Page History

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In 1935, [Franklin Delano Roosevelt|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt] established the Works Progress Administration (WPA) "to help provide economic relief" from the [Great Depression|http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/about.htm], according to the [WPA Murals web site.|http://www.wpamurals.com/] Inspired by [Mexican muralists'|http://www.tate.org.uk/collections/glossary/definition.jsp?entryId=165] "revitalization of the [Italian Renaissance |http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/it-ren/] fresco style" in the 1920s and 1930s, the intention was to harness "the creativity of the new art movements" to create jobs for more Americans. This endeavor, executed by the Federal Art Project, resulted in "5,000 jobs for artists and \[...\] over 225,000 works of art for the American people. 

WPA Mural

Click here to view a video about the making of WPA murals.

Click here to view a video about "WPA Art In Need of Rescue."

Disaffected minorities in the 1960s picked up on the idea of using art to promote social justice. During the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, which witnessed a flurry of art production by African-American artists, predominantly-black communities in economically-destitute areas convened in grassroots movements to create public murals in acts of "guerrilla art" designed to challenge conventional ideas about ownership and rights. Chicago's "Wall of Respect," produced in 1969 and featuring a spread of African-American heroes, infused the South Side community with a sense of morale and empowerment at the same time that it promoted political activism on behalf of civil rights. The very act of creating the mural was an act of defiance, a "defacing" of property for a greater good, a conversion of that property into something more beautiful. Although the public works of the 1930s and 1940s under the New Deal were commissioned by the government and thus far from illegal, the principles undergirding their production were similar to those that fueled the creation of Black Arts Movement murals: the use of art to transform people's lives in a highly public manner.

"Wall of Respect," Chicago, 1969: "Art for people's sake"

Click here to view a video called "Ghost of the Walls," produced in homage to the murals created during the Black Arts Movement.

Street Art, the 1970s and Beyond

Behind the rising popularity in recent decades of street art as an effective method for artists, and as a target for galleries, dealers, and collectors are artists such as [Jean-Michel Basquiat|http://basquiat.com/] and [Keith Haring|http://www.haring.com/], who were at the "forefront" of the street art movement ([Michael Carter|http://www.gallerywalk.org/Street_Studio.html], _The Studio in the Street/The Street in the Studio_). They made celebrated, successful transitions to the established gallery scene, becoming icons seemingly overnight and, tragically, vanishing just as quickly. The fleeting quality of their lives mirrors that of street art itself, and it is precisely the ephemera of the craft that continues to draw artists. [Explains street artist Roger Gastman |http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/05/25/graffiti-takes-on-high-art/]in the _Wall Street Journal_: "I'd say 99 percent of the work \[in a [book|http://www.amazon.com/History-American-Graffiti-Roger-Gastman/dp/0061698784] he has compiled of graffiti art\] is not there anymore, but there will always be new work. In a way, that's part of the art."

Basquiat

Basquiat

Basquiat, a black artist from a working-class family, began what became a successful career sketching images around New York City in the late 1970s under the tag name "SAMO." In his early drawings, he "transformed his own observations" about life around him "into pithy text messages inscribed on the edifices of the urban environment," according to his biographer, Fred Hoffman. This method "became the basis for his early artistic output," characterized by an effort to "distill" an idea, passion, observation, or perception "down to its core." In 1979, he began to sell "hand-painted" T-shirts and postcards, according to the Brooklyn Museum's chronology of his life.

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Examples of Haring's chalk drawings:

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It was this experience that propelled Haring to open the [Pop Shop|http://www.pop-shop.com/drupal/?utm_source=haring&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=haring-home] in 1986. A retail store located in New York City's [SoHo District|http://www.sohonyc.com/], the Pop Shop sold "T-shirts, toys, posters, buttons, magnets," and other paraphernalia "bearing \[Haring's\] images." Haring looked upon his shop as "an extension of his work" and his philosophy: it was "intended to allow people greater access to his work, which was now readily available on products at a low cost," explains his web site biographer. It was a place where "not only collectors could come, but also kids from the [Bronx|http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.02d9ee26d69924f6a62fa24601c789a0]" ([Jade Dellinger|http://www.amazon.com/Jade-Dellinger/e/B002YRFBNS], ["Art and Commerce"|http://www.haring.com/cgi-bin/essays.cgi?essay_id=15]). The Pop Shop was subject to criticism from those in the art world who questioned whether it represented a turn toward the commercialization of art. But in that respect it was hardly different from high-end galleries and auctions -- except for the demographical constitution of the population it catered to. Haring maintained that the aesthetic quality of his work was not compromised with the opening of the Pop Shop, noting that "\[it\] was less about 'purity' and much more an issue of integrity" -- and the intention behind the Pop Shop fell comfortably in line with his sense of integrity.

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Click here for a list of Haring's museum collections.

Click here to view a slide show of Keith Haring's art work.

Street Art TodayStreet Art Today

Basquiat and Haring established a tradition of street art that many young artists sought to emulate. Writes Carter, "In their wake, somewhat younger artists, edgy and ambitious, saw the streets as their studio, especially in the East Village." They "took painterly cues from" Basquiat and Haring. These artists include the likes of Barry McGee, Swoon, Blek Le Rat, D*Face, Judith Supine, Elbowtoe, Stickman, Retna, War Boutique, Kenichi (Ken) Hiratsuka, Brian Gormley, Scot Borofsky, Shepard Fairey, Faile, Blu, the Os Gemeos brothers, JR, Mark Jenkins, Nunca, Sweet Toof and Cyclops, Mau Mau, Sickboy, Sixeart, Roa, Futura, Neckface, and Roger Gastman. Collectively they have by now gained the street art genre something close to mainstream acceptance.

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Some commentators criticize the movement of street art into museums, galleries, and other venues of "high culture" as a passing "fad." "Today's absurd prices of 'the people's art' and 'this breakthrough means of authentic expression' and 'commentary on popular culture with an investment value' will all come crashing down" (italics in original), contends Matt Gleason of The Daily Beast. But these critics overlook the rich history of street art when they dismiss it as little more than a fashion statement. True, it may only recently be achieving international acclaim and market success in elite domains, but street art has proven, despite its own claim to and reverence for its transitory nature, a lasting aesthetic form. Individual works may disappear, but new ones replace them. And the phenomenon does not appear to be going away any time soon.

References (Organized by Topic)

WPA Murals:

http://basquiatwww.wpamurals.com/^{Image Added}

http://www.banksyyoutube.co.uk/com/watch?v=s7OU8CLotFc

http://www.haring.com/youtube.com/watch?v=jSReQMbjkfA&feature=related

Black Arts Movement Public Murals/Chicago "Wall of Respect":

http://aalbc.com/authors/blackartsmovement.htm

http://www.independentblockmuseum.conorthwestern.ukedu/arts-entertainment/art/features/graffiti-street-art-ndash-or-crime-868736.htmlwallofrespect/

https://coral.uchicago.edu:8443/display/chicago68/The+Rise,+Fall+and+Legacy+of+the+Wall+of+Respect+Movement^{Image Added}

http://onlinewww.wsjyoutube.com/watch?v=NbxWVblT4ss 

Basquiat:

http://basquiat.com/article/SB10001424052748704681904576313861591809884.html

http://blogswww.wsjbrooklynmuseum.comorg/speakeasyexhibitions/2011/05/25/graffiti-takes-on-high-art/basquiat/street-to-studio/english/whobasquiat.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAMO©_Graffiti

http://www.gallerywalk.org/Street_Studio.html

http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-09-03/movies/23986862_1_jean-michel-basquiat-filmmaker-tamra-davis-contemporary-art 

http://www.brooklynrail.org/2005/04/artseen/basquiat^{Image Added}

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128744243^{Image Added}

Haring:

http://www.haring.com/

http://www.gallerywalk.org/Street_Studio.html

http://www.haring.com/cgi-bin/essays.cgi?essay_id=15

http://www.huffingtonpostharing.com/matcgi-gleason/street-art-market-collaps_b_856756.htmlbin/essays.cgi?essay_id=01

http://www.hobbsgalleryharing.com/artistabout_haring/supinebio/index.html

http://trev4.com/preview-installation-barry-mcgee-os-gemeos-swoon-neck-face-moca/http://www.nbcnewyorkharing.com/blogsfoundation/niteside/Graf-Legend-Futura-2000-Recalls-Basquiat-and-Haring-in-Hey-Day-82707792about/index.html

http://www.youtubeartsjournal.com/watch?v=jXGV2H8i2To/artopia/2008/05/keith_haring_redux.html

http://wwwsubwayartblog.digitalretna.com/blog/category/exhibitionstag/keith-haring/

http://whitney.org/Collection/JeanMichelBasquiat/9183www.artinfo.com/news/story/32756/tate-modern-brings-back-harings-pop-shop/

http://onlinewww.wsjlastaddress.comorg/article/SB124052165172149805haring.html^{Image Added}

http://travelwww.nytimesyoutube.com/2008/03/09/travel/09weekend.htmlwatch?v=ocii2sT8KTw

Street Artists/Street Art Today:

http://www.graffiti.org/

http://artnectarwww.brooklynstreetart.com/2010/06/graffiti-art-sixearttheblog/

http://roaweb.tumblrurbantitan.com/10-most-controversial-urban-street-artists/^{Image Added}

http://www.haringjonathanlevinegallery.com/about_haring/collections/index.html

http://www.flickrUnurth.com/photos/chrisjohnbeckett/2529148842/in/pool-87176332@N00/

http://wwwen.streetartnewswikipedia.netorg/2011/02/new-mau-mau-street-pieces-in-bangkok.htmlwiki/Graffiti_terminology

http://www.brooklynmuseumcommondreams.org/exhibitionsheadlines05/basquiat/street-to-studio/english/whobasquiat.php 0812-01.htm

http://www.banksy.co.uk/

http://www.brooklynmuseumnpr.org/2011/exhibitions02/22/basquiat/street-to-studio/english/explore.php133966402/banksys-exit-reveals-street-art-world-sort-of^{Image Added}

http://www.briangormley.com/Brian_Gormley/Home.html

http://www.gallerywalkcoolgrove.orgcom/Streethigh_Studioandes.html

http://aalbc.com/authors/blackartsmovement.htmwww.jr-art.net/

http://www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/wallofrespect/fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/neckface,streetart

http://whitneyen.wikipedia.org/Collection/KeithHaringwiki/Blu_(artist)

http://www.babelgummelcarson.com/clips/4020276faile-street-art-in-amsterdam.html

http://newswww.bbcyoutube.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8096000/8096891.stmcom/watch?v=h02nb8Zcd6Q^{Image Added}

http://www.mocababelgum.orgcom/audio/blog/?cat=84 clips/4020276^{Image Added}

http://www.moca.org/nbcnewyork.com/blogs/niteside/Graf-Legend-Futura-2000-Recalls-Basquiat-and-Haring-in-Hey-Day-82707792.htm

http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/streetartartnectar.com/2010/06/graffiti-art-sixeart/

http://articlesroaweb.sfgatetumblr.com/2010-09-03/movies/23986862_1_jean-michel-basquiat-filmmaker-tamra-davis-contemporary-art /

http://www.streetartnews.net/2011/02/new-mau-mau-street-pieces-in-bangkok.html

http://wwwideaseek.basquiatblogspot.com/events.htm/2007/10/brazilian-street-artist-nunca.html

http://www.youtubeladykfever.com/watch?v=h02nb8Zcd6Q

http://www.haringat149st.com/cgi-bin/essays.cgi?essay_id=15eva62.html

http://wwwen.haringwikipedia.comorg/cgi-bin/essays.cgi?essay_id=01wiki/Lady_Pink

http://www.britishhiphop.haring.com/about_haring/bio/indexco.uk/news/latest/frisson_gallery_girls_on_top_exhibition.html

http://www.artnewsdigitalretna.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2570/blog/2011/02/hallelujah-graffiti-artist-retna-goes-global/

http://studentwww.dcuthesickboy.ie/~delanea7/ExtremeUrbanWoman/articles/graffiti.htmlcom/

http://wwwen.ladykfeverwikipedia.com/org/wiki/Shepard_Fairey

http://www.nytimeslost.art.com/2009/01/25/weekinreview/25kennedy.htmlbr/osgemeos.htm

http://ideaseekthescenicsidewalk.blogspotwordpress.com/2007/10/brazilian-street-artist-nunca.htmlcategory/stickman/

http://www.at149stkenrock.com/eva62.html

http://enwww.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Pinkelbow-toe.com/

http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/news/latest/frisson_gallery_girls_on_top_exhibition.htmlpbs.org/art21/artists/mcgee/

http://www.formatmagfecalface.com/features/nicholas-ganz/SF/index.php?id=1056&option=com_content&task=view

http://www.dface.digitalretnaco.comuk/

http:blog/2011/02/hallelujah-graffiti-artist-retna-goes-global/rogergastman.com/

http://www.wpamuralsflickr.com/photos/judithsupine

http://www.urbanartcore.eu/swoon-street-art-book/

http://www.xmarkjenkinsx.thesickboy.com/outside.html^{Image Added}

Women in the Graffiti Art Movement:

httphttps://coralstudent.uchicago.edu:8443/display/chicago68/The+Rise,+Fall+and+Legacy+of+the+Wall+of+Respect+Movementdcu.ie/~delanea7/ExtremeUrbanWoman/articles/graffiti.html

http://www.tate.org.uk/collections/glossary/definition.jsp?entryId=165ladykfever.com/

http://www.at149st.com/eva62.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAMO©Lady_GraffitiPink

http://artiseverywherewww.wordpressflickr.com/2009/02/04/street-art-and-museums-what-happens-after-they-meet/photos/judithsupine

http://www.urbanartcore.eu/swoon-street-art-book/

http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/news/latest/frisson_gallery_girls_on_top_exhibition.html

http://www.nycgovparksformatmag.orgcom/parksfeatures/M208E/nicholas-ganz/^{Image Added}

Street Art in Museums and Galleries:

http://www.haringartnews.com/foundationissues/about/index.htmlarticle.asp?art_id=2570

http://www.brooklynstreetartnytimes.com/theblog2009/http:01/25/www.jonathanlevinegallery.com/weekinreview/25kennedy.html

http://blogsartiseverywhere.forbeswordpress.com/tamarawarren2009/201102/04/29/street-art-and-inmuseums-thewhat-streetshappens-autosafter-at-moca/http://www.Unurth.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/judithsupinethey-meet/

http://wwwblogs.urbanartcore.eu/swoon-street-art-book/forbes.com/tamarawarren/2011/04/29/art-in-the-streets-autos-at-moca/^{Image Added}

http://enonline.wikipediawsj.orgcom/wiki/Shepard_Faireyarticle/SB124052165172149805.html

http://wwwtravel.fecalfacenytimes.com/SF/index.php?id=1056&option=com_content&task=view/2008/03/09/travel/09weekend.html

http://wwwnews.dfacebbc.co.uk/http:local/bristol/rogergastman.com/http://www.lost.art.br/osgemeos.htmhi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8096000/8096891.stm

http://thescenicsidewalkwww.wordpressmoca.comorg/categoryaudio/stickmanblog/?cat=84 

http://www.kenrocktate.org.comuk/http:modern//www.elbow-toe.comexhibitions/streetart/

http://www.pbstate.org.uk/art21collections/artists/mcgee/glossary/definition.jsp?entryId=165^{Image Added}

http://wwwwhitney.artsjournal.comorg/artopiaCollection/2008/05/keith_haring_redux.htmlJeanMichelBasquiat/9183

http://www.briangormleybasquiat.com/Brian_Gormley/Home.htmlevents.htm^{Image Added}

 http://www.coolgrovebrooklynmuseum.com/high_andes.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu_(artist)org/exhibitions/basquiat/street-to-studio/english/explore.php

http://www.melcarsonharing.com/faile-street-art-in-amsterdam/about_haring/collections/index.html

http://wwwwhitney.graffiti.org/Collection/KeithHaring

http://www.brooklynrailartinfo.orgcom/news/2005story/04/artseen/basquiat32756/tate-modern-brings-back-harings-pop-shop/

http://laistwww.hobbsgallery.com/2011artist/03/02/local_teens_commissioned_graffiti_a.phpsupine/index.html

http://entrev4.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti_terminologycom/preview-installation-barry-mcgee-os-gemeos-swoon-neck-face-moca/

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0812-01.htmhttp://www.msnbc.msnflickr.com/idphotos/27825380chrisjohnbeckett/ns/health-behavior/t/graffiti-triggers-crime-littering-study-shows/2529148842/in/pool-87176332@N00/^{Image Added}

http://subwayartblogwww.digitalretna.com/blog/tagcategory/keith-haringexhibitions/

http://www.artinfoyoutube.com/news/story/32756/tate-modern-brings-back-harings-pop-shop/watch?v=jXGV2H8i2To^{Image Added}

Contemporary Controversies Related to Street Art:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/graffiti-street-art-ndash-or-crime-868736.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704681904576313861591809884.html

http://wwwblogs.todayandtomorrowwsj.netcom/speakeasy/20102011/1205/2825/streetgraffiti-artisttakes-vson-graffitihigh-writerart/

http://www.xmarkjenkinsxhuffingtonpost.com/outsidemat-gleason/street-art-market-collaps_b_856756.html

http://www.riverwestcurrents.org/2004/September/002195.htmllaist.com/2011/03/02/local_teens_commissioned_graffiti_a.php

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/22/133966402/banksys-exit-reveals-street-art-world-sort-ofmsnbc.msn.com/id/27825380/ns/health-behavior/t/graffiti-triggers-crime-littering-study-shows/

http://www.lastaddress.org/haring.htmltodayandtomorrow.net/2010/12/28/street-artist-vs-graffiti-writer/

http://www.nprriverwestcurrents.org/templates2004/storySeptember/story.php?storyId=128744243002195.html

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/breakdancing/article.html

http://urbantitan.com/10-most-controversial-urban-street-artists/

http://www.jr-art.net/

http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/neckface,streetart^{Image Added}