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field notes

The New Art Tour

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The New Art TourGraffiti has always been about push-ing limits. The spirit of the graffiti and street art culture (or perhaps more appropriately, counterculture) is a rebellious, sometimes anarchic one.

Whether you consider graffiti to be a work of art or an indication of the looming collapse of civilized soci-ety, graffiti flourishes in urban areas. Though sometimes used for gang purposes, graffiti also serves as social commentary, self-expression, and community beautification—accord-ing to the definition of the artist or writer, at least.

The social criticism and ironic humor of Banksy (arguably the most famous graffiti artist of our time) and other graffiti artists have garnered international interest. Some works are surprising and original enough to be copied on walls around the world and even sold in museums. One note-worthy example is Banksy’s “Flower Thrower,” which depicts a man poised as if he is about to throw a gre-nade—but with a bouquet of flowers.

Banksy and other graffiti artists from all over the world are increas-ingly sought after by the modern art elite to create art pieces for galleries and museums everywhere.

Previous page: Man playing guitar at the Lennon wall in Prague, Czech Republic. Top left: Graffiti in the Metro in Rome, Italy. Top right: Graffiti face in Jerusalem, Israel. Bottom: More graffiti from the Lennon wall in Prague.Ph

otography by Kate Zeller

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With all the interest in graffiti and the sociopolitical messages it conveys, graffiti has begun to make a name for itself as a legitimate artis-tic expression. And that means one thing: graffiti tours. Here are some of the most popular graffiti destina-tions and some of the tours that have brought art connoisseurs and teenage revolutionaries together in some of the most unlikely tour groups the world has ever seen.

New York, United StatesThe Big Apple, with its diverse culture and social classes, was a perfect breeding ground for graffiti in the 1970s and 1980s. The enormous disparity between the city’s rich and famous and the famously poor led many in the latter group to prove their mettle through acts of bravado, covering the walls and trains of the city with their names and the images in their heads.

Top: Graffiti of a painter in Lyon, France. Above: Graffiti from Graffiti Alley in Richmond, Virginia.

Top: photo by Kate Zeller; Bottom: photo by Bill Dickinson

GraffToursGraffTours offer tours of downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn on Thursdays to Sundays. For a reason-able price you’re guided through one of the city’s graffiti covered boroughs. ▶ grafftours.com

Freetoursbyfoot Freetoursbyfoot offer tours of much the same area as GraffTours, only for free. The company also provides a map on its website so you can take your own self-guided tours. ▶ freetoursbyfoot.com

5 PointzThe mecca for graffiti fans is an old warehouse known as 5 Pointz, located in New York City. The collection of graffiti even has its own curator because the warehouse contains pieces from graffiti big-timers hailing from all over the world, from New Zealand to Brazil to Brooklyn. Tickets can be costly, but a warehouse tour will save you a good deal of walking. ▶ sidetour.com/experiences/explore-the-epicenter-of-graffiti-culture-at-5pointz-aerosol-art-center

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One of Banksy’s works of street art.

Top: photo by Salam Virij; Bottom: photo courtesy of Banksy.co.uk

Graffiti in a neighborhood in the Netherlands.

London, EnglandIf you want to see some of Banksy’s politically charged works for yourself, London is the place to go (although you can also find some of his work in the capitals of most countries now-adays). Free maps marking the sites of his work are easy to find through an Internet search. And there are many more graffiti artists in London than just Banksy. London’s ethnic and cultural diversity have led to a graf-fiti scene encompassing perspectives from all over the world.

Alternative LondonOn this tour, you’ll not only view some great street art, but you’ll also learn how to do a little stencil

Buenos Aires Street Art ToursA little on the pricier side, this street tour takes visitors to many gems they won’t find in guidebooks. The tour company also has aerosol workshops in which visitors can color the town whatever hue they choose. ▶ buenosairesstreetart.com/tours

Graffiti MundoDrive around in a classy minibus to get a great view of some of the best street art in the city and to learn about how the country’s history has affected the art of the street. ▶ graffitimundo.com/graffiti- street-art-tours-buenos-aires

Street art tours are popping up all over the world as artists and writers take to the streets. Find a tour in an area near you, or hit the streets in true graffiti style and find what’s out there all on your own. Graffiti is the ultimate grassroots art and has a unique power to speak to individuals from all walks of life.

—Kate Zeller

spraying yourself. Alternative London also offers a Street Art Bike Tour for those brave enough to compete with London traffic. ▶ alternativeldn.co.uk/workshops.php

Shoreditch Street Art ToursListed as a top hit on Trip Advisor, even London natives can learn a thing or two about graffiti art on this informative, alley-winding tour. ▶ shoreditchstreetarttours.co.uk/

Buenos Aires, ArgentinaAlthough late to the graffiti game, Argentina is making up for lost time. In contrast to the United States and England, painting graffiti isn’t illegal in Argentina—yet another reason the country has become so colorful in recent years.

The country’s artists are strongly influenced by Brazilian-style graffiti, but the cultural differences between the two countries has led to colors and styles unique to Argentina. Artists often mix their own colors, using biting reds, blazing yellows, and ocean-colored blues.