CTRL + ALT + DELETE seen on the streets of new york

Last month, dozens of New York artists and activists battled the clutter of consumerism in a guerrilla-style billboard takeover. Mobilized by Jordan Seiler and the Public Ad Campaign, the 24-hour direct action replaced nearly 19,000 square feet of illegal advertising with original, anti-corporate street art.

obey poster design

armsrock in berlin

nope

graffiti by-law petition

please sign and distribute this petition. we are going to need as many signatures as we can get.

WRITE ON

press release: cape town graffiti by-law violates freedom of expression

As a collective of academics, artists and citizens we are concerned that the new, proposed graffiti by-law criminalizes all forms of public art and violates our personal right to freedom of expression on private property.

The by-law will soon be presented for public discussion and these are the two main issues that we feel need to be addressed:

1. The definition of ‘graffiti’ under the by-law is too broad. It classifies ‘graffiti’ as any inscription, word, figure, letter, sign, symbol, sketch, picture or drawing. There should be a clear differentiation between ‘graffiti vandalism’ [e.g. gang tags, scratchings] and public art that is done with permission from the owner [murals, colourful characters and positive, inspiring messages].

2. The by- law removes the legal right of the private property owner to paint anything other than a house number on his/her wall. We strongly believe that the private property owner should maintain the right to determine what to paint on to his/her property without having to seek permission from the City.

Public art forms are an integral part of our social fabric and have a particularly significant place in the history of our struggle for a democratic and free nation. It is an accessible medium, which allows for social comment and creative expression for people from all walks of life. We urge the City to utilize and embrace public art as well as harness the potential for it to be constructive (rather than destructive) – especially for the youth – and in turn, showcase the city as a creative hub to the tourism industry.

We urge the city to amend this by-law to become a more inclusive one and thus limit the damage it can potentially do to the creative growth of our city.

For any further information, please contact: Ricky Lee Gordon (Director of Write On Africa: Creative inspiration and Urban rejuvenation through special events, initiatives and Art in Public Space) on 083 3009970 or rickylee@writeonafrica.com

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the writing’s on the wall – zim is still not free (cape town)

free palestine

Done by the Palestinian Solidarity Youth Group
Klipfontein Road. Cape Town
it was cleaned by the city 4 days later.

hope for darfur by shepard fairy

seen on the streets of amsterdam