Fresh street art is screaming to be heard.
A few weeks ago I wrote a post about street art—specifically the solace and beauty I find in the powerful images I discover on my walks through the largely deserted streets of NYC during the pandemic.
Then George Floyd was murdered.
People flooded the streets, and nationwide protests exploded with men, women, and children saying, in no uncertain terms, that enough is enough. Voices that had been silenced for far too long are demanding change and speaking truth to power, whatever the consequences may be. It’s an amazing time in our country, nothing like I’ve ever seen.
But there is something else happening with new fervor, energy, and insistence— the street art being created inside this movement. Street artists, like the early graffiti artists of the 1960s and 70s are using the democratic canvases of the streets to visually underline, bring to life, and enhance the messages being spoken and screamed.
This art can’t be owned or purchased. It can be seen by anyone, is born out of a moment, and could disappear just as fast as it came.
It lives outside law. The colors, emotions and energy of the images I’ve seen pop up over the past two weeks speak volumes of pain, anger, hope, and love. You won’t see anything like this behind the walls of any museum. So get out there. What can you discover in your town or city?
Because I guarantee you that in some alley or on some boarded up store there are visual treasures. Grab photos because you don’t know how long they’ll be there. Then share them like crazy.
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Sara Wofford is a contributing writer for Creageless, focusing on all things fashion, arts, and culture. She works freelance from her hometown of NYC, where she can be found tapping into the trends smart, savvy, stylish readers want.