Urban Art 1

Here is an obvious example of urban art found in one of the parks along the Thames in London. This is an Henry Moore sculpture. What does urban art bring to the city?
As stated earlier, urban art should bring to the citizen a sense of wonder, controversy, whimsy or beauty. This piece of art fulfills these criteria. While some may not like abstract sculpture, one can not help but notice this piece. Isn't this what art should do? Should not urban art distract a person from their utilitarian journey for a while and cause them to think? In my case as a tourist to London, the scupture enhanced my walk because of it.

Urban Art

An urban area is often thought of as innately functional consisting of dwelling places, shops, services governmental structures and industries and related activities. This yields a very sterile definition of urban areas, but unfortunately many cities are no more than this. A city should be a place where its citizens experience whimsy, irony, wonder, controversy, enlightenment and beauty. Urban outdoor art is a means to bring some of these elements into a city. Many modern cities are devoid of such urban art, because of the dull and utilitarian nature that many view the city--particularly local decision-makers. However, the citizens only have themselves to blame if they elect those who are deficient in their ability to be creative or imaginative. (If they have "creativity defincient disorder", then their abiity to confront other more mundane issues will probably be less than stellar.) In the next few posts, I would like to post some examples of urban art. I would also encourage the readers of this blog to also send me their photos of urban art with a brief explanation about the location and significance.

Walking in Paris

Sterility of urban freeway versus vibracy of pedestian street

The above is a video of a freeway in New York City. It is goes on for seven minutes, which is too long.
Compare this with a pedestrial street scene with people stopping, talking, looking and enjoying the area. This freeway embodies the sterility and mechanical nature of movement in most cities around the globe. Capitalistic societies have reduced the commute from insulated domitory suburbs to isolated work places by private insulated vehicles on montonous freeways. When stated in this manner, the image is grim. Is this also the future of our urban environments?

"Precious"- a reflection on the anonymity of the city

The city is a composite of many different individuals. When we are on the streets, hundreds of people pass by. Most of which we will never see again. However, each one of us is carrying with us a complicated background which we will only share with a few. Last night, I saw the film “Precious” with some friends. The movie is wonderful constructed and dark. The film has an urban starkness, set in the poorer areas of New York City. When we walk down the street are we walking by those that have the same history as the main character of this movie? The probability is likely that at one point we have done so. The following is a clip of the movie.