Me & My Shark Fin

http://sfist.com/2012/07/23/tragic_shark_fin_mural_inspired_by.php
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2012/jul/17/shark-fin-rap
http://vimeo.com/45490562

Time lapse footage of underground graffiti "museum" 

Initial musings on the New Aesthetic

Over the last three days, I've been exploring "The New Aesthetic", an art movement exploring the technologically enabled novelty. My introduction to NA was Bruce Sterling's essay on NA, which I recommend you read immediately.

The New Aesthetic, coined by James Bridle, states that "One of the core themes of the New Aesthetic has been our collaboration with technology, whether that’s bots, digital cameras or satellites (and whether that collaboration is conscious or unconscious)". Is there a distinct line between technology as a tool vs. technology as a collaborator? Is the NA limited only to computer enabled tech? What makes the NA different than all those before us? Or is NA just a fad? The New Aesthetic Tumbler is proof that something unique is there, is happening right now, and offers insightful views into our culture.

I've already found NA useful within my own art work. I'm currently working on a project (photo-prints of buildings, public streets, overlaid with graffiti) exploring the tension between advertising and street-art.

What would the real-world look like if current online advertising technology was applied visually to the street? What would the ADmented reality look like beyond fugly “Star-trek glasses”?

Street stickers, and a baby

Custom bicycle from cyclecide art show, last week

Hot new research: Cheap beers equals more tagging

http://uptownalmanac.com/2012/03/dive-bars-increasingly-bummed-out-taggers

Wondering why your favorite dive-bar no longer serves daily cheapo
PBR? Can't find tecate in a can anymore? Mission bar owners are
reporting that they no longer serve hella cheap PBR or tecate since
that directly correlates with taggers tagging their bar.

Obligatory Post: Graf Artist in this week's Simpsons

Heh. Ever since Banksy did that much talked-about Simpon's couch-gag, it seems that the Simpsons producers found an 'in' with the Graf scene. Kenny Scharf, Ron English, Shepard Fairey, and Robbie Conal will appear in the 501st episode of the Simpsons. To the TiVo!

Barrio Calligraphy

Loving this link from L.A. Taco: Barrio Caligraphy, scans of an out of print book from the 1970's by a researcher studying Calligraphy of graffitti.