Street Art: Joshua Allen Harris

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This really shows that as a society we have come to accept art in so many different forms. If I was told that there were these large, animated creatures on the streets of urban cities, I would never think that they would be made from tape and garbage bags, let alone come to life because of subway exhaust. Nothing about these “inflatable bag monsters” are typical when considering “standard art,” if there is such a thing. They aren’t located in a typical place, they aren’t made from typical material, and they don’t take the typical level of skill we’d expect from a successful artist, yet they still fascinate the public and certainly function as interesting and legitimate pieces of art. They literally come to life when enough subway exhaust pushes through the gaps in sidewalk grates which serve as the base for these creatures. When they are up, they look almost magnificent as they naturally sway with the air below and around them. Joshua Allen Harris didn’t need a whole lot of artistic ability to create these pieces. It’s simply a really clever idea. People stop to see what’s causing them to grow and expand and they really seem to appreciate their beauty. They seem magical, especially at first glance, yet they’re made from plastic bags and they dwell on the sides of dirty streets. There must be something ironic about that.

The Fun Theory

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This proves how important aesthetic appeal is to people these days. Something interactive and fun can cause people to change their daily paths . There’s something exciting about stairs that look like piano keys. I’m sure everyone that passes by asks themselves, “Do they function like piano keys too?” They can’t help but find out. People who look like they’re on their way to work slow down and check them out. Some people even stay a while and play with the stairs. I love that this video shows human nature in such a pure form; people can’t help but give in to their curiosity. You can tell that they’re feeling this sense of discovery. In a world that is so accustomed to technologically advanced things, that’s something you can’t find everyday.

Paint Jam, Dan Dunn

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As viewers it’s really hard to tell what Dan Dunn is making until he’s completely finished. Usually he’ll flip his canvas around or turn it on its side and all of a sudden it comes to life, as this beautiful piece of art work. For me, Dunn combines two of my favorite artistic mediums: paint and music. His style is new, which makes it exciting. He not only paints with music, but he paints to music, which is something that hasn’t been done with his level of success before. The speed of his strokes parallel the beat of the song and when a long note is held, he paints a longer line on the canvas. Because he creates his pieces so quickly, and in front of an audience, there’s this sense on interaction, which adds to the “awe factor” the audience feels when watching him. They saw him start his painting and watched him finish it, all the while listening to this narrative that the music provides. Although Dunn uses no advanced form of technology and what he’s doing isn’t very remarkable, it’s unique and original, making his performances worth watching.