Street art began emerging in the 1960s with tributes to jazz musicians being written on walls in Philadelphia. It grew in the 1970s in New York City as artists like TAKI 183 and TRACY 168 began "tagging" trains. Over time, vandalism and graffiti evolved into a recognized art form. Street artists use various techniques like stencils, posters, and freehand painting to create works that can address social and political issues while beautifying public spaces. Famous street artists like Banksy, Shepard Fairey, and Space Invader have helped bring attention to causes while transforming dull areas into more vibrant places.

1. From Vandalism to Graffiti to Street Art
Damian Rarog

2. Where has it begun?
• The first signs of modern graffiti can be found in the 1960s, In
Philadelphia. This was to celebrate the death of a famous Jazz
player called C. Parker, he was also known, as “Bird” people would
write “Bird Lives” on walls. From Philadelphia graffiti moved to New
York City in the 1970s. During that time writers nicknamed TAKI 183
and TRACY 168 started to get media’s attention, as they would tag
trains as they set off from the train stations. This enabled them to
get their work carried around the city. Vandalism and graffiti soon
turned into art, people got inspired and started to come on the
streets to show their artwork.

3. Why do people do it?
There is many reasons why people do graffiti, vandalism and street art.
Vandalism usually occurs from boredom in poor, less developed areas where
people have very little to do. People may not like the area they live in and
want to ruin it further like in the documentary “Bomb it” where the graffiti
‘artists’ said they only do it to ruin the area around them. Some people use
graffiti and street art to express their feelings about political and social
reasons. People write on walls because they want to bring attention to
issues that they believe should be looked at and taken care off. A political
issue that is an example of this is the “Black Lives Matter” tag on a statue
honouring J. Davis, president of the Confederate Stare of America in
Richmond, Virginia that relates to young black men being shot in America at
the time. Another example of a political issue is wars which is addressed by
Banksy, he paints an image on the wall of two soldiers drawing a peace sign
which is relating that pointless wars should stop and more serious issues
should be dealt with than wars.

4. Links to other art forms
Street art is related to other art forms such as graffiti, which it originated from.
Graffiti is more of a free hand styled form of art whereas street are uses stencils,
printing and posters etc. Street art could also be linked to pop art as pop art uses
colours, repetition, printing to create a visual image and street art does the same
to some extent however it is shown more as it is produced and displayed in
public locations. Street art could been linked to more than just pop art as it uses
different kinds of methods to present itself as a piece of art through stencils, to
posters, to printing, to freehand graffiti.

5. Why Street Art is good?
• It can be used to help improve areas and make them
look friendlier.
• It can address political and social issues.
• It is a way for people to express themselves.
• Iconic artists have come from street art such as
Banksy and Shepard Fairy.
• It can be cultural.
Street art can use otherwise empty space to make an area decorative which can increase
tourism in places with lots of nice looking street art; making an area look attractive can also
increase local pride. It can be political some street artists use street art to get a message to a
lot of people by putting their work in public places. Some street art has been sold to benefit
charities. Such as the Mobile Lovers painting by Banksy which was painted on a youth charity
building which was struggling for money and was at risk of closing, the painting was sold for
£403,000. Some very iconic artists such as Banksy and Shepard Fairy have come from street
art, a lot of their street art has been political. A lot of people use street art to express
themselves and their opinions about different issues. Street art can also be considered a
cultural movement. Street art is a way of people leaving their mark on things which humans
have been doing since we first evolved in cave painting, some of the oldest ‘graffiti’ is cave
paintings in Lascaux.

6. Why Street Art is bad?
• Street art can be seen as a bad thing for many reasons, one of these reasons is
that it wastes tax payers money when the council have to spend thousands of
pounds each year to clear the illegal street art and graffiti up. It also wastes
homeowners and business owners money if the council charge them for the
clean up of graffiti/illegal street art on their properties. Northampton spent
£8,500 on the clean up of Northampton Station alone. In London the council
and local authorities spend around £100M a year on clearing up illegal street
art and graffiti which would be better of being spent on supporting the
homeless or helping local charities to enrich the area. Another reason why
graffiti can be bad is because it can make a area look look rundown and
unsafe. It can make an area unsafe as graffiti can be linked to gang feuds and
activity which can lead people away from staying in that area. Graffiti is also
bad as it’s illegal, anyone who is caught doing illegal graffiti can be
prosecuted. Graffiti can be a bad influence on children which will see it as a
good thing because they see it everywhere so they will start doing it
themselves.

7. Graffiti Artists

8. Space Invader
The first example we analyzed is a work done by artist
called “Space Invader”. He uses an unusual technique to
create his pieces which is sticking tiles on walls. His work
makes boring walls enjoyable to look at also it makes
places we wouldn’t even notice more noticeable. The
artwork he creates does not damage the properties as he
sticks them on using glue.

9. Banksy
Another example of street art is Banksy’s artwork which presents a
text saying “follow your dreams” that has been crossed with a big
sign saying “cancelled”. This artwork relates to todays society
problems with not being able to follow their dreams. It has an
impact on the audience as it make them think about the problem
and they may want to change something. To create it the author
used stencil and spray paint causing damage to the wall and making
the artwork permanent.

10. Banksy
This street art by banksy shows a homeless
man with his sign saying ‘keep your coins, I
want change’, it shows a political message
that banksy is not happy with the amount
of homeless people in the country and
wants to get his message to people by
putting up this picture in a public place
therefore reaching numerous people. It
looks to have been done with spray cans
and stencils this is likely so that he could do
it quickly and leave so as to not get caught
by police as it is illegal. It looks to be life-
size as well so that it could look like a real
person if you were looking at it from the
corner of your eye.

11. Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey’s poster is another example of
street art. He creates his artwork in form of
posters and stickers however he also does the
graffiti painting work. His work is often related
to politics and social issues. It shows people
that they have right to speak and encourages
them to speak their opinions out loud. The
analyzed example presents president Obama
and it shows that Fairey believed he was a
‘hope’ for America. He used strong contrasting
colors of propaganda images. His artwork
usually does not damage any properties and
he is often hired to do it.

12. Laguna
Laguna’s work can mainly be seen on abandoned buildings and
things that aren’t being used for anything anymore, his work can
help to recreate an area and make it look a lot more pleasant for
people who pass through. The piece of work that can be seen has
transformed the old metal cylinders to look more interesting and it
could attract people to pass through the area more or even live
around it as the image brings more life to the area around.

13. Smate
This is the work of a street artist
called Smate, he puts his work large
scales on buildings, walls and bridges.
He mainly presents animals in his
artwork what could get people to pay
more attention to animal rights and
problem of endangered species of
animals. His artwork makes the
boring constructions more interesting
and attractive what bring more
people into the area to look at it.

14. Conclusion
In conclusion I would say that graffiti, in any
way that it is presented should be seen as a
form of Street art. Street art is a growing art
form and it should be more accepted and
have more laws legalising it as it can be very
helpful from transforming areas and
communities to changing things in political
and religious issues. One example of the way
street art ties in with politics is when Shepard
Firey made the Hope poster for Barack
Obama's presidential campaign.

15. Links to Images used
• https://uk.pinterest.com/cguerrillamblog/street-art/
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/11059481/Banksy-
artwork-saves-youth-club-as-it-sells-for-400k.html
• https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/329959110175645057/
• http://hilaryhutt.deviantart.com/art/street-pop-art-70627660
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2786398/The-Banksy-
effect-Impact-elusive-street-artist-blamed-explosion-graffiti-
hometown-Bristol-art-vandalism.html
• https://stillgoodness.wordpress.com/tag/street-art/