Street Art

“Street art is such a pure art form. Maybe not quite as pure as graffiti but up there. It is so democratic. Art by anyone for everyone. It offers so much but asks for so little.” -Artist My Dog Sighs

I stumbled across this amazing bit of street art down an obscure alleyway in Valencia, Spain. As usual, I didn’t really know where I was. My B&B host had given me specific instructions to “go get lost in Old Town.”  I’m not great with maps and I had no data, so couldn’t use my phone.  This is usually the case when I’m out wandering and wondering.  It’s how I like to roll, and I never fail to make new discoveries and find new delights. Quite often, it’s the sudden appearance of a mural or piece of street art that makes me gasp with awe.

“Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don’t come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they’re having a piss.” -Banksy

There were no signs directing me to this winning little Charlie Chaplin. It wasn’t for sale.  It was freely given by the artist, not even signed, to cheer and delight anyone and everyone who happened upon it. 

Street Art is a love letter to the city; its residents and visitors. Also called “Open Sky museums,” street art has been around since the days of cave painting, 64,000 years ago. The “Kilroy Was Here” graffiti and line drawing from WWI and the ongoing art added over the years to the Berlin Wall are more recent beginnings of the modern trend. Ubiquitous around the world, this urban art form covers major and minor cities on every continent except Antarctica.

“Graffiti ultimately wins out over proper art because it becomes part of your city, it's a tool; ‘I'll meet you in that pub, you know, the one opposite that wall with a picture of a monkey holding a chainsaw.’ I mean, how much more useful can a painting be than that?” -Banksy

I’m not against art for sale; artists need to make a living too. But I love the idea of a gift economy.  If you are not familiar with Charles Eisenstein who wrote a book about this concept called Sacred Economics and another book whose title I love,  The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible, I recommend finding him.

“Imagine a city where graffiti wasn't illegal, a city where everybody could draw whatever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of big business. Imagine a city like that and stop leaning against the wall - it's wet.” -Banksy

I hope this little Charlie, and the following street artworks from my travels make you smile. May we all offer a little gift to the world today; a smile, a simple kindness, honest work, love. Thank you in advance for yours.

^^In Limassol, Cyprus

^^^Sidewalk Art in Gran Canaria

^Funchal, Madeira

^Lisbon, Portugal

^Surprisingly, this mural of the Fairbanks City bus from Into the Wild is in a small town near Benidorm, Spain.

^Street art can be sculpture too, like this one in Dublin, Ireland.

^Meyrueis, France

One of the joys of street art is that you can touch it, interact with it, play with it, like this piece in Alicante, Spain!