JOYENGINE: cause sharing is cool

Images, video, and an interview with Broken Crow have been posted up on the Burlesque of North America’s blog. It makes my heart smile when those who inhabit cities help shape and define the spaces we all share with the gift of art.

I’d love to know what you all think about this:

A Colorado native accused of replacing Gatorade labels with another unnamed artist’s “pop art” message was in court today. The charges allege that he misbranded and altered food labels with intent to hurt a brand or business. 1,000 bottles were replaced in Denver area stores, with no word on how they pulled off this ballsy feat. The message of this mass misbrand features the word “UNFAITHFUL” next to one of Tiger Woods’s wedding photos.

I’ve been following this story for a few days now, and the more I think about it, the more it leaves a bad taste in my mouth (much like untainted Gatorade). My problem is with using the guise of “pop art” to tamper with food packaging that is available to be purchased. It’s a safety issue. Regardless of how you feel about street art, just don’t fuck with food. The idea that someone can replace 1,000 bottles without being detected is truly frightening. Go cover a billboard, replace some POS materials, make your statement without wasting the government resources that now have to investigate your dumb ass for tampering with food.

That issue completely aside, I’m baffled as to what the “artist” is hoping to achieve. Tiger’s scandals have cost his endorsers billions already. Is that the message? The fact that Nike and Gatorade are now battered and synonymous with infidelity? That Tiger’s amazing legacy is in tatters? Who cares? It’s a travesty that his personal life has harmed so many. I can’t think of a better way to get sued, and for what? The message sucks.

Before you all jump in to tell me how wrong I am, let me say that I love this kind of activist art when it’s done well. I’m a huge detractor of the processed food industry, and was inclined to approve of these shenanigans before I even finished reading about them. I’ve seen countless variations of this common street art technique that are thought provoking and brilliantly conceived. But this is just stupid. Ron English he is not.

Nice job putting an email address on the packaging and getting your partner busted by the way. Better luck next time.

Just got back from a trip to P.V. Mexico, and thought I’d share some of the sights and inspiration. Enjoy!

1-6: street art + Blop
7-28: galleria in old town Vallarta
29-34: folk art by Peyote People
35-48: malecon sculptures

Banksy’s done it again. A tiny little pet store opened four days ago in NY where a rabbit puts on her makeup, McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets sip barbecue sauce, and a CCTV camera nurtures its young. Wow-pretty impressive. More at woostercollective.com

Smart street art done by Scott Van Den Plas and Joe Van Wetering.

My friend Jason Kehl (Cryptochild) just passed me this great animation, I thought I’d share it with all of you. More of Blu’s Work can be found via his website and blog. Super Rad!

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Wow-I’m glad to see that Disney is now down with street art. Somehow I don’t see how putting up pasters fits within the philosophical or theoretical framework of Disney, but whatever, it’s the cool thing to do (and everyone’s doing it).

Walls covered with Heel posters can now be found in LA, along with a huge Chihuahua silhouette painted on the side of a building. Apparently Disney started a viral marketing campaign a few days ago for their upcoming movie starring a Chihuahua. I guess the a viral marketing campaign paid off because I’m now blogging about it, but I can assure you that I will not be going to see the movie.

Full story here

A brilliant concept conveyed so simply.  Amazing.  Street art at its best.

via: woostercollective | artist unknown

Witnesses say that this is the first time they have seen this seemingly sinister imagery on the calm streets of Minneapolis. Others say they have seen it before… One elderly women reportedly saw similar characters on the bus stop sign, a police car and on hipsters handbags. If you ask me, its no coincidence at all. I know the dastardly deeds of these artsy mercenaries and its no joke. First you see these “Baby Eaters” on the streets of your favorite neighborhoods, then on the clothing and accessories of your chums. Then the next thing you know it, its on your cereal boxes and in your underwear. If you ask me, its the beginning of an invasion. The mastermind behind the creation of these little creatures is of course Small But Dangerous, one of the 3 elite that run this very blog. But, don’t take it from me. Look around at the place you live, the place you call home and tell me what you see… Not even Superman himself could save us from these creative villains.