ArtIsEverywhere

This is both a mural and an exhibition post about “Art in the Street” at the Geffen Contemporary Art Museum. It’s a beautiful mural but if you look closely, you’ll see that the stain glass windows are comprised of “tagged” street art and Bansky’s figure bows down before it, praying in a tongue-and-cheek way to what may be considered irreverent. He’s elevating “street art” while perhaps denigrating the Church and what is considered “high,” traditional fine art. I post it here not for this but in timing with Easter, it seems a thought provoking concept that while I appreciate, I don’t take seriously. I’m all about traditional, high-church-art having meaning. Tagged street art, although still can be considered artistic can also be interesting for promoting dialogue, but doesn’t really elevate beyond itself. In all fairness, maybe it is not meant to be anything more than what it is but somehow I add weight to symbolic art and Bansky’s rather than just random tagged words seems to lend to this factor with substance.

This exhibit covers the chronicles the history of Street Art from inception to present day.

Following Bansky’s career, here are some side-notes that will also make this exhibit all the more interesting. You may remember that Bansky’s Street Art was ordered to be whitewashing in London in 2008, so there is historical record as to why there may be an understandable grudge against the establishment.

Flash forward 4 years and now that London Council may have realized what they covered up. Evidently, Bansky’s Nola mural (see previous post link about this) was expected to fetch upwards £80,000 at Bonham’s auction but it sold for £55,200 including fees — still a pretty penny. Street art, despite what one may think, does have monetary value.

One more follow up in the New York Times about the museum’s director, Jeffrey Deitch, “taking a chance” on this exhibit. Here’s a photo of the well attended reception. The actor James Franco was there among other celebrities. He has his own involvement in the arts beyond acting.

Reception at Art in the Streets via NYT. Photo credit Ann Johnansson

Happy Easter, all!