Arts
Snow Art Declares: Honesty is the Best Poetry
blogTO reader @casiestewart spotted this snow art poetry (or "snoetry"?) this morning, near the foot of Spadina. "The most beautiful thing to wake up to!" she Tweets. Now if only we could figure out who to thank for this cute morning surprise... is it the snoetry of @greg_a_elliott?
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Greg
P.S. Yes, I do understand that there are some people who would proudly admit that a 100 foot tall penis is very "tasteful" to them.
So was Casie referring to the giant dick as the "The most beautiful thing to wake up to!" or the photoshopped image? And if she's talking about the image.. then why say its the near the foot of spadina? Isn't honesty the best poetry and not lies?
I don't think myself or huh? were wrong to assume it meant some kind of photoshopping
Maybe FU was a nickname for someone and it was a love letter.
Awww wouldn't that be sweet.
FU could have been "For U" and its a guy showing his girlfriend his passion for her.
That's true love
No. FU meant FU. There were other angry/offense/hate markings nearby. I revised the "message" out of respect/concern for the intended recipient, and to make other people smile... and so kids looking out their windows don't have to see a giant penis.
And to comment on Lesli's "hostile" comment above... I'm not just a militant conservative, but also a militant NDP and Green Party supporter- ANYTHING EXCEPT LIBERAL. How's Ignatieff working out? Are the Liberals going to crown another loser leader anytime soon, or is their current six foot tall penis to their liking? Oh, and Lesli, if you are jealous of Casie Stewart's joy for life, why not try it sometime... vote Conservative maybe. :-)
Have a great day. Go out and create some snoetry. Be nice.
The result is much more pleasant than the oversized penis!
Thanks Greg! :)
Maybe you should write a poem about your anger.
Here's one...
"Nice people suck when they're being mean."
And neighbour (above), so glad that you understand why the penis was best edited. Cheers.
Again, have a great day. Go out and create some snoetry. Be nice.
They sell (or used to) sell t-shirts with the same cool slogan : )
jonathan@blogTO
RE: They sell (or used to) sell t-shirts with the same cool slogan : )
No. "Honesty is the best poetry." IS my downtown TO graffiti tag/poem for 9 or 10 years now. I heard K-os quote me on The Hour a year ago, but he didn't credit me... not the best catch phrase to rip-off, is it?
I created and gave Funktion Gallery those t-shirts with all proceeds going to supporting their new gallery. Maybe you should tell Jose at Funktion that I should make them some more?
Greg
Re: why is this considered poetry?
For the same reason haikus are considered a form of poetry. I've been adjusting common phrases into a short form of "street poetry" for a few decades now. My first was positioned outside one of Toronto's first graffiti show, it read: "Defy the laws of Graffiti" and was signed with my full name, thus "defying the laws of graffiti" and doing what graffiti artists had never done- taking full responsibility for my graffiti. I just ended up signing my full name on all of my graffiti since then.
Snoetry is a great form of expression as it is temporary and environmentally responsible... and if it isn't a hundred foot tall angry penis, it makes people smile. It is also more fun than going to the gym for exercise. Do check out the full explanation at my one-page web site... www.snoetry.org
Greg
P.S. I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as an orange. --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/34596722@N05/3300869257
Generally, if you're just some anonymous coward who spraypaints his little catchphrase on things belonging to other people without their permission, you don't get a shout out credit in the liner notes.
RE: The world needs a whole lot more nice, and a whole lot less mean.
And you just made MY day, too. Thanks.
P.S. I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as an orange. --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/34596722@N05/3300869257
--------
Hey Gregory - did you get permission to spray paint your hack line on that wall?
Re: did you get permission to spray paint your hack line on that wall?
No. But I left my REAL name, not like the other artists... Oh yeah, why don't you use YOUR real name online? It's okay if you are afraid to answer honestly.
Now, I'm not suggesting that every poem need be so structured, but you said that your poetry is poetry "like haiku is poetry" while the only similarity seems to be that both are brief.
Your "snoetry" and graffiti is art, but I'm still not convinced it's poetry anymore than the snow dick was poetry.
That'll come in handy when property owners come after you to pay for repairs to their property.
But then, of course, just like every other obnoxious tagger, you'll deny having done it.
Let us know when you want to join us adults at the big table.
