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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It looks like the same design as the minto king west advertising
http://twitter.com/greg_a_elliott
Yes. I did that. I was at Casie's place last night. I looked out the window and saw that some angry/bitter yahoo had stomped a 100 foot tall ejaculating penis in the snow with "FU" underneath it. So I edited the image into something more "tasteful"... ( See a one page web site explanation about "snoetry" at www.snoetry.org - this is just a concept page done years ago. )
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 is this photoshop or you went outside with a shovel and revised the pee pee?
Hold on, so this image was originally a giant dick instead of the jumping heart figure with happy crotch?
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?
The image isn't photoshopped. I can see it from my balcony too and i live at 4K Spadina. So I'm not sure what you're talking about...
Casie stewart the girl that monitors MTV's twitter account is blowing the most conservative militant tweeter in the city? was she drunk? again?
the reason i thought it was photoshopped was because greg said "So I edited the image"...
I don't think myself or huh? were wrong to assume it meant some kind of photoshopping
Should have taken a shot of the penis for a before/after.
Maybe FU was a nickname for someone and it was a love letter.
Awww wouldn't that be sweet.
haha true
FU could have been "For U" and its a guy showing his girlfriend his passion for her.
That's true love
No photoshop, just a shovel.
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.
We watched him from Queens Quay draw it with a shovel around 2:30am.
The result is much more pleasant than the oversized penis!
Thanks Greg! :)
I see our little bit of gentle frivolity has eluded you.
Maybe you should write a poem about your anger.
No Huh?... I love your little bit of gentle frivolity... but.. maybe I'll write a poem about Lesli's 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.
If I am not mistaken, this the work of the folks at the Funktion gallery (of ANSER face notoriety...)
They sell (or used to) sell t-shirts with the same cool slogan : )
jonathan@blogTO
Pretty cool, congrats to Greg for his creative civic-mindedness - but why is this considered poetry?
Hey Jonathan,
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
Awesome, particularly covering up a giant penis & some hate messages. Kudos! Really well-drawn letters too, mine would have been effed right up :)
Hey Not Poetry,
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
You've made my day, Greg. Thanks for that! The world needs a whole lot more nice, and a whole lot less mean.
"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?"
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.
Hey zukeeper,
RE: The world needs a whole lot more nice, and a whole lot less mean.
And you just made MY day, too. Thanks.
Please also check out www.theiloveyoublog.com as Sharon has been documenting "love" graffiti for years now... I couldn't find the link, but she has also just started a worldwide site.
Gregory Alan Elliott on February 24, 2010 at 1:06 PM
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?
Hey duh?..
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.
Typically, poetry has a form and rules which govern the form and even the substance. Haiku is a good example of this: a traditional haiku has 17 mora in three metrical phrases of 5, 7, and 5, there is typically a seasonal reference, and a kireji which helps juxtapose the relationship between two parts. There are other elements of structure and history as well.
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.
Didn't ask for permission but left your real name.
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.
Is it me or is the fact that this GAE covered up a giant penis with a nice picture is analogous to what he is - a dick, hiding behind niceties.
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.
Not poetry,
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
Exactly.
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 THIS snow is doubtlessly melted now, and THIS snow is what is at issue. So you and GAE don't see eye to eye -- now let it go. We're aesthetically imposed upon by everyone, all the time, everywhere, legal or not. It's part of living among other people, and unless the letter-of-the-lawness is what you're objecting to here, it's sort of inevitable.
I don't think who I am is relevant, but suffice to say I'm just a person. I liked what you did, don't get me wrong, I just think it's incorrect to call it poetic... unless perhaps you're referring to the fact that an angry guy who made an angry, ugly thing started a chain of events which led to the creation of something not angry or ugly. It would also be poetic if the person who made the the thing which is not angry or ugly became angry (and thereby ugly) in defending his not angry or ugly thing on blogTO.
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?
brilliant.
As long as we're getting needlessly worked up over silly things, what kind of stupid-ass address is "4K Spadina"? 4K?? Grrr, it just makes me so mad!
Poetry, not poetry...either way it still sucks.
And im pretty sure those are stink lines coming from its bum hole.
Warm weather cant come fast enough to wash this stink away.
You guys really will crap all over anything you possibly can, won'tcha.
When its warranted.
Like this steaming pile is.
RE: By your logic, as long as someone said these things are poetry, they are poetry.
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.
Blah, blah, blah.
