Urban Art Association

I think its this whole art scene in general, I dont see a ton of "street art" day to day in Austin, and it seems like any print releases ive been really pumped about this year have been agonizing either to attempt to get or really frustrating not winning a lottery. Many of the "street artists" and "fine artists" I have grown to love over the past couple years are completely out of my price range now which seems to bring a disconnect with being a fan of the artist, maybe it is just me but when you have a framed piece even a print on your wall you connect with the artist so much more than staring at a jpeg on your computer wall paper. I think for me it feels like all of these things have made me withdrawl a little from street art and collecting in general.

Not too sure I agree, we've had the Cans Festival and the Tate Modern thing after all.

Now I totally agree with that !

er whats about CANS ? probably the best Street art show ever ;D

not only that but its only august,

I'm not exactly sure what a 'slow' year is. Is that good or bad?

Whichever, I think 2008 has to go down as the year that the world really started to sit up and take note of Street Art. As people have already mentioned both Cans and the Tate have been a huge success. On top of that Banksy produced one of largest and most daring pieces yet, Nick Walker is starting to get the recognition he undoubtedly deserves and Adam Neate looks to be taking the scene to a whole new level with some quite simply breath taking work in Brazil.

Oh, but the value of prints have dropped, if that's what you meant?

I think R was in fact making the opposite point....that it's all about money...dodgy goings on...a million one poor print releases...etc etc....

as street art gets taken to a whole new level of recognition maybe some of the reasons we fell in love with it in the first place are lost? (a question more than a statement)

I find it quiet easy to steer clear of the crap being pumped out of some online galleries. with less than mediocre artists, jumping on the bandwagon, not even producing street pieces but being branded as such. which is the only downside to this year so far.

hey now that kinda talk may get you banned around here. bite your tongue sir!

Cans Festival has been a real highlight for me and because they had nothing for sale, only people into the actual art could enjoy it.

I do think that a few more people need to put their art on the street a lot more and not just in East London (which seems the safest place in the UK to do graffiti / paste ups at the moment).

This year many newer artists seem to be copying Banksy's pricing plan when it comes to prints but not actually Banksy's commitment to travel around the UK to get art up on the street for people to enjoy for free.

maybe a couple of the pretenders have to step up to?

Nor can I - 'whippersnappers' would have been far more suitable.

its been a great year for street art as in art on the street...... cans lead to some great (and not so great) stencils being produced and tolerancy from the man in the street seems to have improved, jesus we've been painting in broad daylight these days and no one says a word! its an awesome state of affairs