is offered and if it shows up it is from a coffee chain or a gas station counter. 

Noticing the use of so much Styrofoam made me think of how happy to be proud I am of my home town of Freeport, ME. In 1990, it was put into the town law that no food or drink is to be served using Styrofoam. This was accomplished by kids who noticed on the bus rides to and from school that there was a lot of trash on the side of the road, especially fast food packaging. We also all attended nature camps and special classes and learned that Styrofoam did not biodegrade and was unhealthy to people at every stage – making it through eating from it, not to mention the bad impact on wildlife. So we went up against McDonald's coming to town to get them to stop using foam packaging (I was one of those who helped make protest signs for outside of McDonald's). Our activism not only got McDonald's to change their minds locally, but they brought that practice nation-wide. We also got the town to back us and pass the local ordinances that are still in place today. I was just looking over the rules that were put into action and couldn't believe that it has almost been 25 years since Freeport, Maine passed this law. 

I think that sometime in 2015 we should truly celebrate this. Not only was it something good for the environment, but also for our own health. A few years back Freeport's law was put up against a chain grocery store moving into town. They did not think the rule should apply to their deli. But at that time, we had a small grocery shop that already followed that rule and did not wrap meats in Styrofoam trays wrapped in plastic. After a battle from the people in town, we won keeping the law intact. This is also why we need to have some kind of "Styrofoam Free Zone" celebration. The town of Freeport should be very happy for this environmental and health accomplishment. Traveling across the country really made me realize how special a feat a bunch of kids accomplished. I just wish more towns and cities would follow our lead. It was a rather simple concept and it really would be healthier for the planet and every living creature and person.

If you would like to learn more about the "Styrofoam Ban" in Freeport Maine check Code number 33.

Freeport Maine: Ordinances and Codes (#33)


Originally Posted: February 17, 2014

Top 10 images 2013

Wow this year is coming to an end soon! It has flown by. I just wanted to let you know I am going to start scanning my images to figure out the to 10 images of 2013! And please flip threw my images on Instagram or Flickr (2013 images) and let me know which ones you think should be in the top 10. And just so you know the top 10 will be posted on January 2, 2014. Because I don't know what images are yet to come!

And check out what the top ten images of 2012 where.

Top Ten 2012

Originally Posted: December 11, 2013

Snail Mail, New Studio/Office and so much more from this summer and into the future...

Hello!

Quick reminder for the next Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp!

Here's all the info! Including a link to the Facebook invitation.

Snail Mail Event! Bring Back the Stamp! September 3rd 2014

On June 1st 2011 this was on going multi place event started! Lets try and make it a movement this year!

Thank you every one for taking part in the past Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp! More information about this even below.

Everyone likes to get a letter! Suggested Theme this time is (drum roll!) "Flags!" Any kind of Flag will do.

Other wise here's the idea. On the day of the event send one, two, three or as many people you know a postcard, letter or something in the mail. We get enough junk mail. Send mail to many people! Invite your friends and family and anyone you know to take part in the event! Everyone is invited!

This is officially a Acts of Random Art Event! And please if you haven't joined A.o.R.A. join in at http://www.facebook.com/actsofrandomart

And if you want to mail to Acts of Random Art send to

Acts of Random Art
PO Box 182
Freeport ME
04032

Now on top of the up coming Snail Mail Event! Acts of Random Art now has a new studio/office. And I hope to have it in full mobile action for next summer! It's very exciting. I will be posting images of the progress on Instagram which will also show up on all other social network formats.

This is a 1969 Aristocrat Lo-Liner. I am looking forward to this project.

Other things from this summer.

KahBang (Bangor ME's Music Art Film Festival) 2013 was a great and wet time. I was able to bring something new to my work and to KahBang involving yarn. Yes I took my yarn bombing work to the fine art end of my life with adding as a artificial plant life with small monsters. I am in the midst of planning some further and larger scale work. Possibly for the winter but definitely for KahBang 2014.

             For images of these check out this link here KahBang Sculpture 2013

Other then that there was a couple shows this summer one at Frank Brockman Gallery in Brunswick ME and a few at Peloton Labs in Portland ME. Being Peloton Labs' Artist in Resident will be coming to a close as this summer closes. It has been a lot of fun but time to move on. Two years was a long time. And I hope to still get to show every now and again there down the road.

But this summer is not over yet. Even though people think Labor Day is the end of a summer, we still have most of September to get threw. And I'm sure with the way this summer has been going, there is more to tell at the official end of Summer 2013. Enjoy the rest of yours folks! 

And for September 3rd and like they say "Put a bird on it." on Portlandia, "Put a Stamp on it! (Address will help too)" for the next Snail Mail Event.

