artists

Street art causes a reaction. It is effective. I have been appalled and moved to tears by various street artists. So this is an important category for this blog.

Street art has been around since streets started. Early frescos are being preserved in countries like Italy and Mexico. To me street art is especially important — when we are bombarded with advertising posters and commercial signs that we have no control over. I feel that gifted people who have no money to advertise or exhibit should be allowed to display their images too.

I had planned to do quite a bit on street art. However, it seems to be pretty well covered by the people I follow on WordPress, especially by my favourite, world-wide, street-art hubber Frankie Bean, who devotes time to finding the latest, greatest street art to share almost daily with web surfers. To visit: https://frankiebeane.wordpress.com

So eventually I will cover historical aspects of street art, but for now, here are some offerings with a few thoughts on street art in Southampton, where I live…

Commissioned painting on wall of the Tokyo Club in Bedford Place, Southampton — **Commissioned** painting on wall of the Tokyo Club in Bedford Place, Southampton

Banksy added a girl with a balloon to someone's "No Future" slogan. A popular anarchist slogan from a group who used to call themselves Class War. However it was whitewashed over and did not last long. — Banksy added a girl with a balloon to someone’s **“No Future”** slogan. A popular anarchist slogan from a group who used to call themselves Class War. However it did not last long and was whitewashed over.

St Mary's Stadium Commissioned art. Home of 'The Saints' football team — St Mary’s Stadium **Commissioned art**. Home of ‘The Saints’ football team

James Street mural depicting story of Sir Bevois and other local legends in the St Mary's area of Southampton — James Street mural depicting story of Sir Bevois and other local legends in the St Mary’s area of Southampton

Painting temporary art on empty shop windows during a festival in East Street, Southampton, 2015 — **Painting temporary art on empty shop windows** during a festival in East Street, Southampton, 2015

Local artists paint business history on closed-down shops on Northam Estate, Southampton. Part of a series I will highlight later. — Local artists paint business history on closed-down businesses on Northam Estate, Southampton. Part of a series I will highlight later.

Tag on a house in Southampton. The owner is happy to leave it

Spitfire detail of mural painted on boarded up shops in the City Centre — Spitfire detail of mural painted on a boarded up nightclub in the City Centre

Mural on closed down Jonglers Nightclub in the city. Homeless people sleep in doorway.

Yarn Bombers at the Southampton Common People Festival 2015 — Yarn Bombers dress a large tree at the Southampton Common People Festival 2015

A street art movement, heralded by the Women's Institute is yarn storming or yarn bombing. Here is a free street work shop during the East Street Arts Festival 2015 — A street art movement, heralded by the Women’s Institute is yarn storming or yarn bombing. Here is a free street work shop during the East Street Arts Festival 2015

Graffitti by French Prisoners during the Peninsular wars on The Dancing Man Brewery Wall. The building was built in 11th Century by Cistercian Monks to house wool on the Port of Southampton. — Graffitti by French Prisoners during the Peninsular wars on **The Dancing Man Brewery** Wall. The building was built in **11th Century** by Cistercian Monks to house wool on the Port of Southampton.

The political quoters. This person seems to write quite a bit in the Southampton area. At first I thought they were being politically correct with the man or woman 16th Century quote, but there are a number of versions of this http://www.wealthandwant.com/docs/Goose_commons.htm — **The political quoters.** This person seems to write quite a bit in the Southampton area. At first I thought they changed the text to be politically-correct with “man or woman” in this 16th Century quote, but there are a number of versions of this *http://www.wealthandwant.com/docs/Goose_commons.htm*

I have no time for graffiti artists who just draw penises or badly scrawl their team’s name. However one street artist assured me that people’s tags are a way of saying, “I am here!” However they do not move me as much.

Graffiti on the graffiti. A poorly designed tag in an allowed area for spray artists in a Southampton subway. This was quickly sprayed with white paint (note the lack of white space) with the words 'Pedestrian'. This could mean either that pedestrians are hitting back or the tag is bland. — **Graffiti on Tags.** A poorly designed tag in an allowed area for spray artists in a Southampton subway. This was quickly sprayed with white paint (note the lack of white space) with the words **‘Pedestrian’.** This could mean either that pedestrians are hitting back or the tag is bland.

And the minute someone paints something in a public place, someone will want to destroy it. Banksy usually times how long one of his works lasts before it is scrawled on, de-tagged or whitewashed over. This does not seem to bother him that so long as a few people get to see it he gets to take a photo first.