Self righteous crap.
Blah, blah, blah.
Self righteous drivel.
RE: Not poetry on February 24, 2010 at 2:13 PM "Poetry has rules..."
"I sat down to write / an original haiku / but obeyed the rules. " ~Gregory Alan Elliott
You are a big douche/a narcissistic asshat/please go away now
lol what a bunch of douchebags!
GAE u put a smile on my face this morning and i thank u for that!
theres always gonna be haters so f*** em! :)
Already getting more press and comments than is deserved.
Moving on Toronto...
Just trolls...they come out when nice things happen. It's their job and everyone knows it. Trolls: what you say means nothing (you are so meaningless that you don't have names). You have no power. Can't hurt anyone.
Love,
Sharon
RE: Forst "You are a big douche/a narcissistic asshat/please go away now."
Sorry Forst et al ... Big douchebag-nacissistic-asshats NEVER go away when you tell them to...
SNOETRY RULES!
I can't believe all the hate.
Thanks Gregory Alan Elliott, I appreciate your snoetry.
Thanks Robert, that's all I was looking for... generating good feelings in other people. It would be nice if schools handed out shovels at recess... kids could use the exercise-- and the creative outlet.
We saw the heart before we went to bed, and were so happy to wake up with the kids and see your tagline... Great way to start the day. Honesty IS the best poetry...Great job!
I think it's nice! Please do more Greg!
"that's all I was looking for".
Your need for acceptance by others is a pity.
Cute Snowfiti Gregory Alan Elliott. Continue to bring visual positivism :)))
Hey DB,
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.
Someone just said that they thought it would be a great message for Tiger Woods... with the "head heart" being bigger than the tiny "groin heart". And, the "Honesty is the best poetry." would have helped Tiger Woods save a lot of grief (and money, and sponsors) too.
Brilliant.
From "generating good feelings" to "need for acceptance"? You're reaching..
Com'on people, I'm no art snob but it was a decent thing to do. Why the hate?
Happiness?
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?
How the F are you associating negative behaviours with political views? Let alone Liberal ones.
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.
Welcome to Toronto, where no good deed goes unpunished. GAE gets all the props and kudos for doing something that 99% of the haters on here don't have the cahones to do: beautify our city. That's art. Eliciting a passionate response out of the slumbering masses? That's poetry.
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.
Its his need to have his ego fed and his assinine thinking that policital views have anything to do with it are what has agitated the "slumbering masses".
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.
I'll humour you DB with a response...
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.
Writing anything about you would qualify you as important.
Which, clearly you are not. When snow scribbling and political grandstanding is all you offer.
RE: Writing anything about you would qualify you as important.
You are writing like Liberal Party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff speaks.
Wow... I thoguth this was really cute but after reading all the whining about plagerism, using real names, penises, blah blah blah, I don't think it's cute anymore. I like snowetry better when it's anonymous and you can imagine the person is happy and nice and doing a random act of kindness in the city. I don't like the liberal party either but I thought this was just going to be about snowetry... Your crabby comments ruined it for me Gregory!
When you find a human free of rants, narcissism and ego, let me know.
Me? I like my artsy fartsy types to be foaming at the mouth, it frees them from our social constructs.
WTF, I can't believe you ruined my giant snow rocket ship!!! My initials are Frank Upman, you friggin' jerk. Your vandalism is not wanted in this city, and neither is your self-important attitude. Stop vandalizing our city with your idiotic one-liners.
You guys all suck sooooooo damn much.
lol
Second the LOL! I for one would have liked to have seen your giant snow rocket ship!!
Oh... I am so sorry Frank Upman. I had no idea it was your rocket ship... so, the other nasty misogynistic messages nearby were yours too? C'mon everyone posting here, I enjoy your warped sense of humour, but my heart WAS in the right place when I did this stuff. So try to say something nice.
Love,
Greg
P.S. Liberals suck. ;-)
Re: My initials are Frank Upman, you friggin' jerk.
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.
haha! Nice comments. Posted the before 'penis pic' http://bit.ly/dcJTvo Can you believe the Toronto Star came to my house for a pic the next day. Had no idea this would get so much attention. Pretty funny...snowed again and it's gone. What will I wake up to next?
I work at the construction site just north of that, gotta say me and all my co workers found the penis to be pretty funny.
not to say the new art wasnt good, just the penis was funny, but if i lived there or had kids there this is much better.