Originally Posted: August 30, 2013

Street/Public Art talk brought back from the archives

Do you remember about 2 and half years ago when Portland had a great Panel Discussion about graffiti? No? Or you do but you missed it? Well after a short mentioning of it yesterday I thought I would pull it up from the archives and share it once again. It was a very good talk. And if you like all things street/public art, well this is a talk you should listen in on. And please leave comments and share with others. It's always a lively discussion.

http://actsofrandomart.blogspot.com/2011/10/paca-creative-conversations-whats-that.html#.UbZYG5W4m2x

Public Bike Art Project - P.B.A.P.

“Public Bike Art Project - P.B.A.P”

The next step for the “Acts of Random Art - A.o.R.A.” is on the way!

The original A.o.R.A project was supposed to be a twitter project with daily or random pictures of public art and that would be that. But I quickly went on to Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr, Instagram, and well as

blogspot for occasional writings.

This next step is bringing A.o.R.A. to a mobile platform, showing art on either my bike trailer or tricycle. One board will be used at a time – painted over each week if it is not purchased. It’s going to just be about being public art, not on anyone else’s wall, and brought around town randomly. It will not necessarily be only flat work and might also include sculpture - kinetic or static. It will be an interesting art experiment presenting art to the general public while using a working bike. I do like to make my work for the people, so keep your eyes open for the “Public Bike Art Project” and please give me feedback if you see it!

Originally Posted: June 3, 2013

The World: The Ultimate Museum, The Ultimate Canvas or The Ultimate Gallery?

I’ve been concentrating on documenting all kinds of public art projects for just under two years and it has been a blast. I capture work from known and unknown artists - stickers, wheat pasting, graffiti, etc., and also some of my own chalk, yarn-bombings and magnetic work. That has made me wonder how other people doing all forms of street art see the world - Museum vs.Canvas vs Gallery.

The world as Museum makes a lot of sense to me. With world being the Museum, then countries, states, cities and towns are the Galleries. I make two dimensional and three dimensional work that fits into the concept of being in a Gallery. My own work has only had a small corner in a few galleries! I have had work in the Maine, Wisconsin, and the Pennsylvania Gallery. Where one sets the work - drawing with chalk, graffiti on a wall, yarn-bombing a bench, placing a statue or sculpture in a park – I see that as the Canvas.

I’m sure some curators wish they had control of the Ultimate Museum. I think these are truly the museum and galleries where street artists have complete say over what they want the public to see on their canvas.

So what do you think of the world - Museum? Gallery? Canvas?

Please share your opinion.

Originally Posted: January 22, 2013

Contemporary History - History has to start somewhere...

Yarn Bombing is a lot of fun. Yes, I said it, fun. One of my favorite locations is my local Historical Society building site in Freeport, Maine, USA. Why is that? A. Because they enjoy and appreciate it. B. They have particularly interesting (aka fun) architectural details to play with. Now I understand that some people don’t like it because it’s not part of Freeport’s “History”. But is it starting a new tradition and adding to Freeport’s history? Now I know that it is not just my town that has this issue. Largertowns and cities have more people on both sides of the issue and more people all around to ignore their surroundings or be enchanted and happy with urban surprises.

This past month I went and put fourteen monsters on the ball caps of the fence line outside the building. I knew that there were a few naysayers to this. Originally, on International Yarn Bombing Day, 2012, I put two at the fence entrance. The plan was to keep adding to all fourteen fence post ball caps. Sadly, the two quickly disappeared. So I decided to put all fourteen up at once. I also put them up the day before the Fourth of July, at night. I figured in the morning there was going to be a running race and parade and many would see them and enjoy them. Part of the fun is watching the discovery of the pieces and hearing and watching the many that love bumping into the unusual, charming and unexpected as they go about their errands. One has vanished. But I figure that doing yarn-bombing and chalk drawing are my efforts to add to the traditions and history of my town. Just don’t forget that history has to start somewhere!


To view all fourteen monsters check out the video on YouTube "Monsters Ball" you can also find them being posted individually on Acts of Random Art's Facebook page.


Originally Posted: July 9, 2012

“I write about graffiti and street art” “Oh the stuff that damages things”

The other day I saw my neighbor taking a rest from his walk. He asked what I had been up to and that his wife had seen what she thought where some of my sculptures up the street. I confirmed this and I also told him that I had been doing some writing. When I told him that I also told him what I was writing about - street art from graffiti to other forms. At that statement, he quickly jumped into

“graffiti damages private property” which was followed by “I do understand though that some people let it happen”.

This did get me thinking again about the discussion in Portland, ME, on how to handle graffiti. (talk-on-graffiti-in-portland-me) But it reminded me how quickly that the first thing that came to my neighbor's mind was graffiti as vandalism and damage. Granted, I was happy to hear him, on his, mention that some people do allow it to happen. The thing that got me, though, is how quick the general public is to jump straight to a negative in regards to street art.

