Saskatoon Glassworkers’ Guild Group Project
Colour Outside the Lines Graffiti Art Style
2016
Sheet glass, glass frit, glass rod, glass paint, hot glass, aluminium & copperfoi, dichroic glass; fused, flame worked, blown, screenprinted, strip cut & reassembled, hand painted
Not for sale.
Graffiti (/ɡrəˈfiːti/; Italian: [ɡrafˈfiːti]) are writings or drawings that have been scribbled, scratched, or painted illicitly on a wall or other surface, often in a public place.[1] Graffiti range from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings and they have existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire.[2]
In modern times, paint (particularly spray paint) and marker pens have become the most commonly used graffiti materials. From this commodity come different styles, technique, and abilities to form master works.[3] In most countries, marking or painting property without the property owner’s consent is considered defacement and vandalism— this is graffiti vandalism.
Graffiti vandalism may also express underlying social and political messages and a whole genre of artistic expression is based upon spray paint graffiti styles. On top of the political aspect of graffiti vandalism or graffiti style painting, political groups and individuals may also use graffiti vandalism as a tool to spread their point of view.[4] This practice, due to its illegality, has generally become favoured by groups excluded from the political mainstream, e.g. “far-left” or “far-right groups.”[5]
The title and theme of this show, Colouring Outside the Lines, can be a metaphor for breaking rigid and long standing rules to release ones creativity and push the bounds of the medium. The subtheme of Graffiti for the group project developed from this.
What is more Outside the Lines than graffiti vandalism? There is a recognized form of graffiti art, and this is the form that helped inspire our members. Each guild member produced one or more pieces in a graffiti style that has been combined into one larger piece of art.
[1]“Graffiti,” Oxford Dictionaries Online, http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/graffiti
[2] “Graffiti,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti#cite_ref-Graffito_2-0
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
