Pat Jennings of Central Art in St Petersburg, FL forwarded a thought provoking blog post. Led by founder Bill Tikos, The Cool Hunter celebrates creativity in all of its modern manifestations. It has become the world’s most-read culture and design site, a leading authority on all things creative and a truly global hub for what’s cool, thoughtful, innovative and original. This particular posting has been widely read and has created quite a buzz amongst city planners and public works departments around the world. Here is the complete text:
Some city councils get it, others don’t. Tapping the creative talents of street artists, illustrators and graphic designers is an effective and cool way to make bland public spaces, old buildings, bridges and car parks new again, and to freshen up the concrete jungle.
It is also an effective way of keeping graffiti away. Plus it draws attention to the building or structure as “potential” not as something to be hated. Maybe it will even bring a buyer, a new occupant or additional creative ideas about how to revitalize the building? Anything but the current dilapidated state of abandoned spaces!
Street artists and muralists bring with them vibrant and a new perspective that architects or designers may not have. This does not mean that millions need to be spent to upgrade the buildings immediately, all you need is vision, courage, local creative talent and some colorful paint like these perfect examples here. Our subscriber list reads like the Who-is-Who of city councils around the globe. So here’s a challenge to you: You need to step up and change the face of your city. There are way too many ugly, run-down buildings, bridges, tunnels and walkways that can be completely transformed into exciting and fun environments with some creative input.
Fore the full blog post visit: Street Art Matters
One city that really gets it is San Francisco. As the the website San Francisco Mural Arts points out, “it is a virtual outdoor art gallery where city walls become the artist’s canvas and the unremarkable become works of art. And it’s free for all to enjoy.”
Check out SF Mural Arts, an online resource for those who are passionate about art and intrigued by the murals of San Francisco. Their website highlights a collection of murals visible on city streets, and includes photos, locations, and details about each piece. San Francisco Mural Arts