I do think that many people have this response because it is what the general public sees. Some of that is because the schools and street artists are not getting together enough to help educate the public about the unofficial rules of street art, including teaching the skills of these art forms. It has been slowly moving to acceptance in the world of art. It has taken a long time and is still not a fully accepted art form. People still need education on graffiti, yarn bombing, and other street art forms. The start wasnʼt writing on walls in NYC, street art had been going on for a long time. The current focus seems to have erupted in the 70ʼs and the explosion has blossomed to contemporary subjects that go beyond just letters and include full images.

My neighbor is already beyond many in his simple admission that some people accept it as art!

Originally Posted: January 13, 2012

Street Art on TV

I'm not one to write about something based on a TV show. Nor am I one to watch “Reality TV” but, honestly, there are the few that I find interesting. One show I like is “Work of Art”. I enjoy it because, it is interesting to see what the artists do with a challenge and how they use materials. A couple of weeks ago one challenge was street art. What got me thinking wasnʼt really the subject of the show or the works, but what Simon de Pury said at the start of the show. He stated. “Street art started as an expression outside of the art world and the law. Slowly the initial pioneers transformed the illegal expression into an exceptional form of art.”

To me, the most important thing he said is how it slowly transformed into an official form of art. This has been historically true for all arts. The other thing that the episode did with the works that were made, and Simonʼs statement was help present graffiti and other street arts in a positive light to the public. Because this show is watched and can be watched by people who have no clue about art and want to see the mysterious happenings in the artist studio, education has been slipped in. Effectively, the street art episode, to me, showed that graffiti is not as black and white as some people think. There are many layers to some works. All work? No. But the fact that street art, from the name someone uses as a tag to a yarn monster, from a mural (legally made or not) to chalk drawings always has intrinsically more then what it is on the surface. People, including some in the established art world, have a hard time because when actual street works are put up, they are for everyone to take in and the artist is not there to give an explanation. Putting a street art episode on a TV show like “Work of Art” does do something different, I hope it proves to be more educational then people might realize - Pop Culture really can help explain cultural phenomena.

Originally Posted: January 5, 2012

Top 10 Images of 2011!

Hello! A New Year is upon us and I hope to find even more exciting images of random art in 2012. Now even though Acts of Random Art is not a full year old yet there are many images of 2011 that where found. So I went back and looked at all the images that were posted and stored on Flickr and picked the top 10 images. I hope you enjoy them and please share comments and if you have favorites let me know. And if you find some over 2012 share them with everyone on Acts of Random Art!

Here you go! 2011 to 10 images!

Originally Posted: January 2, 2012

No Real Excuse

As much as I'd like to apologize for not writing a lot lately, I can't really. I say this because I have been busy making some sculptures and other art. But at the same time I should have been squeaking in some writing time. Breaking up time for those multi projects is still being worked out. Do not fear though! I do have some writings on the horizon and plan to get a couple more down this month. With a real push to getting more time set aside for 2012!

And thank you to all who have followed these writings and I hope you keep on checking in and passing the word on for the subjects you find interesting. And I'm always looking for more subject matters involving art and the streets.


Originally Posted: December 6, 2011

Who decides Art is Art?

Even though I live in Freeport Maine a couple towns over and about 15-20 minute drive to Portland I am watching what is going there very carefully. Why should I care that much? Well Portland might not be the capital but it could be a place that sets some rules that will have effects across the state. Giving other towns and cities the light to tighten their reins on what art is.

Now don’t think that this is a completely new thing in art. Because this is  the kind of problem that art has had probably since the first cave painting. I can only picture the hunting scene be drawn with white powder and some one say it’s only real art when you burn the wood and draw with black charcoal. For centuries art also wasn’t even considered art. The early sculptures and fresco’s where not made just because someone wanted to. They where made because somebody wanted to to create stuff but was only allowed on commission and was very specific what and what not to do. When Leonardo was drawing in the dark and in secrecy the human body. His drawings of inventions and the human figure now are considered masterpieces. When what they really are are drawings for ideas and studies. 

Jump ahead a couple thousand years and you will see the same thing going on. But now sculptors and painters can more or less make art for what it is. Art a form of entertainment. But then came photography, and that scared the hell out of artists, painters for sure because how where they supposed to compete with something that can capture a moment and in such detail? It was blown off for decades. Which it was used manly for commercial use and news reporting to give an image to help tell a story. Even though there where artists out shooting away trying to show that it is not threat to painters and the art world, but a new form of art. Ansel Adams is considered one of the best landscape photographers, yet he had to fight and prove that photography was an art form in the start. It wasn’t until roughly the 60’s that photography finally was given the green light to be an art form. In which even drawing the basis to most artists is still on shaky grounds of being art. It is more so an art but in the some of the more tight art groups it’s looked down upon. Even acrylics had a hard time being called paints. Which there are still oil painters that claim acrylics are not real because it’s a plastic paint. Which in my personal opinion if an artist knows how to use their materials and well, then it doesn’t matter if it’s watercolor, oil, or acrylic.

