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Graffiti has long struggled with its position in the world, striving for recognition as a legitimate art form, all the while landing its spray-can-wielding creators in jail for defacing private property.
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Photos courtesy of Pintura Project |
Let’s face it, the world would be a lot more receptive to graffiti if it wasn’t typically applied to someone else’s stuff.
Just for a minute, let’s separate the actual artwork from the trappings of its criminal culture. Admit it…some of it is downright beautiful.
This is the goal of an event that takes place each year in Orlando, Fla.; to present graffiti as the beautiful artwork it can be, eliminating the illegality of it all. The Pintura Project™ combines well-known graffiti artists (called “writers” by those in-the-know), hip hop, break dancing, and a day of family-friendly fun—and the exteriors of warehouses provided as canvases with the blessings of their owners.
Pintura, which means “paint” in most Latin-derived languages, was conceived by Angel Carreras four years ago as both a barbecue idea among artistically involved friends and a way to share his passion for graffiti. It’s going strong today, with steadily growing attendance and sponsorship opportunities.
In the age of chronic cuts to art education programs, Pintura introduces the community to a style of art not normally viewed in such a concentrated dose or in such a positive light.
The project unites an extensive network of talented and celebrated artists working around the world. They’re perhaps not as publicly known to you and me as the names Picasso and Warhol, but are stars within their art form nonetheless; Know7, Carolina, Totem, Sade, Teck, Sex, Spade, Med, Indie, Ceet, Part, Kongo, Powz, Ces, T-Kid, Ree, Break, Sex, and Cope2 are among those taking part in the event this year. Writers from as far away as China, Germany and Japan are also participating.
The Pintura Project takes place this year on Saturday, Oct. 8. More information: Pintura Project.
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| ABOUT THE THE BLOGGER |
Pamela Simmons |
As Director of Marketing at Technology Publishing Company (publisher of Durability + Design, PaintSquare, and JPCL), I’m here to shed light on the human side of our collective endeavors in the industries and trades we find ourselves engaged in. We'll talk about the people behind the projects: creating the designs, using the technologies, industry interactivity, and achieving the synthesis that makes it all work. |
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Tagged categories:
Artists;
Color + Design;
Community service;
Design;
Graffiti;
Murals
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Comment from Jeff Suggs, (10/1/2011, 1:35 AM)
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I think graffiti can for sure pass as art. I have traveled the world working on many different paint ovespray removal projects through the years. I have seen a lot of what most would call vandalism. I tend to agree when this is done to a vehicle that is not yours, and you are the artist. But I will never forget this job that I was working on in Fort Lauderdale Florida. I was staying at this hotel on the beach and the building next to the hotel had a 3D portrait of Albert Einstein sprayed by a true artist. I have been in art galleries before and viewed art, and this was art. You would never think in your mind that portrait was painted with a can of store bought spray paint. Everyday after work, I would look at this painting and see some little detail that I didn't notice the day before. I also remember in art class, way back in the early 80's our teacher used graffiti to demonstrate how to draw in 3D. I'll always remember how our art teacher said that it is 10 times harder to paint out of a spray can vs. a paint brush.
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