Two dark figures with backpacks crossed a dimly lit road and jumped a fence that led to the freeway. The incognito duo found the perfect, high-visibility location and unloaded their gear: a gallon of paint, a roller and a slew of brightly colored spray paint cans. The two young graffiti artists commenced painting. Semi-trucks sped by. Cars honked and headlights flashed. Adrenaline-pumped hands whisked side-to-side just inches from the bland, monotonous highway wall. Aerosol paint cans clattered and clanked as a shadowy masterpiece began to take shape. After ten minutes, time seemed to lag by as the zoned-out traffic hummed in the background. Twenty minutes passed and just as soon as it began, it was over. The two street artists hurriedly slipped away leaving their graffiti art installments for morning commuters to eyeball.
Hopping the fence again they instantly noticed a slow-rolling car nearby — a chase was imminent. The undercover police car that passed them whipped around and peeled out, wheels spitting black tar towards the yellow street lights above. Both of street artists hit full sprint and used their paint-stained finger tips to scale an eight-foot wall. One of the two wasn’t quick enough as the police officer came barreling out of the police car and grabbed his paint-filled backpack midway up the wall. Determined to not get caught, the street artist slipped out of his backpack, then his coat, and started sprinting down the uneven sidewalk. Seconds later he hit the ground, hard. Face bloodied and scrapped, the Taser prongs were still pulsating inside him. Attempting to breath he tried to turn on his side. Another excruciating shock absorbed through his body. It wasn’t until two more electrocuting blasts rimmed through his vertebrae that he was told “don’t move or I’ll charge you again.”
The next three days in jail brought on a metamorphosis that culminated in the creation of the street art project that is now know as HOTTEA. “The transition between mediums came from confinement, isolation, as well as finding happiness and hope,” says HOTTEA.
HOTTEA is composed of two artists, one of which that started writing graffiti art back in 1996 under a different name. He took inspiration from Boston-based Monk and Minneapolis’ Ewok. “I liked how those artists specifically chose their locations well,” says HOTTEA, “Much of graffiti is all about placement.”
The HOTTEA project developed after a trip to jail, but it was also heavily inspired by past experiences: A grandmother teaching the skill of knitting, anti-gay bullying from kids at school, and, most importantly, the relationships that that were developed along the way — negative, or positive. HOTTEA explains, “The HOTTEA project embodies the similarities and differences in all of us. I wanted to base the project off an idea that had room for growth. We are always growing as people and the dynamic between people gives endless possibilities.”
HOTTEA’s latest work named “Socorro” was created on the top of a Seward-neighborhood highway bridge. “The meaning is to create a piece about two people with different backgrounds finding similarities and meeting halfway to form a closer bond.” HOTTEA explains. “The purpose is to create something beautiful and interesting for people to look at and experience.”
According to the New York Times, guerrilla art, or “craftivism” like the HOTTEA project “could become as potent a social movement as urban farming.” And The Guardian refers to graffiti knitting as an “epidemic” and highlights the London-based Knit the City collaboration of yarn artists.
Despite the popularity of the movement, uncomissioned street art is still deemed illegal almost everywhere in the world. Besides recent “Graffiti Zone” designated areas in Taiwan and Australia, street art still carries heavy fines and jail sentences in the United States, England and most other countries. In 1994, Michael Fay, a student living in Singapore, was even given four cane lashes, four months in jail, and a $2,233 fine for spray paint vandalism.
Craftism, guerrilla art, or yarn bombing — such as the works by HOTTEA — is also classified as vandalism despite the lack of damage to personal or public property. Fines have been handed out by police and installations ripped down. HOTTEA has had four run-ins with police, all ending in warnings. Street art blog Unurth.com founder Sebastian Buck disagrees with common perception, “[To me] yarn bombing is such an interesting thing. I wouldn’t classify it as graffiti, because to me that term infers spray paint, but I would include it under the broader umbrella of street art.”
Many artists question why law enforcement and select groups of citizens fight for a public space so bland. It’s just plain boring, many street artists agree. “At its best, street art brings a humanity to stark urban environments,” says Buck, “and yarn bombers definitely achieve that.”