Now with that background what I am following that’s going on in Portland Maine is a quote from the cities attorney:

“The court has already determined what art is. It’s not up to an artist what art is.”
-Mary Costigan, City Attorney (Portland, ME) 

Now how does that work? Artists can’t decide their work to be art? This day and age one of the hard things with contemporary art is what is art? You have performance art, fiber art, functional art, the list can go on and on. Now isn’t it easier to have the non art world settle the art worlds age long on going fight? And to use the courts to say that is and that is not art. Reasons why I am watching this is because of a danger that it makes me feel of where and how art is decided on. Because there are people that think that the jewelry they make is a true piece of art. Where someone looking at a painting that is all white and it’s all about the fact it’s 100 layers painted on, each layer at 10:56am everyday for 100 days. People will say, “That’s art?” But having the courts claim they know what art is, well that is dangerous. To me it’s not a Freedom of Speech thing. Because what this is all about is people selling art on the streets of Portland when they where told it’s open and now they are trying to slam the door shut. I see it as a problem for Portland’s Public Art groups having a harder time later when they want to put something in a public space and the courts say, that is not what we call art so no. And some of the internal bickering that will go on even more will be a problem. The reason why I don’t think that it’s a Freedom of Speech thing is only because it’s a commerce thing. To say selling art is a Freedom of Speech, that is different then saying you can’t make art that represents this. That is where blocking Freedom of Speech comes into play. But blocking what art is to sell, that’s a entirely different thing. Go to the MoMA, Milwaukee Museum, Portland Museum of Art, Boston, Chicago Art Institute, The Walker in Minnesota, any major museum anywhere and you will see from furniture and silverware in the design sections to Egyptian and Contemporary art work. All in which is called Art. Now for Portland to say a wooden spoon is not hand made and a form of art, they have not looked and educated them self on the history and show what is. The Portland Museum of Art will be having a show involving shaker furniture. Before questioning and saying what is and what is not, the courts need to really open their eyes and read up on somethings.

Originally Posted: October 29, 2011

A response to another Yarn Bombers observation

After reading this great blog entry on the observation of another Yarn Bomber…(First if you want to read what they said before going on with this read Maluca Yarnbombing entry). I’ll wait...

Okay, now I’m assuming you have read the entry and now know that they were looking at monster feet and chicken feet moving up on a post and finding that it’s the city workers moving them so that they will not be damaged when cleaning the streets. I personally think it is fantastic and choose to assume that the workers liked having something different to look at other then the usual post. Now, it’s funny, because when we bombed Freeport, Maine, for International Yarn Bombing Day and Monster Foot day it was very interesting to see what happened to the works and who seems to really like them and who, oddly, has a problem. One restaurant, Azure Café, really enjoys it. The monster feet from June 11^th, as well as the additional ones on Monster Foot Day, were such a success they are still on the lights outside the building. The book store across the street leaves work up until it gets to a point that it looks a little shaggy and they take it inside. Some things they have even put aside for us to recollect and use later or just for display behind the counter. Surprisingly, Banana Republic, has left monster feet up on lamp posts, the Historical Society cracks me up by protecting things put up there. I even hear people talking about how when something fall off they pick them up and put them back! This means people around town are protecting these random works of art. Which is really pretty funny, sweet, and telling that art touches all of us in surprising ways. 

Now, one thing I find funnier than the places that keep stuff up, is some of the ones that take them off right away. For example, a store that on International Yarn Bombing Day, June 11, 2011, my team was pretty sure this one store would be all for it. It’s a “Hippie” personality of a shop. So we figured that they would be laid back and want it. But, they were the first to take the two or three small things off the bench in front of the store. I went out early that morning to photograph the work in the morning light, the bench items were there, but when I talked to someone who went by an hour or so later, it turned out that the store people had taken it off. While I was pretty sure Banana Republic would have removed the feet that morning, they didn’t. And the other shop is a closer “local” shop. How ironic is that? 

Now, I think one reason why yarn graffiti is more accepted is that it’s not permanently affixed to things. That is why I think most gorilla art that is not fixed to things and just placed is more accepted. It can be taken down when it fades or if it’s not liked by someone and it does not damage anything. Chalk, yarn, sculptures are all things that can happen without really getting people’s feathers too ruffled up. That and it is always safer when it’s humorous. Please share with us what your see happen and your observations of public art, from Yarn Bombing to stickers to graffiti. Keep your eyes open because little things may pop up when you least expect them! And if you can’t find any in your area, you can always make things happen.

Originally Posted: October 25, 2011

A Lack of History

After talking with a friend I was thinking further about the lack of Art History understanding among artists. They seem to have no history knowledge, knowledge of only recent history, or only knowledge of particular history. I thought that was it, but it seems to be a larger lack of overall art history knowledge. Do they need to have everything perfectly on recall? No. Personally my best knowledge is Pop Art and Dadaism. But I can still understand and talk cave works to renaissance, the difference between Modern and Contemporary and more. It just seems that Artists have been working so hard to forget art history, that they may not be able to be part of the future history. Artist that will, are the ones that can look at the past, think about it, draw from it. To use elements of the past now and down the road will enrich current and future arts.

