blobs, burbs and bureaucracy

I always have had an interest in law and policy in relation to the creative arts. In the last two years the debate surrounding taking photos of graffiti and using it as ones own 'creative photography' (you know the type, featured in black and white, sometimes a weirdly dressed friend standing in the background... essentially the proliferation of all things 'urban) has shown either considerable adjustment or at least an address needs to be made to the law in this current context. Otherwise it will continue that some kid may be getting considerable notice for a photo that features work by another artist, which is fine as long as it is acknowledged... but you can bet this doesn't tend to happen. Especially because there is the legal issue that graffiti is legally still considered defacement of property... For more on this, a great article, while international; highlights the key issues.

www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/nyregion/04citywide.htmlex=1338609600&en=40a14194a7027634&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Taken at breakfast; 20th October, 2009; Northcote

Probably because I'm not good at creating any type of art, I try to become attentive to the background of it all so at least I have something of interest to say when I'm hanging out with my much more inspired friends. So it was with great caution that I took a photograph of the mark 'The Blob' had left on a wall in Northcote today. Instead I was rather happy to just get a shot of his tag; as far as I'm concerned, you aren't in it for the intrinsically hip image credibility when you yourself are content with leaving an image of... a blob. God I wish I had that kind of confidence. Confidence to be good enough at a tag or an artwork I can leave it on the wall of somewhere it will be seen and secondly the confidence to call myself a blog and not really care.