In talking with mr. Isaac Arvold on Saturday evening…he directed me to the always delightful site Wooster Collective, to view the magic of Imrov Everywhere, whose mission is to create scenes of chaos and joy in public places.
again, delightful..and much better than the site Clement Shimizu sent me to on Friday, which focused heavily on meat.
Cheers,
Emma
p.s.
Improv Everywhere also has local chapters…so if creating chaos & joy tempts you visit the minneapolis/st. paul group.
things in mplsart world have been pure madness! so very busy! as if i was writing to long lost family, let me re-cap our end of summer.
i joined several talented gentlemen in nashville to see them put on a wonderful show, co-presented by mplsart & twist gallery…the final images of the wall are coming soon & a news segment (i haven’t even seen it yet, so i have no idea how small it is or what they say)….nevertheless, i was proud to be there. the artists (eric inkala, john grider, drew peterson & isaac arvold) did an amazing job. All artists are in the featured artist section of the site.
27! wow, have you seen the new city pages? 27 worked hard over the past month to complete some pieces for the annual Fall Arts Issue, and the results are perfect. Between the cover, inside images, and the profile article, we couldn’t have asked for more. There will be new 27 pieces (paintings & drawings) on the site for sale soon in the featured artist section…that will include the cover piece, which is 4ftx5ft!
we love artists but we also love collectors, as they help to keep the world go round & they choose to live with art. with that said, we have started a monthly feature, “Art on the Wall“, that is initially published on mnartists.org. Our first went out last month and our next is end of this month. with the strong support of mnartists, we hope this tickles your fancy.
Openings…the art season has begun, and though i have not been to as many as i would like, i have been out taking pictures, which will be posted soon. For all aspiring photographers looking to get your name out there, we are always looking for arts minded people to help document this art city of ours, so drop us an email, we would love to work with you!
the next big thing for mplsart is Love’s Labourers happening on Friday, sept 21st, part of MNFashion weekend. Click the link for the details on the artist/designer/dj mash-up/assembly line/sweat shop happening…since it is beyond what i can detail here. Oh, and did I mention the graphic designer, artists, designers, photographer, stylist & DJs working on this are absolutely mouth watering delicious!
& finally, from sept 27-29, is a visit from Friends with You (here, here & here)! this amazing line-up of events is not a mplsart event but rather a partnership between ROBOTlove, Soo VAC & the Walker Art Center. the 27th is an artists talk at the walker, positive energy is already building! the 28th is the opening of the exhibit at Soo VAC…word is that a members only event will proceed the evening, so become a member ($25). the 29th is a signing of merch @ ROBOTlove…so why do i list this FWY visit, because whatever Kristoffer touches turns to gold (this site a shining example) and thus it is promised to be a wonderful dream of an event!
You might think of another awesome quartet from the 80′s when you see the title Color Me Badd but the crew behind the blow-up hit “I Wanna Sex You Up” never hit Nashville the way John Grider, Isaac Arvold, Drew Peterson and Eric Inkala have this week.
And now, a little something to get you through the afternoon.
Have a great time at the opening tonight everyone! We’ll be thinking of you.
I went and saw David Choe‘s artist talk last night at the Walker. It was a bit of a rollercoaster ride…traveling through a sketch book of ideas, art, passions, loves & history. It was the life of an artist with a taste for trouble on display…telling stories of where he’s been and how he got there.
a couple of years ago I heard Ed Templeton speak and the one thing that still sticks that he said was “your ship can’t come in if you don’t send it out”. With David last night…he straight out said “his ship has come in”. and in listening to how he does everything with a devouring hunger, it had to.
While you’re waiting for spring to catch on, take some time to visit the newly revamped street art section for a reminder of what makes Minneapolis interesting in our own way.
Much of what you’ll see has been buffed long ago…we’re scouring the streets for new uploads daily.
And of course, we’re always happy to hear your feedback so let us know if you’re liking the search function, what might not be working right or anything else you see fit. We’re thrilled with the new tricks available to us (like uploading pics from our phone cameras!).
