…Exploring the role of the prankster as artist, activist and social observer and the significance of the prank in society.
Knitters cover Pittsburgh’s Warhol Bridge in yarn
AP.com
August 12, 2013
PITTSBURGH (AP) – More than 1,800 knitters have covered Pittsburgh’s Andy Warhol Bridge in 3,000 feet of colorful yarn.
Volunteers worked all weekend to attach 580 blanket-size, hand-knitted panels to the pedestrian walkways on the downtown bridge, and riggers attached larger panels to the towers.
The planning and permitting started about 18 months ago, said Amanda Gross, 29, who had the idea for the project.
From artist Norm Magnusson: I’m raising funds on Kickstarter for a project to install one of my ‘historical’ markers in each of the 27 travel plazas of the New York State Thruway. I’d love you to join me in this project. The Kickstarter campaign runs through March 20, 2013.
These are sculptures of cast aluminum and acrylic paint. They look just like the historical markers found on country roads, in front of stone houses, or near scenic overlooks all over America, but instead of commemorating the site of a battle or a place where a famous person slept, these markers deal with contemporary social issues such as gender wage disparity, global warming, illegal immigration, taxes, health care and many, many others.
The markers are expensive to make. The cost of materials keeps going up. Fabrication, installation, transportation, assistants, insurance, van rental, rewards and fulfillment… it all adds up and all of a sudden, it’s a pricey project. 7 people at $10,000 each or 7000 people at $10 each or some combination thereof will get me going. But I don’t just need money, I’m also going to need help installing these things, so if you’re interested in digging holes and planting poles, please let me know.
Holes Of Happiness is a short documentary by Steve Wheem looking at the reactions of the public to some pothole gardens that have been popping up around East London. See more at http://www.thepotholegardener.com
Saber, Graffiti Artist, Fights To Lift Mural Ban In LA
by Andrew Reilly
Huffington Post
October 14, 2011
For the artist Saber, participation in the democratic process has always been complicated. He’s an international graffiti legend, holding the world record for the largest graffiti piece, done along the LA river in 1997. Despite its place in the history books, the city of Los Angeles spent a whopping $837,000 to paint over it in 2009. Now Saber is approaching public art laws from a different angle, spearheading an effort to reform Los Angeles’ mural policies.
At the moment, LA’s regulations don’t begin to reflect the city’s vibrant public art culture; uncommissioned murals are banned outright, even if the mural is painted on private property with the consent of the owner. Violators are subject to serious punishment, as was the case with prominent LA artist Revok, who received 180 days jail time over various vandalism charges. Continue reading “Art Vs. Vandalism: LA’s Unsanctioned Mural Debate”
9 amazing political art projects of 2010
by Michael Lithgow
ArtThreat.net
December 10, 2010
Nasty galleries, arrests, fast food, American imperialism, Olympic culture jamming, cyborgs and cute cartoons
The star of “˜engaged art” is on the rise. The number of artists creating, performing, and exploring in the world of social and political reality is mushrooming. Or maybe that”s the way it has always been, and new technologies are allowing us to do end-runs around gate-keeping curators and mainstream media. Either way, we are discovering whole worlds of politically engaged and celebrated artists that not so long ago would just as likely have been escorted from the hallowed houses of high art for disturbing the peace.
Call it what you will “” engaged art, social practice, avant-garde, dialogical aesthetics, community art, public art, activist art, radical art “” audiences for the confounding, beautiful, horrible and hilarious kinds of symbolic dissidence these practices describe are growing. When Art Threat started three years ago there was only a few websites like us. Now there are dozens. This is a very good thing.
A top 10 (or 9) list is a necessarily troubled compromise made up as it is by hierarchy and exclusion. On the up side it”s like a map “” something to help navigate an increasingly complicated and at times overwhelming volume of cultural choices. So here”s my map of people and organizations to watch for, some better known than others, but all involved in making art that gets under the skin and changes “” at least I hope it does “” in some undeniable way those who encounter it.
Read the rest of this article here.