Graffiti, Street Art & Murals: What We Learn from Public Art

[@tamedthethreebears]

Whenever I see graffiti Im always in awe of " how'd they get up there ?" 😅

[@Beryllahawk]

Back in my freshman year of college the dorm I was in decided to plaster paper all over the walls of the bathroom stalls, on every floor. There were crayons in plastic cups by the windows. You could grab one, go do whatever you were gonna do, and scribble on the wall while you were at it. Plenty of girls brought pens and so forth too. LOTS of text based art resulted. But at end of term the Dean of Students declared that no, we couldn't do that, though he did praise the idea. There was some back and forth arguing for a year or so, and in the end the school put together a new set of rules that still forbade any scribbling in the bathrooms, but allowed for other forms of decoration - like paper wrapping on the doors of dorm rooms. At the time I didn't think much about it, but now I can see that this was independent art, as well as a pretty good example of the artist in conversation with the community and the authorities overseeing that community.

[@ATHIP12]

This conversation has to include Banksy. I've been lucky enough to travel to cities where he has done his art, and it is so incredible to see one of his works on a random street. It is worth so much money, yet it is out in the open for everyone to enjoy.

[@Kellan__they-them]

Yup, I was waiting for Banksy to be mentioned.

[@helenm1085]

Everyone's heard of Banksy though - why not use the opportunity to show some other artists?

[@ArtichokeHunter]

it's interesting with the chalk example to think about how independent public art doesn't have to be paint on a public structure. makes me think of flash mobs, people doing theatre in a park without a permit.

[@jacobbass6437]

The artwork at 5:48 took me off guard in a way I wasn’t expecting. Something so human about it had me welling up with tears.

[@martywhalen3673]

The Museum of Canterbury in Christchurch New Zealand was starting a major remodel/rebuild project last year and they invited a bunch of “urban artists” in after the museum collections were removed but before demolition started. It was incredibly cool to see, with some really stunning huge murals. I was a bit heartbroken that everything was going to be removed during the remodel, but I guess that plays to the temporary nature of street art.

[@tongsampahkecil237]

LOVE this crash course series of yours sarah. missed art assignment!

[@55itsme]

The graffiti I see most often is on the sides of railroad cars. It always makes me wonder where it was done and by whom. It makes me feel somehow closer to people and places that could be far far away.

[@eviep2]

"Vandalism Art" 101. That could very well be a college course.

[@uria3679]

A certain artist once said “I’m painting the TRUTH, I’m painting REBELLION!”

[@Kellan__they-them]

I find group public art installations interesting, like the Seattle "gum wall" or the "Cadenas d'Amour" in Paris. Both of which are also technically illegal, like graffiti.

[@KristenRowenPliske]

It’s not graffiti but our city paid to have all the electrical boxes (the ones by traffic lights) painted over completely. Different scenes related to the larger area. Several sculptures, too, of herons or a bird like them but larger than life & colorfully painted. It’s visually appealing.

[@h0m3st4r]

A lot of graffiti artists could make a fortune if they had the opportunity.

[@BrianHutzellMusic]

For anyone interested in Basquiat or street art in general or the New York art & music scene of the late 1970s-early 1980s, check out “Downtown 81.” It’s a slice of life film made by Glenn O’Brien and starring Basquiat as himself, along with a cast of other artists and musicians from the New Wave/No Wave scene. Judged by traditional guidelines, it’s a terrible movie, but as a time capsule of an especially creative time and place, it’s wonderful!

[@alarcon99]

We visited Wynwood Walls in Miami this summer and it was such an amazing experience ❤

[@Caterfree10]

Tbh I love graffiti. It’s often really cool looking and is usually done on otherwise plain objects and buildings. It’s a form of beautification imho. Especially on, say, abandoned buildings, or otherwise boring underpasses. Meanwhile, my hometown took a strip mall that was once known as the yellow triangle for its yellow coloration and painted it a boring gray and I am aghast. All the new buildings going up are also gray and white and desperately need color. Even the business behind my house used to be a tattoo parlor and had a colorful tiger and an Oni on the sides. But then new owners happened and those got painted over grey. I just want color in my world, dammit! More graffiti to brighten this cold world!

[@Demetrius900000]

Played Marc Ecko's getting up not long ago and understood that graffiti isn't just vandalism.

[@DominikJaniec]

very creative! thanks

[@MasterOfBaiter]

What's important is that it's a way to reclaim the space. In our class based society if not for public art our cities and villages and so on would look the way those who own would want it to. They would be the static designs of architects Green lit by the handful of private property owners. Meanwhile those who actually live there would have no say. Hence why tagging is such a predominant thing that just kind of happens everywhere. It's basically the disposesed saying "I am here too". The contradiction of grafity on a fancy building forces you to recognize that wealth exists right next to its absence.

[@coprococore]

I miss your PBS show! Because of you i am going to the Venice Biennial this year. A bucket list art destination inspired by you. Thank you for doing this crash course episode. Please do more.

[@kts8900]

Personal favorite public art: Moss art! You can collect moss, put it in a blender with a fertilizer, and spray or paint it in beautiful shapes!!!

[@Calicido]

10:00 MOSTLY law-abiding lol

[@gailaltschwager7377]

Thank you!

[@Futuristbillpicone]

Thank you for this

[@alicey.c.7316]

Love Basquiat!

[@00Linares00]

I wish there was something about Charging Bull and all the different perspectives it was seen on.

[@chrisforsyth8323]

Thank you.

[@JoaoPessoa86]

Being morbibly afraid of heights I can say I was *very* interested in the graffiti on the lattern of the dome of the Duomo in Florence. You could still read dates from the 18th century on there.

[@stecky87]

You can represent/express yourself with out destroying public property. Intention really matters here: are they doing it just to break the law (tagging), or is there a message (the George Floyd murals)?

[@desu38]

Wait, she's been on Crash Course the whole time??

[@SauramitabhDas-v3p]

Mee tooo This was pretty interesting i will not lie Pretty amazed at how good artists are Meanwhile i still draw stick figures

[@KannikCat]

Speaking of the longevity of the 'tagging' art form reminds me of Rare Earth's video "The Bay of a Thousand Names", with some names being from several hundred years BCE: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooDYo5qgrNB8fbM Our desire to express ourselves out into the world is a common and strong one indeed. :) I love the perspective and window into time that these pieces of independent public art can provide, as well as the vibrance and expressiveness they can present.

[@miserablepunk]

This episode was very well researched and entertaining!! I love graffiti, it's such a raw beautiful expression of art. It's my favorite, actually. Thank you for making this video.

[@SauramitabhDas-v3p]

Nice.

[@andrewweaver2517]

Anyone who doesn't love graffiti art...I just don't understand them

[@londonmmc]

CORNBREAD

[@floraldaisy6910]

SARAH URIST GREEEEEENNNN AND ART HISTORY AND GRAFFITI YESSSSSSSSS!!!!

[@shawnholbrook7278]

The city people are killing our trees to make wider and hotter streets that go to frustrating, toxic jobs and boring buildings; at least graffiti and murals add colour and give you something to think about.

[@mingfanzhang8927]

😊😊

[@kajolacharya2454]

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[@LoveDoctorNL]

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