May Karp shows beauty in street art

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While some see graffiti as vandalism, plain and simple, midtown artist May Karp sees it as a valuable form of expression.

Karp, 76, is showcasing a collection of photos depicting street art from around the world in her upcoming StreetSpeaks exhibit.

The local artist first became enamoured of the possibilities inherent in graffiti 30 years ago while travelling through Paris with her husband. While there, she noticed graffiti on buildings along the Seine, and found herself drawn to the beauty and expression within the drawings.

"There were very beautiful bubble graphics, and they were very lyrical and almost sensual," she said.

As years passed, Karp found that those images stayed with her and she began to research similar forms of art, from their genesis in prehistoric cave drawings through historical locales such as Pompeii. The more she read about public drawings and paintings, the more she came to appreciate them as a form of art, and the more she wanted to learn why graffiti is so often frowned upon.

"I was intrigued by why it's so disliked, why the authorities are so against it," she said. "It's the most pure art form there is."

She noted that graffiti is often used as a means of communication between street artists, and as a much-needed means of expression for young men and women who often feel marginalized by society as a whole.

"It's often young people from poor neighbourhoods, the ones (who) nobody ever listened to," she said. "If their thoughts are expressed through art, it's a very healthy thing as opposed to using violence, drugs or alcohol."

Karp is quick to dismiss some graffiti as pure vandalism - she does not consider scribbling and tagging art - and feels the artists need to show respect for the community as a whole.

"They should not ever do it on private property without being asked or being given permission because that is vandalism," she said.

However, she said she would like to see street art become more accepted so that graffiti artists are not forced to work under extreme conditions only to see their work removed, painted over or otherwise destroyed in virtually no time at all.

"I would like to see some curators expand the boundaries of what they consider art, because some of the young artists are really remarkable," she said. "It's really important for young people to be able speak out about the world they live in but are not really part of."

Karp said her photos, which depict the works of talented graffiti artists in Toronto and around the world, are designed to open people's eyes and minds to the world of street art.

"When people have seen (her photos), they were able to visualize that scrawl is one thing, but (more visually stunning street art) is another," she said. "Once people saw the better stuff, the art stuff, they said 'OK, that's different; that's art.'"

The artist added that themes are often similar among street artists, no matter where in the world they live. Often, the works will offer criticisms of authority and politicians, or offer up humour. While the art often depicts unhappy people, the colours and styles are more positive.

"I really think I did this because of the state of the planet, the state of the world and what young people are inheriting," she said. "What have they got to look forward to? This is a horrible world we've given them."

She noted that often, youngsters are silenced, and she hoped to give strength to their voices through her art.

"I often asked myself, why (exhibit these photos) now?" she said. "I thought I could give them a voice better than they might be able to, and at this age, I might not have another chance."

StreetSpeaks is dedicated to the late Dusty Cohl, founder of the Toronto International Film Festival and a longtime friend of Karp's. Karp said she and Cohl both shared poor upbringings, which allowed them both to connect with the material Karp photographed for her upcoming exhibit.

"Before he died in February of this year, he saw what I was working on," Karp said. "He saw it when he was in palliative care, gave me a thumbs up and said 'Go get 'em.'"

StreetSpeaks will be exhibited at the Moore Gallery, 80 Spadina Ave. No. 204 from Sept. 6 to 27. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays, with an opening reception slated for 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6.