Guerilla Art
What the heck is guerilla art?
Well... the word "GUERILLA" means "referring to actions or activities
performed in an impromptu way, often without authorization".
Well... the word "GUERILLA" means "referring to actions or activities
performed in an impromptu way, often without authorization".
Did you miss class? WATCH THE SLIDESHOW OF ARTISTS!
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Here is what artist KERI SMITH has to say about guerilla artists, in her book "The Guerilla Art Kit":
“The stereotype of the guerilla artist is someone who makes extremist work and who is constantly on the run from the law. I would like to expand the concept and define guerilla art as any anonymous work (including but not limited to graffiti, signage, performance, additions, and decoration) which is installed, performed, or attached in public spaces, with the distinct purpose of affecting the world in a creative or thought-provoking way. A part of what makes public art so interesting is how it interacts with its immediate environment. Guerilla art can be used to beautify or recreate a space that is soulless or without character and bring it new life. Work that is impermanent reminds us that nothing in life is permanent – and teaches us to embrace change in our life, instead of working against it. When others notice an art piece that is there one day and gone the next it creates a certain kind of energy within the community. It allows viewers to partake in the experience as a kind of detective, wanting to uncover the mystery. Being a guerilla artist is secretive and exciting. There is a wonderful feeling of elation when you go out and place an anonymous gift in a public space, attach a painting to a park bench, leave a small painting behind in a public washroom.” (From The Guerilla Art Kit by Keri Smith) |
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There are a number of sites online which have great ideas for guerilla art...
Here are a few. Please remember that in this project, your job is not to COPY another artist. It is to become INSPIRED by the possibilities, and to create your own original idea to install in the community!
KNITTA PLEASE (knitbombing)
IMPROV EVERYWHERE
SCOTT WADE - Dirty Car Art
SLINKACHU - "Little People" Installations
CANDY CHANG - "Before I Die" Installation
THE REVERSE GRAFFITI PROJECT
JOSHUA ALLEN HARRIS - "Inflatable Bag Monsters" Installation
MARK JENKINS - Tape Cast Sculptures
WEB URBANIST (Various Examples of Guerilla Installations and Performance)
THE FUN THEORY
Here are a few. Please remember that in this project, your job is not to COPY another artist. It is to become INSPIRED by the possibilities, and to create your own original idea to install in the community!
KNITTA PLEASE (knitbombing)
IMPROV EVERYWHERE
SCOTT WADE - Dirty Car Art
SLINKACHU - "Little People" Installations
CANDY CHANG - "Before I Die" Installation
THE REVERSE GRAFFITI PROJECT
JOSHUA ALLEN HARRIS - "Inflatable Bag Monsters" Installation
MARK JENKINS - Tape Cast Sculptures
WEB URBANIST (Various Examples of Guerilla Installations and Performance)
THE FUN THEORY
Here's a list of SOME of the types of guerilla art... however, there are many others. SEE WHAT YOU CAN FIND ONLINE!
Sidewalk chalk - Sticker art - flyers/posters - zines - object leave behinds (letters,
gifts, cool junk) - notes (slogans) - non-permanent graffiti - book inserts (left between pages of library books) - letters (possibly love letters to strangers) - the age old 'message in a bottle', or in a balloon.... be fun. HAVE fun. Be funny. Be kind. Be awesome. Make someone's day!
Sidewalk chalk - Sticker art - flyers/posters - zines - object leave behinds (letters,
gifts, cool junk) - notes (slogans) - non-permanent graffiti - book inserts (left between pages of library books) - letters (possibly love letters to strangers) - the age old 'message in a bottle', or in a balloon.... be fun. HAVE fun. Be funny. Be kind. Be awesome. Make someone's day!
Your Assignment...
You are going to DESIGN a guerilla art piece and install it.
To DESIGN means to...
- conceive or fashion in the mind; invent
- formulate a plan for; devise
- plan out in systematic, usually graphic form
- create or contrive for a particular purpose or effect
- have as a goal or purpose; intend
- create or execute in an artistic or highly skilled manner
Your piece must either beautify its surroundings (alter them in a positive way) or allow passersby to interact with their environment differently. It must be IMPERMANENT – something that won’t last forever and something that is easily removed. Spray paint, acrylic paint, markers, or anything that stains or is difficult to remove WILL NOT BE options. I am NOT asking you to vandalize or damage someone’s property or to do anything illegal. (You will be filling out a Guerilla Art Proposal Form – which I will review to ensure that you will not be doing anything illegal or anything that damages the environment.)
To DESIGN means to...
- conceive or fashion in the mind; invent
- formulate a plan for; devise
- plan out in systematic, usually graphic form
- create or contrive for a particular purpose or effect
- have as a goal or purpose; intend
- create or execute in an artistic or highly skilled manner
Your piece must either beautify its surroundings (alter them in a positive way) or allow passersby to interact with their environment differently. It must be IMPERMANENT – something that won’t last forever and something that is easily removed. Spray paint, acrylic paint, markers, or anything that stains or is difficult to remove WILL NOT BE options. I am NOT asking you to vandalize or damage someone’s property or to do anything illegal. (You will be filling out a Guerilla Art Proposal Form – which I will review to ensure that you will not be doing anything illegal or anything that damages the environment.)
The Big Question...
When you have completed this project, I will ask you to reflect (IN WRITING) on your experience. The BIG QUESTION that you will consider, as you are viewing guerilla works by other artists, and working on your own guerilla piece, is:
How can the DESIGN of a specific space / environment affect the viewer's experience of it? What can the DESIGN of a space do to change how people interact with it, how they feel, and how much (or how little) they enjoy being there. Record your ideas as they occur, in your idea journal.
How can the DESIGN of a specific space / environment affect the viewer's experience of it? What can the DESIGN of a space do to change how people interact with it, how they feel, and how much (or how little) they enjoy being there. Record your ideas as they occur, in your idea journal.
TO GET STARTED, we will be touring the community outside. I want you to do this INDEPENDENTLY even if you plan (later) to work in a group.
TIPS:
1. Look for locations/sites in the community that are neglected, or unusual, or which have no specific purpose.
2. Look at your environment as if you are a tourist and have never visited this community before. Or like an alien on a new planet. Pay close attention to the details.
3. Observe how people interact with the environment. Can you use their habits in an interactive piece?
4. Think about all aspects of the area. Look up, look down... look closely, look from far...
Sit down so that you can take it all in for a while...sketch, sketch, sketch.
HERE ARE THE IDEAS WE BRAINSTORMED TOGETHER IN CLASS...
SOME IDEAS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING YOUR PROJECT:
- Create a piece that changes over time. Document it changing.
- Consider using unusual materials. A few years ago, one student knitted seat covers out of fabric and yarn for the seats on the childrens swing set to make it more comfortable.
- Direct the flow of traffic in an urban setting. Change the way people travel through a space. Make them move in different ways.
- Create a piece that incorporates air (the wind? the air vent on the side of the bldg.?)
- Create decoration that is also information. Or that makes people laugh. Or that makes an 'ugly' space more attractive to be in.
- Celebrate an everyday object you find outside, by giving it a new use. For example, knit a pile of plastic shopping bags into a large blanket.
- Create a piece that gives your viewers the opportunity to interact.
- Create a piece guaranteed to make someone smile. Humour can be extremely helpful in reaching viewers, allowing them to partake in and interact with a message in a non-confrontational way.
- Combine / add to / alter / reinvent ideas that already exist – build on the ideas of others.
MAKE SURE TO HANG ON TO ALL OF YOUR WORK IN YOUR IDEA JOURNAL... everything you think about, do, practice, and plan all demonstrates your learning.
You will be working on developing an ARTIST'S STATEMENT as we finish the project. Installation / guerilla bombing will be on October 17th! You will complete a full reflection sheet after we are done. :)
STUDENT WORK
TIPS:
1. Look for locations/sites in the community that are neglected, or unusual, or which have no specific purpose.
2. Look at your environment as if you are a tourist and have never visited this community before. Or like an alien on a new planet. Pay close attention to the details.
3. Observe how people interact with the environment. Can you use their habits in an interactive piece?
4. Think about all aspects of the area. Look up, look down... look closely, look from far...
Sit down so that you can take it all in for a while...sketch, sketch, sketch.
HERE ARE THE IDEAS WE BRAINSTORMED TOGETHER IN CLASS...
SOME IDEAS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING YOUR PROJECT:
- Create a piece that changes over time. Document it changing.
- Consider using unusual materials. A few years ago, one student knitted seat covers out of fabric and yarn for the seats on the childrens swing set to make it more comfortable.
- Direct the flow of traffic in an urban setting. Change the way people travel through a space. Make them move in different ways.
- Create a piece that incorporates air (the wind? the air vent on the side of the bldg.?)
- Create decoration that is also information. Or that makes people laugh. Or that makes an 'ugly' space more attractive to be in.
- Celebrate an everyday object you find outside, by giving it a new use. For example, knit a pile of plastic shopping bags into a large blanket.
- Create a piece that gives your viewers the opportunity to interact.
- Create a piece guaranteed to make someone smile. Humour can be extremely helpful in reaching viewers, allowing them to partake in and interact with a message in a non-confrontational way.
- Combine / add to / alter / reinvent ideas that already exist – build on the ideas of others.
MAKE SURE TO HANG ON TO ALL OF YOUR WORK IN YOUR IDEA JOURNAL... everything you think about, do, practice, and plan all demonstrates your learning.
You will be working on developing an ARTIST'S STATEMENT as we finish the project. Installation / guerilla bombing will be on October 17th! You will complete a full reflection sheet after we are done. :)
STUDENT WORK