Originally Posted: October 22, 2011

Do You Get Better Public Art When It’s Allowed?

When you go around and look around and look at or spot forms of public art which is more likely to draw your attention? “Street Art” (which in this writing is to sum up all non-traditional public art) or “Sanctioned Art”? For myself it’s a combo of both, depending on the style. I’m not against the traditional monumental brass sculpture. I just have a tendency to gravitate to grittier or more contemporary works.

With that said, I feel like that if more “Street Art” style where to combo with the traditional, it could help liven up towns and cities. When I walked around the Walker’s Sculpture Garden about 6 years ago it combined both contemporary and traditional. Something that groups trying to bring art to their towns should think about. This could be either having “Street Artists” work closely with “Traditional” and to show both methods in action. Or allow Contemporary to stand next to Traditional and not be afraid that they will clash. This could help bring young people to respect the work and also feel more included in town workings rather than feel kept away.

Now, the question was, “Do you get better public art when it’s allowed?” as always the answer is “Yes” and “No”. Depending on who is looking at the work and their taste. Being open to work - new and old, traditional and contemporary, street and non-street art you may be able to shorten the gap between the “Yes’s” and “No’s”.

Originally Posted: October 13, 2011

Stickers

I have talked about graffiti, wheat pasting, yarn bombing and a lot more. I have yet to write about the art of Stickers. I find stickers come more strongly into play in areas that graffiti and wheat pasting get more aggressively fought against.

Stickers are smaller, quick, and easy to make. You can make a sticker, peel the back off while walking and can slap it on without stopping. You can also take a little more time, an  extra second or two to place  it more carefully. With digital editing printing stickers is easy! Plus it is also a lot cheaper these days to get them printed at Kinko’s or some online company. There are also “free stickers” that people use. People snag a small pile draw, paint or print on them then stick them around. The size is usually small so they are not seen as quickly, which means they can last a little longer. 

There is a lot one can do to make a sticker and a lot of places to put them. Stickers are no longer just something kids buy to put on school stuff, but small and often multiple works of art. Look for stickers, you could be surprised at what you see. I’m just waiting for small stamps to move in.

One Minute Video Project

Now, Random Art does not need to just be out in public as the streets. You can also find Random Art here online at such sites as youtube and facebook, just for a couple examples. The list is really much longer. That is not really what I am trying to start.

This is a video project. These are the rules:

Video's are to be no more then one minute long

Please post the video's on Acts of Random Art Facebook page

And if you would like them to be on the A.o.R.A. YouTube Channel please email your video to actsofrandomart@gmail.com

Please have fun with this project and I want it to be an on going project. And on November 30th I will be asking for people to vote on the video's up to that point. In which the movie with the most votes on Facebook and/or YouTube there will then be a winner! And with that a prize (which is in the middle of being made!)

Here is a one minute video to be used as an example. Subjects are open for anything, but please be tasteful!

example video - Night Ride

Nothing is Permanent in Public Art

Most think, when it comes to ephemeral art, about environmental works. The kind of work that is built from rocks, sticks, grass and leaves and anything that is natural to the environment around it. Art that can the return back to the earth and not do any damage.

But that is not the only ephemeral art. Graffiti even though it is spray paint, yarn bombing and wheat pasting just to name a few gorilla art forms are very ephemeral. Some just last longer then others. Even a commissioned piece of public art work might not last forever. Some work lifespans are shorter than others. Richard Serra, had a piece in New York City that was designed to break up a giant space, it made people angry and it was ultimately taken down. His work is made site specific (a piece made for the one place it is placed and nowhere else) so the metal was then scrapped. 

Richard Serra - NYC - Tilted Arc

Occasionally, other works get taken down and cause a stir. Maine’s own controversial labor workers mural in the Maine State Labor Building taken down by Gov. Lepage (without seeing it himself but because of an anonymous request) is a case in point. Maine Labor Mural Check this site for ongoing information on this active controversy.

Graffiti is sometimes taken down in a matter of minutes and sometimes left for years. But at the same point it will ultimately be cleaned off or painted over, by a property owner or another Graffiti writer. This continuum of artwork stirs controversy, generally less formally than commissioned work and sometimes in graffiti spats and wars between or among individual or groups of writers.

In the end, it seems that all the public art is ephemeral or short lived. That is, in comparison to more “formal” art forms in galleries or museums. But even for those works, being in the public eye is usually brief, with the work leaving galleries to be moved to storage, the artist’s studio or private collections. So remember that nothing is permanent in public art or for that matter, in art in general.

Originally Posted: September 7, 2011

What is “Random” about “Random Art” really?

After posting all kinds of work under the title “Acts of Random Art” and thinking about the title I think there needs to be a change in what people might consider to be “Random Art”. Even graffiti, yarn bombing, and publicly authorized works themselves are not placed as randomly as one might think.

Graffiti artists, yarn bombers and other street artists never just randomly choose where to place their work. It’s someplace that is seen well before the spray paint goes up, or the yarn is wrapped, or maybe a sculpture is placed. The person who puts work in a location has spent some time prepping for what they are going to do. Some people will actually measure their target location after spotting it and checking for cameras. The finished work - in the artist’s eyes - is not placed in a random space.

Authorized works are planned out far in advance by a property owner and or committees that choose the location of a piece. The idea (sketches, mock ups, etc.) are then brought, if necessary, to a city or town ordinance committee to okay the work and site. Even the art work itself is be put to a test by the people planning for the location - if the artist’s work is what people might want, changes that might need to be made and so on. This is why some people choose an illegal route to make public art works.

The “randomness” defined in this project is really not about the artist putting work out, but for where you (or I) stumble across it. The randomness is the surprise that the viewer experiences. It might be something little that pops up. It might be something large that is unexpected. To tell the truth, random is never really truly random from the maker’s point of view. So keep your eyes open for random art. It might be around more then you think – ready to take you by surprise

Originally Posted: August 26, 2011

All Art Stirs Controversy

When it comes to ‘Controversial Art’ most think of it is showing political, sexual, violent or all of the above. But in the art world and general public sometimes that is not what gets people going. Sometimes it stems from something that is new to the art world, or funny and non-threatening that academics might find most fearful. With the general public it can be the most academic work that gets them going, the “Nude” painting or drawing. If you attended art school, you drew a nude or two. I always laugh when friends tell me, “oh I could never have done that”. At my school the model’s I drew were friends.

Some of my own work has been somewhat controversial. I have had people tell me that my work is not serious enough. That is fine with me. I find there is a lot of serious work and I like mixing in a little fun. Somehow fun scares some academics. I can’t quite figure out why that scares them. I have been told it not their cup of tea. Which is fine, not everything can be. I’m not a personal fan of everything, but if it is well done I will give it a chance.

It really never seems like there is one thing that won’t offend someone. The Vietnam Wall generated much controversy when it was being made. That was why there was a realistic bronze sculpture installed at one end of the wall to make some people happy, but no one talks about it now because of the power that comes from the Wall. Most controversial art wouldn’t be such a big deal if some people didn’t stir it up as much as they do. A lot of people would have never realized the show in New York City in the late 90’s (look for copy of story) was even going on, if it wasn’t for the Mayor making such a big deal out of it. It probably would have stayed in the art world and no one else would have known about it.

Now I’m not forgetting the main subject of this blog, street art. Just by work showing up on walls, sculptures being placed and all sorts of other things, street art has controversy stamped on it right from the start. Some like it, others don’t. Vandalism or not. (Personally if it is insults, racial slurs, and so on, to me that is down right vandalism, other wise a grey area.) Some say public spaces are allowed, but if an owner allows it on their wall, and the neighbor doesn’t like it, well then what? It’s hard to not get someone mad in art, no matter how hard you try.

Originally Posted: August 16, 2011

Urban Environmental Art

I took an art history class in college called Environmental Art History. The first half focused on Andy Goldsworthy and other artists in his area – a form of art that was first recognized in the 70’s. We had a visiting artist named Roy Staab  and I worked with him on a piece for the college. These artists make art using local natural items. They build sculptures or make works with leaves on rocks or in water. Now how is that different then Gorilla Art or Street Art?

I ask that because sculptures are made from plaster, clay, metal, Graffiti is paint, wheat paste, marker, ink. Yarn Bombing is done with all kinds of things that you see in your urban Surrounding. Maybe what these styles need is new name branding of the work. People always call it street art or graffiti. These terms are ones that the general public sees in negative terms. So maybe it’s time that we start using more positive terminology in a more academic way. We can start calling it Urban Environmental Art - that would probably make it be a more friendly movement title for art text books.

Urban Environmental Art - using all of the items you would see in the surroundings of the work of art. Different environment equals different material, the woods - sticks, leaves, moss, rocks, desert- sand, rocks sticks,  town- pavement, rocks, sticks, paint, brick, plastic, metal and the same goes for cities. So let there be a new Environmental Art in the list of movements. Even though these things have been around for a long time, lets tweak the name to be more ‘movement’ friendly, introducing Urban Environmental Art!

Originally Posted: August 9, 2011

Cultural Controversy

Members of different cultures want to be understood – including those in artistic sub- cultures. During a discussion of graffiti in Portland, it was said, “Graffiti is for the other writers and people in that culture.” That seems to be a mantra that many in the community of graffiti writers repeat. I‟m not sure that it is completely true. I think that the people in the culture and who know the unwritten rules, the stages of graffiti and where different styles come from do have a better understanding. People in the culture, however, recognize that they are doing it for an audience. If it was just for the other artists involved, it wouldn‟t need to be done so publicly.

