Craig’s other list: Guerrilla graffiti brings humour to the streets
Bizarre notices have been popping up on lampposts around Melbourne.
On the surface they seem like legitimate notices you’d see on community noticeboards: items for sale, lost and found, and invitations to join groups with those who have similar interests. But once you start reading them, you realise that something is amiss. The item for sale is the lamppost the note is attached to (“Meet me at midnight. You may need a spade.”). The lost item is a sweatband. (Reward for its return? “We could go and see a movie. G or GA only.”) The found item is a free newspaper with a half-done crossword (“So you should be able to identify it”). Oh, and they are all signed off by someone named Craig.
I like graffiti. I see it as art, expression, and often, a much-needed political statement. Before blogging and the internet, it was one of the few ways for those with little power or influence to express themselves publicly. But I have to admit that I am a graffiti snob. I have preferences. And one of them is for the graffiti to have some wit about it.
Craig’s notices are full of wit. They bring humour to the streets. How often do we get a chance to stop and smile as we’re rushing through our day? A little moment of joy. A reminder that life can be ridiculous.
What I really like about Craig’s humour is that, unlike a lot of humour and pranks floating around the internet, it’s not taking the mickey out of anyone. There are no casualties. Even its form is light – an A4 sheet of paper loosely taped to a pole.
Brilliant!
Thanks to Gai for passing these on. 😉
UPDATE: Text art! It’s text art. Thanks Ev for the reminder. Oh, and I didn’t mention anything about the reclaiming of public space through art … but that will come in a later post …. in the meantime, enjoy!
UPDATE 2: If you read the comments below, you’ll realise that Craig’s notes caused a bit of a kerfuffle internationally… Read the update, Craig Fesses Up: Original Notes from Chris. Okay, now you can enjoy!!
This is a rip off – it’s the exact the same concept, typeface, and words of a project started in Brooklyn, NY several months ago. “Craig” should get a bit more imaginative and stop taking credit for other people’s work.
Thanks AP. I hadn’t heard of the NY project. I don’t know if ‘Craig’ was taking credit for other people’s work – perhaps just hacking or appropriating? Who knows… I’d be interested to hear what the NY project think of their work turning up on Australian streets.
Hi Trish, here’s a link to some of the originals:
http://web.mac.com/lambtodd/iWeb/todd%20lamb%20/Todd%20Lamb%20Notes%20From%20Chris.html
They were done by a NY comedy writer. I was just surprised to see how closely someone had copied the exact language and look of these notes. Do you know who’s behind the Australian ones?
Thanks AP. You’re right. They’re almost identical. Although I think the one from Craig with “I’ll be wearing one white thong and one brown thong so you can recognise me” has a particularly Australian twist. (Thongs in Australia are what you would probably call flip-flops (?) and they’re a cultural icon.) I’m trying to find out if there’s any connection between ‘Craig’ and ‘Chris’… or whether it’s a case of intercontinental appropriation…
I have no connection with Chris I just liked the work that he’d done and thought I’d play with the concept locally in Melbourne. I didn’t expect it to take off like it has. And no, Chris isn’t happy so I must apologise. In my defense, Chris wrote 4 notes, I have written 18 so they’re not all copies, but the original concept is all his.
Craig! You’ve finally shown up. I’ve been leaving notes all around the place for you…
Seriously thanks for clearing it up. And thanks for spreading the joy with your notes. 18 Notes! But I only have 12. Do we get to see the other six notes? Huh? Huh?
And yes, the original works by ‘Chris’ were done by Todd Lamb (the link is in AP’s comment above). Kudos to Todd for his inspired (and obviously, inspiring) work!
Nice work guys. Love it.
Thanks to subcultural guide to melbourne for getting the facts straight: http://www.threethousand.com.au/stray/todd-lamb-made-up-the-posters/