My thoughts are well and truly provoked with the challenge this week. I’m from the Antipodes, live in London and travel as much as I am able. My options are various.
One image I’m drawn to and always photograph wherever I am is graffiti or urban art as it’s now called, rightly in many cases I think.
Similar/different across cultural boundaries? You be the judge.
where the wild things are (mrscarmichael)
Marion Street avatar (mrscarmichael)
up a blind alley (mrscarmichael)
3/4 modern, 1/4 trad (mrscarmichael)
access is always a good thing (mrscarmichael)
art meets Museum Hotel (mrscarmichael)
Wellington, the city dubbed ‘wild at heart’.
top and tail (mrscarmichael)
hello, Zurich (mrscarmichael)
3D graffiti (mrscarmichael)
worth another look (mrscarmichael)
Meanwhile 11,000 miles away in Zurich.
Spitalfields’ soldier (mrscarmichael)
mind the door (mrscarmichael)
the military in monochrome (mrscarmichael)
ladies of the apocalypse (mrscamichael)
green eyed monster (mrscarmichael)
London town, in and around Spitalfields and Brick Lane.
And I’m going to leave the last word to Christchurch as she tries to heal her wounds after the earthquakes.
Same or different, the urban art culture is flourishing. What will be there next time I pass by?
being mrscarmichael 
There is a fine line between mindless although often skilfullly executed graffiti and street art.
I think it is interesting and I like seeing photos of it on other blogs, but I don’t understand the motivation behind it I suppose.
I have to say, in central city arenas, I love it. Spray cans across private property, absolutely not. And, as in the case of my final, Christchurch photo, there’s even a worthwhile message.
Thanks for your comments 🙂
I like street art which has a purpose and brightens the landscape. Some of the work in your photos is really clever.
I agree. The Zurich one was painted around a real grabber. And I love the simplicity of the Chch band-aid. I cannot go past exciting walls without snapping.
I was sorry we missed Christchurch, but all the advice we received was to stay away. We heard some sad stories though.
Yes the heart has been ripped out of her I’m afraid. Now people are beginning to get their payouts rebuilding can begin. Fingers’ crossed anyway.
so colorful!
yes they certainly brighten up an inner city.
Like others here, I suppose I’m of two minds about graffiti art.
But your examples here go a long way toward convincing me about the “art” part.
Yes I think it’s the ‘tagging’ that is so ugly and competitive in a bad way. These were all in quite up beat city destinations.
We had the graffiti discussion already so I’ll simply say that enjoyed the color and variety of the art, especially the horse and rider
Hope your weekend’s off to a good start.
janet
ah yes we did 🙂 Slow start (changed my theme so my time has been sucked up) but off to the Saatchi Gallery tomorrow so should pick up.
Those graffiti are very artistic.
It has moved into a different class I think.
Great images for this challenge and I love the new Theme! Nice choice. 🙂
I am so pleased with it. It’s scary pushing the ‘activate’ button but I’ve been looking for a while, weather to upgrade 2012 or go for a change and I decided to bite the bullet.
thanks re the pics 🙂
These are great photos! There are a lot of great street artists in my area, I really should take pictures of some of the pieces. I never really think to take photos of my own city for some reason. For me, I think of “street art” as being separate from “graffiti,” which I think of as vandalism/the pointless scrawling of spray paint across people’s property (although I know not everyone would separate the terms in that way). But in my experience, true street artists are looking to add a positive message or a thing of beauty to an area where there is none, and I think they add a lot of character to a city. So interesting to see these examples from around the world!
I so agree about street art v graffiti. It can be a very fine line though. There is tagging on either side of the monochrome mounted soldier in Spitalfields.
Now you have two targets – street art and light shades! Where will all this end?
I better photograph everything I see just to be safe!!
Good plan.
Love the band-aids!
their simplicity makes them my favourites too.
Love it. When we visited Taupo there was a great diversity of artists participating in a show all over the town. Many artists really have improved over the years.
I agree – world’s apart from initials on tube carriages of neighbours’ fence posts.
Street art has a place… not when it desecrates surfaces which are themselves works of art or part of history! Great pics though! 😉
Agreed, Mr Vosse. How’s the back?
The back Mrs Carmichael, is taking all the strain of fatherhood, grandfather-hood and manhood squarely on it’s pivotal point(s) … thanks for inquiring though… it is touching! 😉
Pleased to hear it.
I really think graffiti like this is very artistic (in the right places). These pics are fantastic 😉
Thank you, Dianne and yes, the place is all. Perhaps on the shady side of the RUC.
Love your photos of the street art in Wellington, Zurich, and London. I enjoyed capturing the colorful street art in Athens and Crete when I was there last September. 🙂
I don’t seem to be able to travel past a decorated wall without recording the moment. Some friends get rather annoyed with me.
Oh well, let them get annoyed. YOU’LL have the pictures! 🙂
Ain’t that the truth?