Diary of a Mad Art Teacher... and photographer...: Looking in and about the towns of Italy--

Graffiti? Street Art? Paintings? All three perhaps

There is so much to see that is not in an official museum or park in Italy- from the graffiti to the wrought iron street lamps, to unexpected statues and fountains... there are pictures just everywhere. I caught a lot of these snapshots on my phone, as it was either when I was in the bus, or it popped up unexpectedly and I didn't have my camera out or what have you. Of course, some of it was recorded with high numbers of pixels from a dandy camera, but this is definitely going to be a mashup of the two. And though I proclaimed this post as not in museums, I am done with organized thought patterns... I've had enough of that. LOL So peruse at your own risk- the artist brain has finally won over the logic.

Mosaic in Ostia Antica

A few of these photos have probably been on this blog before, but most have not. I felt like I had a bunch of pictures that really didn't fit into any of the posts- and actually there are a lot more. It's hard to whittle down when there are so many.

Part of a statue in Venice- the winged Lion with Venus

A plaster cast of one of the remains in Pompeii

The graffiti tunnel in Florence

I found so many cool things that were an accident- from wandering around, or looking up and over, or just turning around. I'm always looking where I maybe shouldn't be- I get distracted. But it leads to the best things.

Bust of the artist Bernini

From the amazing lights that hang from the buildings to the incredible umbrella pines of the south of Italy to the columns and friezes and bits and pieces of buildings and statues, Italy has a lot to look at.

Really cool light fixture! In Roma

Ostia Antica

Pompeii- I think the baths

Mosaics in Pompeii

I loved how after looking at the remnants of the ancient buildings, a few hours later you would run across the modern examples of street art- of both legal and illicit nature.

An art work in a window in Venice

I think this was in Rome- a figure carved in a stump

Available and hidden: The ancient art that was valued and portable was available for transport- stolen and collected. Protected and placed in official churches and later museums and private collections.... kept whole and intact.

Ancient Painting in Pompeii

And of course the amazing column artifacts

Many ancient buildings were either destroyed, fell into decay from neglect, were covered by volcano lava (thank you Vesuvius) and were then hidden.... either whole or in pieces, to be later discovered, uncovered and recovered.... sometimes to be reconstructed, usually on display in some way.

Winged Lion with the Goddess Venus in Venice

Venetian Masks

The juxtaposition of the old and the new- old relics, and the manmade for tourist traffic. Reconstructed ruins and ephemeral chalk work on the sidewalk...... things that you pay to see and things that you can pay to take home.

Blogger did some odd things and I don't feel like fixing it- the pic directly above here is a light fixture in Rome, and the pic above this one are some artifacts at the Vatican

Again - a sculpture up above that is was in the Vatican, and the street art directly above is from the underground tunnel in Florence.

In the same way, modern art we see can be made in ways that are always for display but can be made in both overt and covert ways. Art that can be made to be sold to the passersby, sometimes literally made on the street and sometimes sold from the street or created under cover of darkness to be seen with an element of surprise or defiance. Street art can have pure artistic intent or convey ownership- ownership of a territory by the mark of a swish of paint. To defy people to spray over, daring them into a painted argument.

Artifacts from Pompeii

Street art in a pure form- sold on the street of street scenes

Vessels in Pompeii

Paintings left on the walls from ancient times- I can't remember which one, though. perhaps Assisi??

Side walk art

A lovely carousel--- I think in Florence

Art from the Uffizi

Detail from one of the arches in the Roman forum

Part of a fountain- I LOVE these faces. Venice

The street art of political bent, of pure artistic expression, of decoration- all variations of people expressing their modern ideas amongst a very old old culture. If I had to choose something that was my favorite thing about Italy, it would have to be this. The old and the new, the hidden under cover of darkness artists that make prevalent and pervasive statements that are more permanent than those who work legally in the symbolic light of day.