Street Art
Since ancient times, humans have written on walls and performed in the streets to express themselves, chronicle their lives and tell stories. What is the difference between seeing art in a gallery or experiencing it in the streets? What is it like to see a play erupt while you are walking downtown rather than sitting in a theatre? Is graffiti art? Is flocking art?
This course will explore this notion amongst others. It invites learners to discuss and explore diverse styles of performance and visual arts that take place on the streets. From skateboarding, to graffiti, to flocking and breakdancing to wheatpasting, amongst others.
From the Italian word graffiato, graffiti can be as simple as a name scratched in a tree or as elaborate as a colorful three-dimensional landscape with characters. It can be protest, poetry, art, vandalism, and social critique or simply; “I was here.”
Street Art, a more modern term, extends to other media aside from spray paint, such as wheat pastes or poster art, murals, or stickers. In some cultures, muralism has been a key tool of communication to empower communities and strengthen their identities and traditions. More...
For the purpose of this course, we will look at visual two-dimensional art as well as three-dimensional and performance-based art. Our focus is what is happening in the public space, including YOUR public space. Is it important to have public art in towns and cities? What is your town's policy around Street Art? Who decides what we look at and experience in our city centers?
We welcome you to explore the history, cultures, ideologies and intentions behind artwork and performances in the streets, while experimenting with different techniques, developing individual style and skills and participating in our on-line forum. This is an investigation of the role that art plays in the community and how it can build community. Bring your curiosity and creativity to this course! Enroll here.
Click here for a complete listing of all SDH Courses.
