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Banksy - Let Them Eat Crack

I have to admit, I don’t know much about street art except to utter “cool” as I walk by a work that I like. I’ve recently discovered however, that street art, (aka graffiti, sticker art, guerilla art, street installation, etc), is a sophisticated sub-culture that warrants taking a closer look.

The term “Street Art” refers to any art developed in public spaces and usually refers to unsanctioned art. A large amount of street art is activist and subversive but one common thread is that it allows artists, to reach a much broader audience than traditional art venues usually permit.

Many street artists have become internationally known, and their art is highly sought after by collectors who are willing to pay large sums of money to acquire their works. One of the most famous of these is the artist known as “Banksy”. Banksy, like many street artists, has managed to keep his identity a mystery. Some information about the artist however, is widely accepted: he was born in 1974 in Bristol, UK, and got involved in street art in the early 90s, and by 2003, had gained widespread notoriety. Over the years, many people have come forward claiming to know Banksy’s identity, but none have ever been verified.

His paintings, stencils, sculptures, and other art pieces have appeared in cities around the world and are often humorous and satirical, tackling political, cultural, and ethical issues of the day. Banksy also likes to make social commentaries in the form of practical jokes. He once replaced hundreds of Paris Hilton CDs with his own and has sneaked his own artwork into major museums.

Banksy’s work is heralded by some and scorned by others. Some see the work of a great artist who has found a way to present his art (and opinions) to the largest number of people possible by using the street as his canvas. Others see street artists as criminals, vandals, nuisances that the taxpayer has to clean up after. I am personally moved and impressed by Banksy’s work, but that’s just me. Judge for yourself by visiting Banksy.co.uk, or by reading the fantastic eight part Banksy series on Weburbanist.com.

Banksy - Maid

Sources: Banksy, Weburbanist.com, Wikipedia, Wikepedia – Street Art

Cinco de Mayo – A.R. Martinez

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. It actually commemorates the victory at the battle of Puebla of an outnumbered Mexican militia over French forces on May 5, 1862. The day is really not all that popular in México (other than in the state of Puebla), but has been celebrated for over 100 years in the U.S. and has become a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.

Since we are celebrating all things Mexican today, let’s take a look at the painter Alfredo Ramos Martinez. Born on November 12, 1871 in Monterrey, Mexico, Martinez is considered the founding father of modern Mexican art. He studied for eight years at the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico City but was dissatisfied with the school’s monotonous teaching method, preferring to paint scenes from ordinary life. In 1897, Martinez traveled to Paris and continued his studies embracing the Post-Impressionist style. He returned to Mexico in 1910 and three years later was appointed Director of the National Academy. Martinez began Open-Air Schools that focused on the Impressionist concept of painting the outdoors. His program influenced both the theoretical and practical approaches to painting in Mexico, expanding the reach of arts education to a more diverse range of people.

Martinez and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1930, seeking medical attention for his daughter who was born with a bone disease. The works he produced in California were modern but focused on themes of the Mexican renaissance. Martinez’s work was well received and he was commissioned to paint public murals in California and Mexico, and held numerous exhibitions.

From 1942 to 1945 Martinez lived again in Mexico, where he painted a series of frescos. In 1945 he returned to Los Angeles to paint a mural at Scripps College. Martinez sketched the entire mural and painted a section of it but then became ill. He died of a heart attack on November 8, 1946, leaving the mural unfinished. Today, Martinez’s paintings are in high demand and at a 2007 Christie’s auction, his “Flowers of Mexico” sold for just over 4 million dollars.

To find out more about Alfredo Ramos Martinez, visit the Alfredo Ramos Martinez Research Project.