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Home , Style Wars, TAKI 183, Wildstyle, Wooster Collective

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Michael DeNotto and Resources for online study

raffiti and street art are inextricably . Graffiti also has deep connections Glinked. The word graffiti comes from to the Beat generation, as well as Pop art- the Italian graffiare meaning to scratch, as ists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, in on a surface. Yet, today the term graffiti in that graffiti rejects established standards, means any sort of unsanctioned application encourages experimentation, and draws of a substance, whether it is spray paint, from popular culture and advertising. Fur- pencil markings, or even stickers. thermore, Andy Warhol was instrumental in From the graffiti scrawled on the walls of the rise of Jean-Michael Basquiat’s career, the ancient city of Pompeii, socio-political who alongside artists like Keith Haring, Fu- in Northern Ireland from groups like tura 2000, Cornbread, and TAKI-183, among the IRA and Sinn Féin, to communal projects others, is recognized as being an influential like The Great Wall of Los Angeles, scholars pioneer in the graffiti world. Like many have begun to recognize the importance subcultures rooted in resistance, graffiti has of and value of these communications and a rich history in independently published political statements. Graffiti is now recog- media like the zines IGTimes, Can Control, nized as a legitimate source of academic and 12ozProphet. study, and it is being studied as a reaction The differences between graffiti and to injustice and disenfranchisement, a cry street art can be found in authorial intent, for revolution, a way to create awareness of intended audience, and form. The most socio-political issues, an expression of hope common form of graffiti is a tag. A tag is a for the future, an effort to reclaim public graffiti artist’s signature. Tags are text based spaces, or an attempt to beautify the urban and largely indecipherable by those outside environment, among others. In fact, some the graffiti community. The intention behind scholars have even studied graffiti specific a tag is the rebellious proliferation of the art- to libraries, as Quinn Dombrowski did for ist’s signature, akin to brand name advertis- her Crescat Graffiti, Vita Excolatur project ing. Street art is a sub-genre of graffiti. While wherein she documented graffiti found in graffiti operates within a closed community, the Regenstein Library at the University of street art is an open invitation for anyone to Chicago from 2007 to 2011. interact, consider, and discuss. Furthermore, The present-day graffiti style began in the late 1970s in , and the seminal documentary Style Wars (1983), does Michael DeNotto is instruction librarian at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, e-mail: mdenotto@smumn. an excellent job of documenting graffiti’s edu proliferation in conjunction with the birth of © 2014 Michael DeNotto

C&RL News April 2014 208 street art is drawn with a pictorial focus vandalism. Additionally, street art often asks rather than textual, and it is rebellious but questions that the authorities would prefer not purposefully destructive as there is intent not be asked. Another aspect of street art’s to beautify the urban environment. ephemeral nature is that it exists in the pub- The most recognized contemporary lic for the public, thus it is exposed to not street artists include the likes of and only the elements, but potential vandalism, . Banksy, who uses stencils as well. Street art’s emphasis on communal in his street art, recently took the media by engagement, value to scholarship, and its storm during his self-proclaimed month-long temporal and fragile nature demonstrate the artist’s residency in New York City, where his importance of street art curation and distri- works and social experiments drew hordes bution in both online and print collections of fans, the ire of politicians, and intense and archives. media scrutiny regarding issues surrounding the nature of graffiti. Crowdsourced archives This, in turn, sparked national dialogue • Art Crimes. This collection began in concerning larger structural questions, such 1994 and was one of the few websites to as what constitutes art, what is public and even exist at that point in time. Art Crimes what is private, and a variety of other socio- is unique in that its longevity has resulted in political issues. Banksy’s unique vision, an unmatched historical collection of street self-referential style, and examination of the art and graffiti-related images. Additionally, hypocritical capital “A” Arts scene, can be an impressive collection of research, essays, viewed in the award-winning documentary and interviews with graffiti artists, street art- Exit Through The Gift Shop (2010). ists, and scholars are available. Also included Fairey is best known for his Obama Hope is an expansive directory of links to websites poster, as well as his involving the image of former pro- fessional wrestler Andre the Giant alongside of graffiti artists, street artists, and websites the phrase “Obey,” though Fairey has now that focus on the related topics. Access: focused more on fashion and the established http://www.graffiti.org. gallery scene than his street art roots. • Fat Cap. This resource started as a Street art’s immersion into the mainstream basic image gallery in 1998. Then, in 2001, is not unique for a subculture. Graffiti has it became a portal that allowed artists to long been appropriated by advertising en- have their own individual pages. Since then, terprises due to graffiti’s popular appeal. this resource’s coverage of street art-related Street art-related pieces have increasingly materials has expanded globally, while garnered institutional affirmation through featuring street art-related news, articles, gallery exhibits, which has caused prices of and events. Fat Cap is works to skyrocket when sold at auction. actively seeking article Street art and graffiti artists have become so submissions related to popular that even renowned hip hop mogul street art to publish on Jay-Z rapped about his love of Jean-Michel their website. Users Basquiat, as well as references to Shepard can browse street art Fairey, in his most recent album Magna images by type like Carta Holy Grail. sketch or tag, by support like walls or trains, Street art is ephemeral. Authorities often or by style like wildstyle or realistic. Access: eradicate street art because it is perceived as http://www.fatcap.com/.