It's always enlightening the hear an 'anyone but' type of activist rant. Lost of spittle flying everywhere with nary a new idea to be found.
Keep on keepin' on, I suppose.
So, are you a poet or just a poetry critic? I'll guess critic. Poetry is in the ear of the beholder.
Greg
muh?,
Yes muh... you figured it out. I take full responsibility for my graffiti. Oh, and I'm not interested in any table you and your adult friends would be sitting at... Why not ask Not poetry to join your "crowd".
Greg
GAE doesn't like the imposition of a dick on the public by the dick drawer so he redraws his own imposition on the public and claims it's better because it's charming or something.
At the same time, for the past "9 or 10 years", GAE has spread lots of his awful one line word train wrecks in permanent paint on other people's stuff. Talk about an obnoxious imposition.
But back to poetry... I think it would be correct to say that *good* (or conversely *bad*) poetry is in the ear of the beholder, but this can't mean that poetry itself is in the ear of the beholder. Poetry is something, not anything. Is my sidewalk poetry? Is a Peak Frean cookie poetry? Is the smell of cow dung poetry? By your logic, as long as someone said these things are poetry, they are poetry.
Finally, I note that more than half of your 'poem' is actually a drawing. How is that like haiku?
And im pretty sure those are stink lines coming from its bum hole.
Warm weather cant come fast enough to wash this stink away.
Like this steaming pile is.
Seriously, my caustic friends, if you can say something IS poetry/art then you can also say it ISN'T... and the reverse is also true. But who really cares? Take what you want from it, or ignore it... more than a few people were glad to get the original image out of their view... if you don't overlook the current image, why should you care? Think about that... you are offering nothing except your negativity... I can get that from any angry drunk on the street.
You have proven by your comments, that when I create art/poetry/doodle it makes you crawl out of your holes barking like wild dogs... and I thank you for that too.
Thanks for the discussion. Peace.
Self righteous crap.
Self righteous drivel.
"I sat down to write / an original haiku / but obeyed the rules. " ~Gregory Alan Elliott
GAE u put a smile on my face this morning and i thank u for that!
theres always gonna be haters so f*** em! :)
Moving on Toronto...
Love,
Sharon
Sorry Forst et al ... Big douchebag-nacissistic-asshats NEVER go away when you tell them to...
SNOETRY RULES!
Thanks Gregory Alan Elliott, I appreciate your snoetry.
Your need for acceptance by others is a pity.
Re: Your need for acceptance by others is a pity.
DB, look in a mirror... your need to destroy other's happiness is pathological. Keep voting for the Liberal Party of Canada.
Brilliant.
Com'on people, I'm no art snob but it was a decent thing to do. Why the hate?
Its shamless promotion by an egotistical, self absorbed "artist".
Drop the middle name garbage too.
Not quite sure how anyones political views have anything to do with someone thinking some snow drawing is pointless?
This is getting ridiculous. You did a decent thing with the penis, coulda gotten away with letting the hate slide but you need to stop embarrassing yourself with the self-righteousness and textbook Faux News conservatism.
But as you can see here, if someone does something outside the norm we do what any good totalitarian regime would do: we beat them back into submission.
He could have gone and done this "art poetry" thing and been anonymous. But his narcissistic ways and constant preaching have left a bitter taste with people.
1) Gregory Alan Elliott: DB, my middle name is very necessary as there is an artist/designer in nearby London, Ontario named Greg Elliott... he did Playboar and Pethouse spoof magazines. Don't need the confusion, or the related emails/calls.
2) Political Views: BD, your negative/critcal/judgmental response to EVERYTHING reminds me of how Liberal Party supporters have been spinning/acting since they lost the last election to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. You'd love the Liberals.
3) Keep it coming DB... you amuse me. Or even better, just go write "Gregory Alan Elliott is a jerk!" in the snow somewhere tonight... really big. That MAY make you feel better., no?
Peace.
Which, clearly you are not. When snow scribbling and political grandstanding is all you offer.
You are writing like Liberal Party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff speaks.
Me? I like my artsy fartsy types to be foaming at the mouth, it frees them from our social constructs.
Love,
Greg
P.S. Liberals suck. ;-)
No Frank, your INITIALS are "F.U."; and your NAME is Frank Upman.
Love,
Greg
P.S. If you guys keep putting your verbal penises all over this thread, I'll keep making happy cartoons out of them.