The document discusses whether graffiti and street art should be considered art or vandalism. It provides examples of graffiti and street art that demonstrate whimsical, funny, clever uses of space, and political messages. The author argues that street art can have depth of meaning and layers of expression, though it is fleeting in nature. Examples are provided from artists like Banksy to illustrate different styles and the ability of street art to make boring spaces and messages more interesting.

1. art or vandalism?
BarCampCanberra 2011
19th March 2011, ANU
@RuthEllison

4. Ugly graffiti in Milan by Jackie Kever, available under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs
2.0 Generic licence

5. van·dal·ism
1. deliberately mischievous or malicious
destruction or damage of property:
vandalism of public buildings.
2. willful or ignorant destruction of artistic or
literary treasures.
Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vandalism

6. art
the quality, production, expression, or
realm, according to aesthetic principles, of
what is beautiful, appealing, or of more
than ordinary significance.
Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/art

7. WHIMSICAL

8. Banksy Girl Balloon by NeverLeaveLondon, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-
ShareAlike 2.0 Generic licence

9. IMG_0855 by Ruth Ellison, artist: Stormie Mills

10. FUNNY

11. Source: Ruth Ellison

12. http://swick.co.uk/index.php/2009/06/10-examples-of-funny-graffiti/

13. MAKING THE BORING
INTERESTING

14. Skipping Girl Graffiti by zoomar, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic licence

15. Sydney Street Art, robot by Ruth Ellison

16. Banksy by Klara Kim, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic licence

17. CLEVER USE OF SPACES

18. Peek-a-boo! Street Art, Fitzroy, Melbourne by Ruth Ellison

19. Banksy by Shayne Kaye available under a Creative Commons Attribution2.0 Generic licence Banksy by Greg Marshall, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic licence

20. Banksy Looters 29Sept08 by Infrogmation, available under a Creative Commons Attribution2.0
Generic licence

21. POLITICAL MESSAGES

22. Crayon boy by Banksy, http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/outusa/horizontal_1.htm

23. West Bank

24. Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FLs7qz-WGnA/THOLwBi_0hI/AAAAAAAACsE/FYurw_Ya6SQ/s1600/banksy+hole.jpg

25. Source: http://mishunderstanding.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/banksy-431.jpg

26. http://totallycoolpix.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/14122010_banksy/banksy_13.jpg

27. I love
Range & styles of expression
Depth of meaning
Fleeting, transient
Layers upon layers upon layers....

28. art or vandalism?

29. More?
Check out my street art collection
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laruth/collections/72157624131868283/
Canberra graffiti artists – E.L.K., Bryd

30. Ruth Ellison
Email: me@ruthellison.com
Web: www.ruthellison.com
@RuthEllison
Find this presentation at www.slideshare.net/ruthellison
Image sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vernhart/1574355646/ , http://randaclay.com/freebies/free-twitter-graphics/