Art, public spaces, and private property along the streets of New Orleans

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
This article investigates how and why a street art controversy that emerged in post-Katrina New Orleans was transformed from a dispute over property transgressions to a broader struggle over the meanings of art amidst the city’s devastated condition. The controversy began when a street art ini-tiative by the New Orleans artist Rex Dingler invoked a backlash of anti-graffiti activism. In re-sponse, local artists began painting on the walls. When the locals were joined by artists from differ-ent cities, the discussion intensified about the merits of street art as well as commentary on and re-flection of a city facing systemic decline and property abandonment. Street artists, anti-graffiti ac-tivists, and property owners negotiated local private property by placing, removing and retaining graffiti, and both locals and those with no New Orleans attachments had influence. The controversy illustrates how private property functions as a public institution in addition to a system of private ownership.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Urban geography, issn : 0272-3638, 2014, vol. 35, n°. 7, p. 965-979, nombre de pages : 15, Références bibliographiques : 3 p.

Date :
2014

Editeur :
Pays édition : Etats-Unis, Silver Spring, MD, Winston