What happens in many cultures and the graffiti culture is no different, is that those involved complain of not being understood. Often when people from the “outside” try to make an effort to understand, they are pushed away. I do think that for graffiti artists to generate positive public response, they need to be willing to talk to the public and not put down people speaking out in favor of their culture. At the event, it was a good to have well art-educated people speak on behalf of graffiti. More education on this art form is needed – including not only how it is done – the mechanics of the artwork, but also its story and impact around the world and throughout history. I think that those making graffiti need to accept their position in history.

Graffiti has been in and out of the main-stream art world, the fashion world and advertising for centuries. It‟s everywhere - you can‟t avoid it. From small towns to the busiest, largest cities, graffiti is part of the mainstream. That seems to be what frustrates both the academic art world and society at large. It‟s an art form based on the street and will always be on the street and as it has also been co-opted by the pop culture, it will not be able to be controlled. It can, however, be appreciated and understood.

The appreciators and supporters of the graffiti culture also deserve recognition for their efforts from the artists. A building owner who allows the use of their wall often has to contend with neighbors who do not appreciate the art form. This is a problem not only for the graffiti culture, but for public art in general. Monument designs have been argued time and time again - the Vietnam Wall is one of the best known modern instances. Currently, the situation that comes to mind is what should and what should not happen at the World Trade Center location. Locally, „Tracing the Fore‟, in Portland, is an example of the controversies public art can generate.

Public art has moved beyond the dedicated monument to large scale installations, earthworks, and even beyond traditional graffiti to mass productions in flash mobs, planking and yarn bombing. It is time that traditional graffiti artists acknowledge their place in art history. It is time that academics, critics, audiences and the public become aware of the historical and social impact of all public art. For everyone‟s sake, it is time to become involved in more discussions in a proactive way rather than wait for controversial and antagonistic situations to develop.

Originally Posted: July 9, 2011

What did A.o.R.A. and MESS do for the Fourth?

Phew! What a busy couple days getting all kind of things ready for the Fourth of July with fellow Maine Street Stitchers (MESS). Now what - you must be wondering were we up to? Well decorating two of the most supportive Yarn Bombing friends - Azure Cafe and Sherman’s Books in Freeport ME. I’m not saying they will want to be overly bombed but the fact that they had such a positive response to International Yarn Bombing day, we thought we would help them celebrate the Fourth. Well, check out what we were up to on Acts of Random Art’s YouTube Channel, Flickr page and join us on twitter and facebook to see what other adventures, contests and events A.o.R.A. and the Maine Street Stitchers are up to!

Originally Posted: July 5, 2011

Yarn Bombing

This is a newer blog and a new project of mine. One thing I have been surprised to not find in Portland Maine is “Yarn Bombing”. I know it’s been going on for some time now. But with the wide variety of ages of knitters and crocheters I know and have known around here I’m just surprised there hasn’t been an explosion of such a thing. 

You might be asking yourself what is “Yarn Bombing”?  It’s really people having a great time with Yarn and making everyday life a little cozier. What is funny I know someone in Freeport, Maine, who did start doing some, but I haven’t seem any more recent attacks of yarn. “Yarn Bombing” really seems to me, that in Portland Maine it would be a bigger hit. With Maine College of Art dead center in the city you would expect such a thing to happen. My question is why is it not? But, then again, I wonder how there isn’t more Acts of Random Art publicly placed around this area in general. And I don’t mean graffiti, but also sculptures and all kinds of things. I will cut that tangent short though and save it for another entry down the road.

Back to “Yarn Bombing,” I seriously wonder how this is not a bigger thing in Maine, really. Maybe I missed its hype? I don’t know. It’s too much fun from the images I have seen on blogs such as, http://yarnbombing.com/ and http://yarnbombing.co.uk/. (I will not take offense if you check these out before I continue on reading.) I know way too many knitters and crocheters around me, that if they knew about this, I would think they would take full advantage and make this into something here. I know a friend in Salt Lake City who talks about it. Is there a problem around here with it not using natural wools? Because we have plenty of the suppliers of sheep and alpaca natural colored wool for everyone. So why not take part? And to those who are anti-Graffiti, how can you be mad with something being covered with yarn? There is no damage and it might make a street sign pole something you want to hug.

Originally Posted: June 21, 2011

Flash Mobs & Graffiti vs Vandalism

As I watched the News they started to talk about Flash Mobs as a group of young teenagers getting together in huge groups beating people up and mass robbings in stores and just flat out vandalism. I was happy that they made a short and brief comparison to what Flash Mobs are with groups of people doing Freezes and breaking out in dance and things towards the more peaceful end of it.

This got me thinking. Mostly about how I read a person’s comment on a news paper article in Portland Maine talking about a local Mosque getting slurs and other things spray painted all over it. The comment was something like “How is that vandalism when I will be fined if I don’t clean graffiti off my walls, why isn’t that vandalism?” (The rule of cleaning your building or getting fined in Portland ME is a big thing right now  -listen to the talk I taped on here http://actsofrandomart.blogspot.com/2011/04/talk-on-graffiti-in-portland-me.html.

