“We declare the world as our canvas” – Unknown
Montreal Train Graffiti
Street art, unlike the art that we traditionally see in museums and galleries, is visual art created in a public setting and is generally unsanctioned. Modern street art can take many forms outside of the traditional spray paint on a cement wall; modern artists are creating sticker art, sculptures, yarn bombing, wheatpasting, and much more.
Street artist Olek yarn bombs downtown Montreal.
Street art should not be confused with pure vandalism or territorial graffiti. Street art is created in order to convey a message to the public at large in a space that’s free from people’s preconceived notions of art or as a means of personal expression and creativity.
Some well-known street artists include Banksy, Swampy, Roa, and Gaia.
Street art as a movement is ever changing and evolving; creating new and unique pieces right in everyone’s backyard. Street art is bringing art into the everyday lives of the general public, and placing beautiful works in the middle of the urban jungle.
A piece done by Gaia in Seoul.
Take a look at street art in action:
Lesson ideas:
Allow students to explore the techniques used in popular street art. Show students the beauty of street art and discuss the techniques that are used. Focusing on stencil art using spray paint, ask students to create their own cardboard stencils. Have students think about where they would want to place this art in the world, and why that design would work well in that space. Once the stencils have been completed, the class can go outside and turn the asphalt of the playground into their own art exhibition using homemade spray chalk.
Sources:
http://littlesweetknittings.com/tag/olek/
http://www.widewalls.ch/defining-street-art/defining-street-art-repetition-and-evolution/