Intro for Street Art
It is a form of art used to express emotion and protest, drawing and writing on public surfaces, such as buildings, vehicles, streets and more. People tend to use spray paint or other materials to perform these acts. Despite it being a very creative way of stating opinions and thoughts, it is chosen by many to commit vandalism. Outside of these criminal acts, if used legally and with artistic value, it is a wonderful way to decorate a side of a building or any plane of choice. It is very popular amongst younger generations because it brightens the roads they walk on and adds character to the rather dull colors around them.
Major Contributors to Street Art
"CornBread" Darryl McCray
A man living in Philadelphia named Darryl McCray, also known as Cornbread through his tagging, is considered as the first graffiti artist and writer in the 1960s. He helped put graffiti into a contemporary context as a public speaker and youth advocate. When he was younger, he and his friends wrote all across their city walls. In 1965, he was sent to a juvenile corrections facility called the Youth Development Center and got his nickname "Cornbread" for preferring his grandmother's cornbread over white bread. Later on in life, he participated in Philadelphias Anti-Graffiti Network and Murals Art Program to prevent further tagging in the city.
Banksy, The Famous Unknown Artist
This artist is based in England, yet remains unknown, hidden behind his art and a pseudonym: Banksy. He started became an artist at the age of 14, was shortly expelled from school, and served time in prison for petty crime. He soon became a political activist and film director that has been creating masterpieces since 1990s. Banksy makes use of the stencil technique to combine his dark humor with graffiti on streets, walls and bridges. You may have seen his artworks around the internet, some being “Balloon Girl, 2002” and “Flower Thrower, 2007”. He was inspired by a graffic artist named 3D who is a founding member of the musical group Massive Attack.
