Guerrilla Curating

Students have been thinking about Guerrilla Curation. 

What exactly IS a Guerrilla/Street artist? Are there criteria we use to define one?

 How do Street/Guerrilla Artists curate their work?

Why are they putting artwork into our everyday world?

Where do these artists show their work for maximum impact? 

How does this affect the marketing of artwork, making a buck?

How much does market value on an artwork affect our definition of the artist who created it?

What do we think about street artists that have "crews" who help them create and install works? How do we compare this to age old practice of traditional artists and their apprentices? How little work should the "artist" be doing before we question their authenticity (if apprentices are doing most of the work).

What do we think about Guerrilla artists who appropriate other images/artworks and use them for their own work? How does this affect our definition of an artist?

What are our limits and criteria for knowing the difference between "artistic appropriation" and "copying". How do we reconcile this with the age old practice of appropriation by famous traditional artists?

Students watched Banksy's "Exit Through The Gift Shop", which addresses some of these same issues.
They engaged in debates around these issues. Videos will be uploaded to show these amazing discussions.

http://www.banksyfilm.com/

breakdance andrew diaz

main idea break dance ibelieve that this represents a cycle that this can mean two things the right spin means the right way the left spin means thats the wrong path that people take when they make decisions an also it can mean that when you break dance you gotta spin as fast as you can to spin longer faster and also stronger  so how hard you try to spin thats how you will spin longer iwould like to [post it all over the world to be able to get messages out and show people that the decisoins you take can hurt you or help you out but when the dude dosent spoin as how he wanted to spin he just put his hands and pushes himself again to spin more and do better this time

David Campos: EAT

My idea for this altered sign was to make a sign that was extremely similar to the original, but different enough to notice right away. I used the “Do Not Enter” sign as a base, and altered the message, by making the sign look like a cheeseburger. The reaction I wanted to get from the viewer was for them to see it and be somewhat amused and also have a lasting impression of it for the rest of the day.

While working on this art piece, I began to develop better techniques for my craft. I learned how to properly pace myself in completing each important step. As a class, we worked at a certain pace, and I had to do something different in order to keep up. I did multiple practice prints to make sure my stencil would work on the actual thing. It took me about 2 weeks to fully complete the sign, with all the planning, practicing and creating that took place in between.

Overall, I’m not as satisfied with the final product as I thought I would be when I first planned it. I think it has a lot to do with the time factor and the lack of options after already starting the design. I also didn’t correctly cut out the “A” in “EAT”. I do like the way I cut out the circle shape, and also the depth of the 2 colors on it. Next time, I’ll be a little neater, and try to come up with a clearer image. 

Erik Rojas "Ridding Deer" 5th

The sign I altered was the “slow down crossing deer’s ahead”. I altered this sign because I was going to use the same deer to make a riding deer sign. The idea for my altered street sign came up when I imagined a deer actually crossing the street on a bike, and I actually though that would be something funny to make. This sign is usually put on streets like in the middle of the forest. When people see my altered street sign I want them to have a fun reaction like a little laugh. I would like my sign to be displayed on a street that I s in the middle of the forest or woods because it would actually make sense than to see in the city. I made a simple bike under the deer to make it seemed like the deer is actually riding on it.

I probably had experience with more than two habits but ill actually just put two. The first one was Engage and Persist my experience with this was through the entire project because I was always engaged into doing a real good job. I didn't think I was going to do an OK job since I hate to draw. The second habit I had experience with was Develop craft.

Before I started the actual project I had to learn some key thing about stencils. I put a lot of time to the drawing on the stencil because I really wanted it to come out real good, but you actually never get what you want. I was done with the drawing part and then came the cutting. I was starting and then I realized I needed bridges it wasn't too late, but I did make a mistake. At the beginning I didn't think I was going to be able to draw the bike and the deer. It actually came out really good better than I expected. I was trying to express that the deer should have some fun too you know. When we were doing thumbnails I didn't have no idea of what to do so I looked at what everyone else was coming up with and then the light bulb whet on. 

"Ghost Busters" Adriana Gomez 5th

Artist Statement

My idea for my altered street sign was ghost busters do not enter sign. I chose this idea because of a song, it’s called Ghost busters  It’s a song from the old days and since I like oldies music it was perfect. I also got this idea from the movie ghost busters, they have the sign I made on the movie, I kind of got the idea from that as well because I like the movie. How I want people to react to this sign is don’t enter or else something will follow you home, like a ghost. I think if it were in the streets some people would have a good laugh or at least a smile on their face when they see it. I developed express and develop craft because I was trying to express what I was trying to show a new way of a do not enter sign. I showed it by doing the ghost busters sign. Developed craft because I've never done a stencil paper before so mostly all the tools I used were something new to me like the x acto knife, the stencil paper, gesso paint to make the paint in the stencil paper darker. My over all experience to this project was fun, because it’s something new. Maybe in the future I will use this just to make signs around my house or maybe just for fun; I’ll probably show people how to do them.

"Mickey and Minnie Mouse" Gerardo DeLuna Jr.

           Artist statement

My idea for my altered street sign was about Mickey and Minnie Mouse,” crossing road” sign. I chose this idea because I would always see Mickey and Minnie Mouse on TV and they would always be holding hands walking crossing the street. I wanted to confuse the eye by people looking back at the sign and being surprise at what they see. I always like the show and would see all the shows on tv that’s how I got my idea. . How I want people to react to this sign is so that people know that there is a person crossing the street and so cars can be more careful. I think if it were in the streets some people would have a good laugh or at least a smile on their face when they see it and it would also remind them about their childhood. I developed express and develop craft because I was trying to express, to show a new way of a crossing road sign. I showed it by doing a Mickey and Minnie Mouse sign. Developed craft because I’ve never done a stencil paper before in that way. All the tools I used were something new to me like the x acto knife, the stencil paper. My over all experience to this project was fun, because it’s something new that I’ve never done before. In the future I will use this to make signs just for fun I’ll probably show people how to do them and my little sister too.

Samantha Rodriguez: "Help Yourself.."

My concept for the Altered Sign project was to create a cleaning awareness sign. I used a construction sign of a man digging to a man mopping and added the words “Please Help Yourself”. The reaction I’m looking for is to have people care and clean up not only after themselves but just in general; to have the urge to not only clean but to help keep the earth clean. As for a place to be hung, the idea is to have it be anywhere were it is deemed necessary but in contradiction to the man mopping I feel that it can only be hung in the Guerrilla Art Museum for humorous proposes.

During the process of creating my art piece, I developed my craft skills more. Although already knowing how to use an x-acto knife I was able to learn how to create a proper stencil with ties (bridges) in the proper places. I did many practice prints on applying the paint correctly and evenly. I had to apply small amounts of paint on my sponge and carefully holding down the stencil while dabbing the paint through the stencil.

As a whole, I am a bit disappointed with the finished sign. There is so much that could be improved. I wish I could have developed the idea more to make more sense and not confuse people. With this project coming to an end I can only learn to further expand my ideas and correctly plan out the execution of it.