Art is where you find it.. even in sidewalk cracks

[SoCalDem]

http://www.good.is/post/finding-art-in-the-sidewalk-cracks/





The Wooster Collective talks to the New York-based street artist Martin Sobey about his work.

This is the first installment of a new weekly series in which our friends at the Wooster Collective will be bringing some of their favorite street art to GOOD, along with interviews with the artists behind the work. We hope you enjoy it.

About a year ago, we started to notice that the drab drain pipes and scaffolding poles were coming to life with vibrant, energizing colorful wraps. These are the work of Martin Sobey, an artist whose studio in NoHo is near many of the places he has brought to life. We believe that these small acts of creativity make New York a special city. Passersby know the city is alive and that the human element prevails—even in a construction zone. We caught up with Sobey to ask him about his most recent work.

WOOSTER: Why do you choose where you put your pieces?

MARTIN SOBEY: My placement depends on a variety of things- initially the piece of architecture or environment that strikes me- and is applicable to my type of work- secondarily the location—can I make this thing happen?

W: How does your work contribute to the community?

MS: My work adds to my community on many levels—it introduces work not of a typical nature, with a greater impact and a stronger aesthetic than the surrounding environment. It also comes down when I deem it done—understanding its impermanence is crucial to the piece. Also: pride—my community has a large number of artists and I strive to maintain a public face of this. Represent, baby! While installing I usually come into contact with people and I get the chance to open a dialogue with neighbors and visitors, a great way to introduce people to my art, public art, and art in general.

W: How do people react to the work?

MS: Ninety nine percent of the people I encounter overwhelmingly support it, but really most people don’t even see it.

snip

[lunatica]

1. The whole world is a canvas

If you look at it right. I've always loved creative graffiti. Too bad it gets lumped in with the crap stuff.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

4. I agree

with your graffiti remark. Much of the graffiti I see is art. Cities should dedicate space to graffiti.

[piratefish08]

7. "crap stuff" is still art to somebody. eye of the beholder, right?

and who gets to draw the line?

expression is expression.

you don't have to like it, but you can't decide what is art and what isn't.

[tekisui]

11. Some of it is "crap stuff". Much graffiti isn't as a form of expression

or art, but for gangs and drug-dealers to claim territory. Their scribbles serve no artistic purpose, but rather a criminal purpose. I do consider that to be crap stuff.

[piratefish08]

12. Yup - I'll definitely concede that point to you. I wasn't even thinking along the lines

of gangs and criminal activity......

[lunatica]

17. If you like the crap they write on bathroom walls then more power to you

[ensho]

2. love it - props to Sobey

nt

[SoCalDem]

13. Here's his website.. he's got lots more

http://www.martinsobey.com/martinsobey.com/Installations.html

[ensho]

16. thanks for the link

nt

[zanne]

3. Beautiful!

It's like seeing a flower growing out of an old, cracked sidewalk in a bad neighborhood. Hope shall not be denied, and beauty cannot be suppressed.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Really great stuff!

[CJCRANE]

6. Nice!

:thumbsup:

[mdmc]

8. nice

[lonestarnot]

9. I love sidewalk chalk.

:evilgrin:

[CrispyQ]

10. "...but really most people don’t even see it."

??? How could one pass by this & not notice it?

I love it!

[elleng]

14. and here!

departments.fmarion.edu/finearts/acmu08.htm

[redqueen]

15. Nice...

thanks very much for posting this. :)

[redqueen]

18. kick