Visual Ovation

A Wish for the Season

 

Street Art Memorial - Natasja Saad

 

Street art can take many forms and have many meanings.  Recently, we saw one of the most poignant examples of this from the harbor in Copenhagen.  Alongside the usual collection of initials and names painted on the waterfront retaining wall, we were touched to see this memorial.  We wondered who Natasja (or Little T) might be.  And, of course, because the world really is quite small, a little internet research provided answers.

It turns out that Natasja is Natasja Saad.  She was an up-and-coming Danish rap and reggae artist who lived and began her singing career in Copenhagen.  She died tragically in a car accident in Jamaica in 2007.  Certainly, this brief recitation cannot do justice to who she was as a person or an artist.

The art of the street is, by definition, transient.  Images and text are often on display for only a short time, subsequently partially painted over by other taggers or artists, or sometimes obliterated completely.  Yet, sometimes the art is respected and left in place, as is the case here. 

Ms. Saad is buried in Copenhagen's cemetery for artists, Assistens Kirkegard, in the same company as Hans Christian Anderson and Soren Kierkegaard.  But she also has this informal memorial on the waterfront of her native city.  It is a street art memorial for an artist whose inspiration came from the music of the streets.  How poignant.  How fitting.

 An online memorial to Natasja Saad can be found at this address: 

http://www.myspace.com/tasjamusic

 

Out of Control in St. Petersburg

 

So, there we were, in St. Petersburg, Russia, a city that is so very rich historically and  photographically.  We were taking the requisite photographs of the Hermitage and other monuments, and loving every minute of it. 

But, of course, I had my eye out for street art of all sorts.  While walking with our guide, I glanced at the truck that was on my right, parked in the street, and saw this.  I don't really know what to make of it,  the image was only on the door.  But in light of the traffic situation in St. Petersburg, it did make me smile.  Just hang on....

If you know any more about the image, let us know.

 

 

Street Homage to Michael

 

From the artistically amazing Balmy Alley in San Francisco, this painting pays homage to Michael Jackson. 

Here is a close up view -

 

 

Now the verdict has been rendered, perhaps he can finally rest peacefully.

Boo! Boo?

 

Happy Halloween 2011!

 

Street Skulls

Street art + Day of the Dead = some great skull images.  So here are a few.....

From San Francisco:

 

 

From London...

 

 

From St. Petersburg, Russia, a very creative piece of car decoration...

 

 

A closer view of the other side...

 

 

Another image from London...

 

 

and back to San Francisco...

 

 

and finally, a more playful image, also from San Francisco...

 

 

So as the Day of the Dead approaches, lets celebrate those who have passed, those who remain, and the artistic souls who make images that join and delight us, no matter where we live.

Street Portraits

 We have become just captivated with the art of the street.  It all started in Vancouver.  And now we have started looking for it, we are finding it everywhere.  We are also finding places we never would have noticed before.  It is a whole new world out there, and there are many canvases available to be created upon. 

San Francisco is a living art gallery, with some amazing murals, some of which have been formally sanctioned, and some of which have simply emerged.  Photographing street art is meaningful not just because it is a delight to bear witness to amazing images, but also because street art, by definition, can be transient.  Indeed, a piece that we photographed just 3 weeks ago has already been painted over.  And then there is the issue of the names of the artists who create such amazing works under such unusual conditions.  Sometimes the name of the artist is clear, but sometimes pieces seem to appear with no attribution, and even internet research doesn't provide any clues. 

But even if there is a question about who it is who is doing the painting, there should be no question about the creativity and accomplishment of street artists.  The range of styles, the range of imagery - it is marvelous.  Here are a few of our latest favorites from our San Francisco wanderings.  Like the haunting blue lady by artist Mark Bode shown above.

Or the sweet portrait by an unknown artist, found in Lilac Alley...

 

 

And then there are pieces that are stunningly dramatic, like this one that reminds us of a modern Maori warrior, by Desi W.O.M.E.

 

And this one, which we call Fire Eyes (unfortunately we don't know the artist's name)

 

 

And then there is this lovely image, made all the more poignant by the vicissitudes of being outside, which we have called, "Black Tears."  It is part of a mural by Max Ehrman (also known as EON 75) and an artist who we only know as JAE 54...

 

 

So we celebrate the art of the streets and the artists who create there.  Wherever you are, wherever you live, take a closer look down alleys you might not normally notice.  You might be surprised what you find.