More representative Barcelona

So, there is indeed more in Barcelona than just plants and Markets... those where just some of my immediate excitedments that I wanted to share. There are also:

Beaches- This beach is just a bit north of Barcelona and just beautiful. On this particular day we did a bit of social comentary/ protest throught the medium of sand castles. Spain still has two colonies in Northern Africa- Ceuta and Melilla. These enclaves are surrounded by giant fences, some of the most heavily patrolled borders in the world. So our sand castle/ fortress is labled as Ceuta in the center, and in front written in the sand is welcome capital, persons without money prohibited.







claro scuro:



.
Claro Scuro, http://www.graffiti.org/claroscuro/index.html an amazing urban art duo that is currently working out of Barcelona elaborated on some of the frustrations they are experiencing in the city as of recent.
Laura: How do you pick placement

Claroscuro: Shh wherever the fuck we can right now because it become such a war with the police right now that we can`t, you know its like such you have to really tiptoe around the city in order to do anything, its really sick. Like 2 years ago the city was like conquerable you know anyone could have been king you know what I’m saying, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Like they could have been as fucking known as they wanted to be, but now its like you, you go out with the purest of ambitions you know and the militia is coming to get you, no doubt and they’re really fucking serious especially with extranjeros, with foreigners because they know that we have money, because we’re living in a different country they assume that we have money, they’re really, they’re really fuckers, the police here they’re really fuckers

Laura: So one of the things I was going to ask you is why the two of you chose
Barcelona to work and how is Barcelona different than other places you’ve been... but at the moment it seems like pretty down.

Claroscuro: Ya , ya, ya really, its really down it’s really depressing…I’ve never been in such a low point of street art in my life like you know come to a place to get so busy and have so much intention of getting busy and they really have a monopoly right now, you know like um we’re trying to find every way we can to get past it you know but we’re , we call ‘em the zippers, these fuckers that clean every night you know, well they`re not fuckers, they`re contracted by the city. But its like ya we have like 2 armies against us, that’s what it feels like you go to paint something and the next day, the next fucking hour, these guys are outside right now I just saw them drive by, you know that’s how fucking intense it is here, but they’re there every fucking minute you can’t really do anything about it … they’re definitely gonna clean it up right away So even if you do get arrested for rocking the city you know its not really worth it because its gonna get zipped up the next, it doesn’t fucking matter, so its super depressing.

This 2 hour interview with Claroscuro was a highlight for me. They are 2 artist that I respect a lot for their imaged based political pieces. They are very firm believers in the power graffiti has to change a society’s consciousness and reflect extensively prior to painting or hanging any work.


Fallen wings supporters have created many pairs of giant wings around Barcelona.... angels are among us...
www.fallenwings.org for more info...





Catalán





I took a few catalàn classes... but didn`t really get to far with my speaking abilities... i did learn enough however to be able to tell you that this pintada says "you're unique, just like everyone else"

Fabulous housemates:


Parc Güell:





La sagrada familia:


Okupas / Squata:





Graffiti and Urban Art:

I have soooo many fotos of graff and urban art in Barna.. I get overwhelmed when I try to pick... which is why I haven't updated my blog in months... here are a few of my favorites and I willl add more later.

Buldozer in Matarò



This reads "open your eyes" in Catalàn.... I just stumbled upon it on sidestreet in Matarò.... open your eyes is the same slogan that the amazing group Justicia Global uses www.escueladeformacion.org so that is one of the reasons that I especially liked this piece



One of Barna`s freequently painted walls...




"We don't need are north american brothers to give us a hand out... just for them to lift their foot off of us"