A recent article in the NY TImes Travel section shows how street art is an attraction in the city. I am sure some think that this is crazy, but the whole street art world has exploded in recent years. Helped along by artist like Barry McGee and Shepard Fairey, street art has become a major force in contemporary arts. Many art galleries and museums have caught on, but as the article suggest the life of street art is in the streets, in the spontaneous encounters and seeking it out.
This may not come as a shocker to some, but street art is one of those qualities that people base their judgment of a city on, and its not always bad. In fact street art is an important contributor to the cool factor of a city. It is part of the character of a place that can’t be produced in a board room, it can’t be copied and pasted from another city, well almost. If someone is looking for a “cool, hip” city they aren’t simply looking for the martini/ sushi bar, they want the rough around the edges too. Street art signifies that there is art and creativity, but not the safe Sunday afternoon watercolors, but art that really pushes the limits of aesthetics and in many ways democracy. Street art is an expression of a new generation of artist that have a very different conception of what is beautiful and what is worthwhile and valuable. It questions the idea of art as artifact and pushes for the experiential aspects of art and urbanity. So, while it is not for everyone it certainly speaks to the tolerance, creativity and culture of a place.
So where is the street art in Cincinnati? We are certainly not without any, but it is different from many of the so-called desirable cities. Most of the street art in Cincinnati is a bit more primitive and incidental than that of NY, Boston, San Francisco or Portland.
I spend most of my time in OTR so this is where I have encountered the most and best examples of street art in Cincinnati. But I can’t help but wonder, and trust me I do, what would this place be like if street arts where more prevalent, more tolerated and of better quality? No one is saying that this should be legalized, that would do more harm than good. The illicit nature of street art and graffiti works as a filtering device and is part of the art. But in OTR there is so much apprehension about the ideas and ideal “quality of life,” and being “safe and clean,” that any uncommissioned object, anything does not have a proper place in the predetermined order is quickly on the radar and dealt with.
Here are a few shots of some sites that I have caught in the neighborhood. Unfortunately most have come and gone pretty quickly.
Seen between Main and Sycamore Streets, no longer there.
Along Race Street between 13th & 14th
In an alley off of Vine, near Clifton
This was more of a memorial for a murder victim, but has been removed
Along McMicken
Another temporary memorial, at 15th & Clay
6 responses so far ↓
5chw4r7z // March 10, 2008 at 8:56 am
That is some awesome stuff, love it.
Wouldn’t it be cool if someone like Bansky came through?
And I agree there is a big difference between street art and tagging, I love seeing well down graffiti.
Mike // March 10, 2008 at 9:01 am
One of the reasons we have less street art, is that when Qualls was mayor, she started a graffiti removal unit. Once graffiti is spotted, they contact the owner of the property and ask permission to paint over it or scrub it off. If an owner signs the agreement, they will continue to keep your property clear indefinitely.
I don’t think they discriminate between good and bad art. The only discrimination is if the owner approves of it or not, and they keep all public properties cleaned too.
X // March 10, 2008 at 10:01 am
That first one looks a bit like Bansky.
VisuaLingual // March 10, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Just to broaden your point a bit, a lot of sanctioned public art projects can add to this sense of vitality and creative energy. These are, I think, most successful when they’re obviously site-responsive and don’t seem like part of a master plan. Of course, the larger efforts [MuralWorks, OTR Community Art Project] are programmed, but the end results are still individual and even haphazard. Ghettopia at Orchard and Main and the Main Street OTR mural on Main are both legal murals that, in my opinion, accomplish much of what you described in your post. Hell, even ghost signs have a similar appeal.
As for street art in NYC, which was the catalyst for your post, here are two quotes roughly 20 years apart, from the article America’s Most Policed Art Form: Subway Graffiti, NYC’s Visual Criminal:
Koch: “In this period of intense competition between cities and regions for corporate investment, we simply cannot allow this type of vandalism to continue to label New York City as a blighted town.”
Guiliani: “Graffiti… is an attack on our communities and our quality of life… Graffiti intimidates residents. It encourages street gangs. It discourages tourists, lowers property values, and invites other kinds of crime.”
oil paintings // March 10, 2008 at 2:31 pm
There is some street art that is actually better than a lot of the art hanging in museums now. The best part is its available to all to view and enjoy without the stuffy art experience.
justforview // March 10, 2008 at 3:56 pm
You have to admit that for a while NY was bombed, in graf terms. Koch basically invented quality of live and it was in large part Kelling’s broken window theory” that supported it.
I guess as a politician it is an easy target and not too many people are going to argue that there is value in vandalism. Art critics love the fact that is expressive and it being illegal has a lot to do with that.
Many innovative public art programs are very good at moving beyond the dead guy on a horse and engaging community artist and installing works somewhat inconspicuously in a way that is contextually relevant. ArtWorks is a national example in this regard. But the anonymity of some of Cincinnati’s street art is what really keeps me interested. Often I never know if it is intentional or accidental.
I also have to agree that street art is a lot better at being accessible to more diverse range of people. This is especially true once the street art gets past the aggressive vandalism aspect. These guys are really good at that.
It is also a nice mental break from the plethora of advertising in the city that we have basically become immune to.
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