Protest Art

Stop War
Originally uploaded by docrivs.

I collect photos of protest art, especially when the art is displayed outdoors, is likely to be illegally placed, and is in a conspicuous location. Graffiti is great to look at, and you can debate all day about vandalism and the crime of defacing private and/or public property, but I still enjoy looking at it. I must respect the skill and audacity of graf writers.

This particular stencil art piece was one I encountered in a park in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was September 2006, the day of the Zozobra festival. It was there all by itself, but I liked how there were little pieces of a flower resting on top.

Shepard Fairey, Street Artist, Provocateur, Advertising Subversive,

Shepard Fairey in London
Originally uploaded by pure evil bunny.

This guy, although he is not the only guy doing this, is doing some impressive things. I think the idea to Question Everything is a pure and good idea. We need to think about our symbols, our propaganda, our cultural iconography, our art, and our conversations.

The "war on terror" and the "war" in Iraq and "Homeland Security" and "9/11" and all of the other catchphrases we use in the media and digest like babies are worth deconstructing. We may find that these things have been appropriated for someone else's uses and purposes -- uses and purposes that we don't really want to support.

It is one thing to say it. It is another thing to create something that inspires people to action.

Action. A good word.