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

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

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

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

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