You may know how competitive the casino industry is in Las Vegas.  One of the areas of competition is the art the casino has.  I think maybe the Bellagio set the bar with it’s amazing gallery of fine art that includes Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh and many others.  The Cosmopolitan chose a different tact that includes various art forms that include … you guessed it … Graffiti as art!

From the Las Vegas Review Journal:

Entering through the parking garage? Impossible to miss “Wallworks,” a quartet of murals by contemporary artists Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf, Shinique Smith and Retna. No, it’s not graffiti. It’s art. Or to be precise — graffiti art.

“It draws on two practices of public art,” Remen says about the murals that utilize materials ranging from spray paint to wheat paste. “The public mural has been around for ages, and then its renegade sibling, graffiti. It’s a creative exchange with the artist.” Funky in the graffiti style, the murals also engage socio-political ideas and their underground placement is entirely appropriate.

“It’s a garage, there are fumes, it’s off the street,” Remen says. “You have to stay within the environment. It makes you feel attached to the location.”

Graffiti Hits Big Time In Vegas (Baby)! is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog

I’ll be honest, my first impression was that the work was blatant advertising without much g-art value.  Particularly  if you grab some serious artists, I wanna see them and their creativity set free.  Secondly, this piece doesn’t look like graffiti art when you would see it in Times Square (particularly when you could see the real deal in the same neighborhood).  So, my initial reaction was not very excited.

However, my second thought was … something along the lines of … Hell Yeah and  Thank you D-Donuts!!!  Here’s why.

1.  D-Donuts would put up an advertisement in Times Square whether it was this piece or not.  This time, they let real g-artists work on their ad.  Period.  They could go to any of the thousands of design studios in the city instead of street artists.  But they didn’t.  I have to believe the corporate money is flowing to g-artists this time.  Anytime corporations recognize the art that is a critical to the culture of the city (NYC), and want to support it financially, I am a fan.  A Big fan.

2.  D-Donuts is NOT trying to play up some sort of “street cred” they get by using graff artists … as far as I can tell.   It’s coffee … in a painting made by some serious artists.  Nothing more.

3.  Most importantly … see number 1.

Graffiti artists are true artists that convey true complexity, depth, and unique character that is comparable to many artists that are in museums today.  I love to see corporations recognize this truth and support those artists.

Peace.

Dunkin’ Donuts Graffiti? Times Square – Good or Bad? is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog

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Big Props To Montana Colors is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog

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This is the way to get some attention online and offline.  If your company is interested in following the lead being set by Audi, feel free to get in touch with me.  I work with some artists to address the corporate market.  Graffiti art is a highly effective way to target specific demographics.  Dig the ad below.

Audi Uses Graffiti Art In Ad Campaign For New Car is a post from: Graffiti News & Blog