What’s “public art?”
What's "street art?"

We recently watched a movie titled, “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” a controversial documentary on street art that, according to the NY Times, may have actually been an elaborate hoax. That aside, it was a darned good story.

Street art can be synonymous with public art...or it can be worlds apart. They’re both found in an urban environment, create dialog, and can be a form of creative enhancement and renewal.

But street art is much more democratic—in a “free speech” sort of way—than public art. Anybody can do it…or paint over it. No committee approves it. No foundation funds it. Nobody censors it, at least not right away. Street art is often synonymous with graffiti and vandalism and is, in most places, illegal. It was, I have read, originally devised as a way to mark gang territory.

Public art is a form of civic pride and a statement of vitality. If there was an award for public art, the Village of Grafton would receive it. Not only do they have their own Public Arts Board (notice it's “Arts” not “Art”), the citizens of Grafton are peppering the village with visual, literary and performing arts. Public arts, not street arts. Paramount Plaza. Grafton Blues Association. Grafton Area Lives Arts (GALA). North Shore Academy of the Arts. Art Bark. The Pick ‘n Save shopping center (yes; take a look!). Rain Barrels on Parade. And now: Poetry Paths.

Taking its cue from the award-winning St. Paul, Minnesota, public art program, Poetry Paths will immortalize 10 new poems each year in stamped concrete on city sidewalks. Larger than a Tweet but diminutive nonetheless, Poetry Paths poems can only be 250 characters…including spaces. The first three poems are being installed this month: Click here for locations and more details.

Thanks to the Zaun Memorial Foundation whose funding has made the project possible and to the Village Board (President Jim Brunquell), staff (Administrator Darrell Hofland), and Public Arts Board (Chair Angelica Chalmers) of the Village of Grafton whose support of public art has put Grafton on the arts map.