![]() The most famous of these tiles reads, “TOYNBEE IDEA IN Kubrick’s 2001 RESURRECT DEAD ON PLANET JUPITER,” alluding to philosopher Arnold Toynbee’s theory of regeneration and Stanley Kubrick’s film, “2001,” which features a man embarking on a mission to Jupiter.Īnother more recent example of tile art appeared in a South Philly alleyway. The anonymous artist began placing these tiles in the 80’s, originally in Philadelphia, but today found across the U.S. We’re talking about Toynbee Tiles, tile art mysteriously embedded in the asphalt of random Philly streets. Especially repeat offenders with cryptic messages and a collection spanning the nation. Much like any other form of street art, tile installations appear seemingly out of thin air. If you’re interested in learning more, check out our article on Graffiti Pier. If you haven’t seen huge bubble letters (throws) or full-scale pieces with these names, it’s probably because they are hiding within a cryptic calligraphy called “wickets.” Native to Philly, this style of tagging (similar to a signature) requires a high level of skill and artistry, not to mention an extensive list of style requirements. While most writers of graffiti prefer to fly under the radar, local legends like ESPO (Stephen Powers) and AGUA (Timothy Curtis) have made their way into the public eye. Ushered in by Cornbread, or Darryl McCray, in 1967, graffiti has long been a way of gaining notoriety, setting a style standard, and communicating with other writers. Philadelphia graffiti is the beginning of the art as we know it. Is it street art? Is it vandalism? Does it belong in its own category? While everyone has their own opinion, it is indisputable that graffiti holds a sacred place in Philadelphia art history. Mural ArtsĪh, here we are! The great graffiti debate. As more and more stories enter the conversation of Philly street art, its definition continues to expand and the streets of Philadelphia grow just a little bit brighter. Yet, under thick layers of paint and paste lives the universal desire to make one’s mark. Everywhere you look in Philadelphia, new forms of street art continuously appear, including murals, mosaic pieces, tile art, yarn bombs, wheatpasting, and more. While much of the city’s outdoor art gallery consists of commissioned works and privately-funded projects, the expansive public art scene is just as robust. Street art is most commonly associated with graffiti but, as a leader in the craft, Philadelphia street art knows no bounds. What does “street art” even mean? The label tends to unintentionally (or in some cases, very intentionally) collapse a complex, layered, multimedia world of artistic expression into a small box. ![]() Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |