I am continuing my meanderings about Jacksonville while I trick myself into exercising on a regular basis. Come join me!
Keith Haring’s Ghost…
A while back, in the more trendier areas of our neighborhood, a mystery was unfolding. As we would walk or drive through streets where restaurants and shops could be found, we began to notice art appearing. Art on windows. Art on utility boxes. Art on store fronts. Art on buildings. Graffiti art…of a particular and familiar style. It turned out that this art was being painted by “‘Keith Haring’s Ghost”, an alias coined by the artist, or a pseudonym made recognizable by the media. Keith Haring was a street artist in New York City circa 1980 or so. His bold strokes and bright colors of amorphous figures quickly became associated with social activism. Keith Haring died in 1990.
The street artist completing these interesting works was doing so in the style of Keith Haring, and was adding his own social activist voice to local and regional stories. The problem was not the art. Many in the area felt his art added to the community, not lessened it. The problem was that the artist was not sanctioned by the city, and his canvas was often city-owned utility boxes. He was eventually arrested and the art removed. I wished that I had taken pictures prior to the removal of the artwork.
Chip Southworth, the artist known as Keith Haring’s Ghost
However, I had noticed art on a storefront window in San Marco that I was sure was from this same artist. But this work was in tribute to another artist, the late Paul Figura, a noted photographer. I found the work to be beautiful and haunting. I was glad to see the work of the ghost again.
Here are links to a couple of articles about the artist – Chip Southworth…
Sheriff’s Office unmasks Keith Haring’s Ghost;
Who’s Afraid of Keith Haring’s Ghost
and one link to an article about Paul Figura…Photographer Paul Figura
A Walk Through The San Marco District…
Sign art and street sculpture in San Marco…
A New And Improved Southbank River Walk…
After 18 months of construction with the associated booms, bangs, crane creaks, backup beeps, and workman chatter…the Southbank River Walk has reopened. Ahhhhhh…I call this structural and functional art.
But they are not quite done yet…
We found art emerging under the Main Street Bridge along the River Walk. This is work by Roux Art, commissioned by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, Art in Public Places Program.
Work on the project should run through April.
Art in Five Points…
A walk through Five Points in Riverside…love, love this mosaic!
What a joy to walk when art surrounds you…and some great bars to stop in for a cocktail…just sayin’!
School Days…
Found art in front of the school board building…
Grand Mimi Photo Art…
Making my own art while spending magic moments walking with my grands.
I continue to enjoy my walks looking for public art. Are you discovering anything similar? Tweet your own special finds to anencorelife@mimi_holman.
Check out other posts in my Art of the Walk Series: