Phone Booths and SuperHeros

Is the Phone Booth, once a necessity, becoming another Urban Relic? We think so! And the challenge will be in finding these structural dinosaurs before they completely vanish.

In the nick of time we located one in Napa, CA. An inanimate Urban Superhero helped to transform this urban relic into a witty piece of street art.

Scenes available at www.UrbanArtRelics.com ; check out Street Art.

Let us know about your sightings of Urban Relics.

Janet & Ann & cohort Suzanne

Honoring eARTh Day

Part of the fun and challenge associated with creating public art / street art is witnessing the reactions from passing people.

With mild disinterest, heads bobbing to i-pod tunes , most people walk by. A few twitch their heads to catch a second look, as something 'odd' catches their eye.

We've noticed that the audience that spends a few extra moments looking at the art is the captive audience, those that stroll along on the Internet hi-way and bump into the website and linger to explore.

Perhaps the art of interacting with people in real time is also becoming a relic. Interesting.

From WebProNews.com: 4/14/2009 What Separates a Blogger from a Journalist ?
Bloggers As Local News Sources By Chris Crum

"The New York Times is running an article looking at "hyperlocal" web sites as replacements to traditional newspapers. The catalyst for the concept is obviously the fact that some newspapers have been dying off, at least in print form. "

Ahhh, nothing like some actual validation to the notion that newspaper racks are becoming the dinosaurs of the 2000's ....

What Are Urban Relics?

Answer: Objects that have lost their functionality in the 21st Century.

The "things" that define our society quickly become relics when we enter a new age. Jumping from the 20th into the 21st Century immediately sealed the fate for many objects that were considered essential, but are now being replaced or abandoned.

Newspaper stands are empty as daily newspapers are quickly going bankrupt. Weekly rags for singles, auto sales, real estate listings, and more are vanishing as readers utilize the Internet as their source of information.

Public telephone booths have been stripped bare as miniature cell phones replace the cumbersome rotary telephones. (Superman wouldn't have survived in the 21st century~ no place to change!)

The list goes on ... reference books, brooms, ... what else comes to mind?

Two northern California artists are locating these Urban Relics and are artfully "altaring" them, giving them new life and beauty. It's a new adventure. Our goals are to have fun (responsibly); leave behind some public art; and possibly create a global network of other artists who share in the joy of artfully 'altar'd' Urban Relics.

Janet Manalo and Ann Jacobs
http://www.urbanartrelics.com/