The creative touchstone of the places I have lived is street art. The bottom picture is a commission mural by Kiptoe done in 2021 in the Fulton Market area of Chicago. The mural has importance to me as I watch the artist on YouTube and his style of art has a distinct color palette and the meaning of his artwork is usually based on what the viewer interprets, however it sometimes has elements tied to the building it is on (advertisement). The top two pieces are from the Alston area near where I live right now in Boston. Street art can have negative implications tied to is as vandalism or abandoned buildings and crime. In my opinion street art is a way for the artist to express their style and feelings (or to advertise) and for the viewer to interpret that artwork in different ways.
What I have learned about myself is that whether I’m walking to class, shopping, or exploring a new neighborhood street art gives a moment of pause and admiration in an area. It adds color and interest in cities and towns that may have all the buildings built using the same materials or similar dull materials. As future architects we sometimes see street art as a problem but it can be as a way to add color, interest, creativity, and community involvement in parallel with our creative design.