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We’re excited to let you know that the opening reception for “A
CELEBRATION OF STREET ART: The Photography of Marc Schiller” has been set for
September 6th, 2003 at Halcyon in Brooklyn.  It should be an amazing night with
lots of artists who we’ve featured on the Wooster site attending.  If you can
come out for it, let us
know.  Over the next few weeks, we’ll let you know more about the show, but
this morning we thought we’d share with you Marc’s artist statement. Thanks goes
out to our friends at 55dsl, href="http://www.samadams.com">Sam Adams, href="http://www.vaporsmagazine.com">Vapors Magazine, href="http://www.designiskinky.com">Design Is Kinky, and href="http://www.electricartists.com">ElectricArtists.

/>ARTIST STATEMENT:

Street art is by its very
nature, ephemeral. The art is not meant to be permanent.  The work may survive
the elements for three hours, three days, or three years.  Once placed on the
street, the artist gives up all control.

It is what happens during
this lifespan that interests me as a photographer. The elements of the city—
the sun, rain, snow, and wind - begin to alter and transform the art.  Over
time, new textures emerge. As colors begin to fade, new colors and markings
begin to appear.  The artwork takes on a new life.  The work begins to emerge as
a true collaboration between the artist and the city itself.

/>Ironically, it’s the attempt to remove the piece of art from its surroundings
—often a lamppost, a wall, or a storefront door - that creates the most
interesting new forms and textures. Over time layers begin to develop, as new
flyers and stickers start to accumulate, one on top of the other. As the art
becomes torn, fragments and pieces are left behind such that it begins to tell a
new story.  Separate pieces become merged and fused together. For example,
advertisements become stripped of their marketing messages, and are left with
sometimes beautiful and compelling imagery. The distinction between art that is
intentional, and art that is created by weather, begins to blur. If the Medium
is the Message (Marshall McLuhan), then we are truly witnessing an ever changing
artistic dialogue.

There’s a life and energy to street art that I am
attempting to capture in these photographs. For me, documenting the diversity of
street art has allowed me to become more aware of my surroundings. The city has
emerged as one large, vibrant, and ever changing outdoor gallery.

/>Marc Schiller, New York City

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