Sign of the Times turns street signs into canvases
Before you start complaining know that no in-use street signs were vandalized in the making of this show
- Courtesy Madclout
- Artist WEB1 repurposes a handicapped parking sign into a canvas.
Street signs in cities like Atlanta often become canvases for the street artists around the city, displaying the most current artwork before it is painted over, buffed off or scraped away. Signs are ideal for displaying artwork, the combination of a smooth surface, in a visible location with stark colors and shape make them a natural eye-catching medium to work on.
MadClout, the production team behind the Steel Wheels Railroad Art Show, is presenting a new art show that features artwork on signs with contributions from local and national artists, including Sam Parker, Dr. Daks, SEVER, Michi, Keet D'Arms, and more. Mendez, one of the show's curators and organizers, discusses the upcoming show.
Where did the idea for this show come from? Was there any particular moment when you realized this was an interesting topic to explore for an art show?
The idea for The Sign of the Times show came when a dear friend and partner who goes by the name OILER passed. We did a tribute show honoring him and his work. A lot of the work submitted came in on street signs. OILER was a prolific writer/artist, who was well known for his handsome handwriting. While putting together the show, we noticed how natural art/writings looked on signage, not to mention authentically street, and the idea was born.
What is the significance of creating art on street signs? What about them makes them better than a traditional canvas?
Art on street signs goes hand-in-hand with aerosol art. It was created by inner-city youth who used their environment as their canvas. So, street signs and transit systems were some of the first canvases of the now global street srt movement.
Which artist's work in this show are you most excited about and why?
Having artists like WEB1 of TC-5, along with some of the other artists in the show, is so exciting because they have been involved with aerosol-art/graffiti for over 25 years, some of these artists have been extremely integral to the overall art movement. WEB1 is known world-wide as a style master.