These things got me thinking. Some of it is not the problem people have with it, but the education of the differences. It is also how vandalism is easily tied to public, street or gorilla art. I think that there needs to be some clarification of these and graffiti would be the hardest to fight with. That is because there is a true art to graffiti. Then there is the doing things on peoples property with out permission. To me though a true difference between vandalism and graffiti, is that vandalism is when people put insults, slurs, racial comments and the like along with taking a can of spray paint and doing it just to do damage. Graffiti, on the other had is more thought out, and never to do it just to do damage. It is done with the thought of making something look better to the writer -making it colorful and interesting. As much as people say graffiti is for other graffiti writers it’s also very public and for everyone. I’m sure that people would not be happy with those comparisons though. And some would say that there is no difference. 

For Flash Mobs, I put that on the media and city officials who are calling the mass violent, vandalism groups a Flash Mob. Because that is not what Flash Mobs are about - it’s another art form that is for the public and the reason for it is to make something interesting different happen in the everyday. This can be people breaking out in dance to music or to have lots of people all of a sudden stop in their tracks, or for some way for a large group of people to do one thing all at the same time. This sometimes weird’s people out, makes them laugh and just all around have a different experience in everyday life. 

Now the other “Flash Mobs” the media and city officials are calling “Flash Mobs” is a problem for the people who are out trying to do artistic Flash Mobs. Violent groups need to be called the violent mob that they are - just like protests that break into fights are usually started by people that just want to start a mass fight. Let’s figure something different for the media to call them. Flash Mobs are for fun. Don’t take that away because others just want to cause problems.

Originally Posted: June 14, 2011

Apologies and International Yarn Bombing Day!

Hello everyone, very sorry for the lack of posting any messages of late. At the same time, I would like to wish those of you who are Knitters and Crocheters Happy International Yarn Bombing Day!

Now that would be part of the reason why there has been a lack of writing. I have been busy taking part in preparing for today, then out late last night and getting pictures and video. So check out the Flickr group for Acts of Random Art and see what was hit in Freeport Maine by the Maine Street Stitchers! It was a fun night!

The other reason is because it has been extremely nice weather out here in Maine. We have been having a rough start to the spring and summer so I have been taking advantage mowing and spending time outdoors. I’ve also have been getting new photos of all kinds of public art. Again, namely right now, graffiti and today’s Yarn Bombing. With some crummy days ahead, I plan to sit and work on some writings.

Now, I hope everyone has been hard at work doing some form of art of their own. If so, please feel free to share with A.o.A.R. on facebook, twitter or flickr! And below is a link to the A.o.R.A. video made from IYBD. Enjoy!

Originally Posted: June 11, 2011

Frustrating the Art World

Graffiti has been in and out of the main-stream art world to the fashion world to advertising. It’s everywhere now. You can’t not see it. In the smallest of towns you’ll find it, to the busiest and largest cities. I think, at times, that it frustrates the academic art world. They want to control it but they never will. It’s a form based on the street and will always be on the street. It will also, always now be in every other part of pop and academic world, never to be controlled.

Originally Posted: May 28, 2011

And The Project Grows

This has been a fun project I started almost two months ago. Going and hunting down graffiti, stickers, and other random public art. I will admit I have been lacking on some of the more traditional public sculptures, but I’m working on getting those into my pictures. I do personally find old painted add-on brick, graffiti and more untraditional work to be more fun to hunt about. 

It’s also been fun working on some of my own works to leave behind. I’m not just taking part as an observer but also as a participant. Personally, my methods are sculptural and more along the lines of non-damaging works. I got making little men with camera heads out of clay. Down the road I plan to grow them in size and number. It is the three dimensional version of my logo.

The other thing is Yarn Bombing. It is something I had heard of over time. I know someone here in my town that had started doing it last year. Now I’m hooked on doing that too. It’s a lot of fun. It is a form that doesn’t actually damage anything. If someone does not like it, well they can cut it off and toss it. Or if it is something people do like they may cut it and take it home. That is something I enjoy with public art. It takes on a life of its own. For example I put a small camera man in a place in Portland ME, then someone added another little clay critter. That is something that could easily happen with Yarn Bombing. People adding things to things people already put up and so on. 

It has been a lot of fun watching this project grow. And A.o.R.A. has now become one of the two founders of the Yarn Bombing group Maine Street Stitchers (MESS). This project has been a fast growing one and pretty surprising. Now, I’m curious to see where it will go in the next few months? Projects and events are to come. Keep your eyes open and follow on facebook and twitter to know what kind of things are going on. Some will be local to A.o.R.A. Freeport ME, and others will be global like the first Snail Mail Event - Bring Back the Stamp!

Originally Posted: May 24, 2011