Collection of World Graffiti Images

Tel Aviv - Israel

Tripoli - Libya

Recife - Brazil

Florianopolis - Brazil 

Cairo - Egypt

Buenos Aires - Argentina

Sao Paulo - Brazil 

Bethlehem (Israel - Palestine checkpoint)

Tel Aviv - Israel 

The controversy around the Lansdowne and Dupont mural

During the December Holidays I had the chance of visiting Toronto. My eye for street art was sharpened hoping to find some images to share on Across Borders. Along Dupont, Street close to the intersection with Lansdowne Avenue there is a railway under-pass where I found this collection of faceless figures and signs.  I first snapped the shots and then went home to try finding some info online regarding the murals.

I learned that this whole series of images were commissioned to artist Joel Richardson who was paid $2,000 by the city during the administration of Mayor David Miller. Interestingly, I also found out that the work generated some controversy as apparently the city itself painted over it after (likely as part of new Mayor Rob Ford's graffiti eradication campaign).  You can read a full article from the Toronto Star here.

Joe Richardson’s website says that he was born In Canada in1971 and grew up in Owen Sound. He “began his career as a portrait painter. His early work demonstrated a fascination with the fusing of extremes in ideas and techniques, all of this in an attempt to expand traditional portraiture into the realm of social documentation.”  You can fins some of his work and biography at www.joelrichardson.com and a gallery of his work at his Flickr account.

Additional image on old and new Toronto including the Lansdowne area can be found on the blog Lost Toronto by GBC. This blog compares historical archives with current images of Canada’s largest city.

Enjoy!

Hosier Lane, a place were Graffiti is encouraged...

A crisp cold morning in Australia’s second largest city. I go out for a walk without a Lonely Planet in hand. I like to explore “unknowingly” and discover things for myself, even if they have already been discovered by others and described on Wikipedia. Opposite to the entrance to the Atrium at Federation Square in Melbourne, I come across this interesting corner of the world called Hosier Lane. It is a much-celebrated landmark that I had never heard about. In the beauty of that August day, as the sun hit brilliantly above the cold breeze, the place opened up to me. There was my own fantasy book. If newly weds come to this spot to have their photos taken right after their service, why not me. I happily walked down that isle, taking my time to admire.

A few shots away and I was out of there. Photos are great time-immortalizers, but they cannot compare to the face-to-face experience. My images of Hosier Lane went into storage, until I unearth them the other day.

These are the only three images I could find. They are the reminders of that city installation of unique quality, of vibrant colours, textures and styles. That was an interesting spot worth stumbling upon, as I did. Here’s a link to a photography blog by Dev Wijewardane who also  “talks” about Hosier Lane. Enjoy!!!

Graffiti in Libya, opening a new tab on Across Borders

Graffiti can be considered a form of art. I have admired colourful murals along subway tunnels or train tracks. It can also be understood as a mechanism for transgression. There is a saying in Spanish which states that “walls are the villain’s paper” (La pared y la muralla son el papel del canalla). In most places in the world, including Canada, Graffiti is banned as it is considered a form of vandalism and a violation of private property. Nevertheless, some very important statements have appeared in public spaces. There are voices that interact and coexist with passersby. Some pieces tell stories, raise awareness or communicate discomfort. Some others add mess, to an already chaotic environment.  

Graffiti, from the Italian graffito, can be a form of writing, scratching and drawing. It is said to be as ancient as Western civilization but popularized with the advent of pop culture. Nowadays, there are some spots in the world where graffiti is welcome. The Hosier Lane, in Melbourne is one of them. The main image chosen for this blog comes from there. I was amazed by the beauty of the different images displayed along this lane, which I stumbled upon by accident.

I find Graffiti on the borderline between art as a form of expression and art as a voice of contravention. I would like to explore that aspect by creating a new tab on this blog called Graffiti. If Facebook has created a “virtual wall”, made available for us to “leave a message”. I hope that the graffiti section on Across Borders, would inspire our creative minds to cross the boundaries of meaning and message as well. Whenever I, or any of my friends pass by an inspiring graffiti, I would like to bring it back here for discussion.

I would like to start with this interesting collection of images from Libya, taken during the recent events. They reflect the images of the character who ruled the country for over 40 years. Thoughts?

(Courtesy of CBC’s video-journalist SP). 

Students Push Their Facebook Use Further Into Course Work

By Alexandra Rice

College students are taking social media to a new level, using Web sites like Facebook to communicate with other students about their coursework, according to results of a new survey on student technology use.

Nine out of 10 college students say they use Facebook for social purposes, like writing status updates and posting pictures. And the majority, 58 percent, say they feel comfortable using it to connect with other students to discuss homework assignments and exams. One out of four students even went so far as to say they think Facebook is “valuable” or “extremely valuable” to their academic success.

The survey was conducted in June by the Educause Center for Applied Research, and was taken by 3,000 students from more than 1,000 colleges. The results show how technology is shaping students’ lives both inside and outside the classroom.

For the entire article please click here

Professors seem to like Google+

Google Plus is very new but some professors who have tried it say they already see possible uses for teaching and research if the service catches on. For more info please check this LinkedIn updat:

Professors Consider Classroom Uses for Google Plus