April 2014 209 C&RL News • Global Street Art. The operators of like Sweet Toof, in London, New York City, Global Street Art, started in 2012 and based and most recently Montreal. The exhibi- in London, express their desire to create a tions are digital, as well as physical, museum for street accom- art to highlight the work of international panied street artists. Images are organized by the by in- artist’s profile and teractive a location, charac- online ter, and technique- maps based tagging sys- showing potential viewers where to locate tem. Aside from the the pieces being exhibited. Access: http:// plethora of street streetmuseumofart.org/. art images in the • Wooster Collective. Founded in 2001 collection, the re- and online since 2003, this collective based source’s strongest in New York City has been very influential in asset is the multitude the city’s Art scene. The couple behind the of interviews with street artists contained Wooster Collective, Marc and Sarah Schiller within. Additionally, Global Street Art is well organized the 11 Spring Street Project in known for its Walls Project, which works 2006, where they temporarily turned a local on locating walls for potential and building into an art gallery featuring works street art projects while garnering appropri- of renowned street artists like Shepard Fairey ate permissions beforehand. Access: http:// and Swoon, among others. Representatives globalstreetart.com/. of the Wooster Collective have been involved • International Graffiti Archive. This in lectures relating to street art at the Tate archive is solely focused on illegal graffiti Modern, Haverford College, and the School with the goal being to collect, preserve, and of . The Wooster Collective ag- provide accessible and continuing evidence gregates works of street art from across the of the existence of illegal graffiti, which the globe, interviews with street artists, exhibi- curators feel is often underappreciated. With tions and gallery events, as well as videos more than 25,000 photos from 13 countries highlighting street art related projects like Art and 146 different cities, this is a strong ar- Connect Liverpool which helped promote chive that evolved from the IGTimes zine. self-awareness in youths and the differently Access: http://intergraff.com/. abled. The Wooster Collective also has a • Street Art Utopia. This very popular directory of links to websites of artists. Ac- resource is similar to other crowdsourced cess: http://www.woostercollective.com/. websites in that it allows users to submit images of street art to be included on the Institutional archive site or posted on one of many social media • The Cornell Hip Hop Collection. platforms. However, Street Art Utopia is Some of this collection’s highlights include notable for its immense global popularity the complete collection of the influential and because it focuses solely on street art graffiti zine IGTimes (1983-1994), many from across the world, including , drawings and photographs detailing infa- stenciling, stickers, and even . mous subway train paintings from the artist Access: http://www.streetartutopia.com/. Richie “SEEN” Mirando, and tons of original • Street Museum of Art. This museum’s material from director and artist Charlie inaugural exhibition was held on the streets Ahearn’s film Wildstyle (1983) including of Brooklyn in the fall of 2012. The museum audio, video, testimonials, flyers, posters, has sponsored guerrilla-style exhibitions and photographs. The Cornell Hip Hop Col- curating street art, by renowned street artists lection is the best library collection of street

C&RL News April 2014 210 art, graffiti, and hip hop-related physical City Speaks was first held in 2010. Every material. Access: http://rmc.library.cornell. year the conference is held in Atlanta. The edu/hiphop/. 2012 conference was unique in that only female street artists were invited to exhibit. Blogs The conference includes film screenings, • Graffuturism. The strength of this re- lectures, and exhibitions. With a goal of source that began in 2010 is its blog, which creating a dialogue about , Liv- does an excellent job of keeping up with ing Walls doesn’t just showcase art, but street art-related news, trends, and gallery provides a platform for open and healthy events around the globe. Additionally, ex- conversation regarding issues and problems clusive interviews with artists are included that many cities are facing. Access: http:// as transcriptions and video. Access: http:// livingwallsatl.com/. graffuturism.com/. • Vandalog. Begun in 2008, this is a Mobile app well- maintained blog that not only displays • 1AM. This mobile app, that is currently high-quality, street art-related images, but only available for use with iOS, allows us- provides insightful commentary providing ers to upload and tag images of street art, context and information about the artists’ while also providing users with the locations styles, history, and methods. Vandalog’s of, and directions to, street art nearby. The founder RJ Rushmore is a recognized au- mobile app was created by the San Francisco thority on street art and has twice presented organization 1AM, which began in 2008. at Living Walls, The City Speaks, the pre- 1AM stands for eminent street art conference. Access: http:// the first amend- blog.vandalog.com/. ment and signi- fies the organi- zation’s goals of teaching, exhibiting, creating, and curating street art as a form of free artistic expres- sion. Access: http://1amsf.com/mobile /about-mobile/. Nonprofit organizations • City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Pro- Submit topic ideas for Internet gram. Originally part of an effort to rid the Resources articles city of Philadelphia of graffiti, this program began in 1984 as a way to get graffiti artists to C&RL News is seeking topic ideas for future work on communal art projects as opposed editions of the Internet Resources column. to vandalism. For 30 years, they have been Internet Resources articles are 2,000 words beautifying the city’s neighborhoods with in length and cover content from all areas murals while providing the inhabitants with of the Internet. While all topic ideas will a voice, fostering a sense of community, and be considered, preference will be given providing a positive creative outlet for artists to topics related to professional issues in and youths. The program has helped create librarianship and higher education. more than 3,000 murals, and it serves as an Submit topic ideas, including brief in- excellent example of how street art programs formation about the compiler’s knowledge can have a positive impact on people and their of the proposed topic, to David Free at surroundings. Access: http://muralarts.org/. [email protected]. • Living Walls. This Atlanta based non- Compilers whose topics are selected profit organization was founded in 2009. will receive specific manuscript prepara- Its annual conference Living Walls, The tion information.

April 2014 211 C&RL News