I found a very interesting project that ties into the
graffiti documentary that we watched last Thursday in class. The Wynwood Walls
project is a graffiti and street art initiative intended to revamp the
warehouse district of Wynwood in Miami, Florida. Since its inception in 2009,
over 50 street artists from 16 countries have rendered their work on warehouse
buildings located in Wynwood. The project is part of the Miami Art Basel that
showcases the world’s premier modern and contemporary works each year. The artwork
created in Wynwood has been featured in the New York Times, BBC News, Vanity
Fair, and Forbes.
It is interesting to note that the project developed in a
neighborhood that was in drastic need of revitalization. Before the Wynwood
Walls project was initiated, the area was nothing more than abandoned
warehouses left to decay. Would this project have had the same results if the
area were home to many thriving businesses?
Here is a link to the website:
http://thewynwoodwalls.com/
I've heard of the Wynwood Walls project and the art is just incredible. The whole idea was to revamp or "makeover" a part of town that was in decay. When it comes to to an area where many thriving businesses are, i don't think it would work and that is unfortunate. Typically, areas with thriving businesses are areas that aren't full of graffiti. Most people associate graffiti with an area that is rundown or "ghetto", a place that isn't home to thriving businesses. It could work in say a artsy district or something like that but just for a typical area with businesses, "making over" that walls would not work, but who knows, it could.
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