Welcome to Miami! Now go home.
– It’s a paraphrase of the Christmas crabby New Yorker who relies on the tourists who pump money into Broadway and Times Square restaurants and FAO and who actually eat those hot dogs and pretzels on the street. In the case of Miami, Art Basel 2010 draws to a close now and one billion dollars are estimated to have been transacted. When you pair that figure with the estimated 2-3000 artists participating, it looks like the artists must have made out rather well, right?
Certainly there were more Street Artists than ever attending the events and transforming walls everywhere with their work and creativity – at least in the unofficially sanctioned areas. At the moment Miami is “The only city in the US where graffiti appreciates property value,” ironically says Mint and Serf, a Street Art collective visiting the tropical city from frigid New York. In an odd twist on the “broken window theory” and urban blight, artists who are normally looking over their shoulder can actually wave to and talk with police who are driving by in some run-down areas where they are given free reign over large swaths of walls. At this sunny moment in time various agendas are intertwined and one wonders how long this golden age lasts.
Street Art photographer and observer Geoff Hargadon took in the breadth of the week on the street and attended a number of the events over the past weeks’ art orgies. He captured many jewels and quick moments with his camera and his 6th sense, which are below. As various larger pieces are unfinished right now, we’ll be going back in a few weeks for a year-end overview.
In addition to an intuitive eye about the art trends happening that impact the scene, Geoff gives a commentary about what else he’s thinking about: “Here is the other thing that’s a trend: property owners have their hands over all these walls for artists to takeover, and then suddenly they are leased out to restaurants, coffee shops, and other businesses. It’s hard to know who’s playing whom here – maybe it’s a happy co-existence – but when does the property owner step up to support these guys in other ways? (Unless, of course, it’s already happening.) Either way, artists are playing a big role in the development of these neighborhoods, and whether they know it or not, as the area gets more developed and gentrified, they will eventually run themselves out of town. Whether they are getting paid or not, they are creating their own extinction in Miami.”
Aiko (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Amaze (photo and clever Photoshop © Geoff Hargadon)
Coco (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Gaia’s Hands (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Burning Candy Crew Members Tek33 and Dscreet at work on Dawn Of The Demon.(photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Cash for your Warhol (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Invader (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Lister in progress (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Gaia (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
The London Police in progress (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
The London Police close up (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Shepard Fairey (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Invader (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Remed in progress (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Invader and friends (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Obey Overunder! (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
PopUp Lister (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Ron English color explosion (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Obey shop! (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Ryan McGuinness (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Skewville gets his wings and soars (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Mint and Serf (photo © Mint and Serf)
Mint and Serf (photo © Mint and Serf)
Light Graffiti photo © Vicki Da Silva
Other Articles You May Like from BSA:
A serendipitous meeting somewhere in Berlin set this project in motion, and the results unveil an adrenaline fueled ride that always pushes, often exceeds the boundaries of physical safety and social ...
This week BSA is in Madrid to capture some highlights on the street, in studio, and at Urvanity 2019, where we are hosting a 3 day "BSA TALKS" conference called "How Deep Is the Street?" Come wit...
Yesterday we celebrated International Women's Day HERE with a campaign in the United Kindom by artists Aida Wilde in collaboration with UNCLE. Spanish artist Marina Capdevila reminds us that women's ...
Shots today from last month's Shepard Fairey "Future Mosaic” at Dubai's Opera Gallery. With works on canvas, paper, wood, and metal, as well as examples of iconic images and repeated motifs from the ...
Happy Holidays to all of you charming and sparkling BSA readers! It’s been a raucous sleigh ride with you and we thank everyone most sincerely for your support and participation this year. A sort o...