Street Art from the Heart

Guten Tag, Liebe Freunde!

Hello Dear Friends!

Yesterday our group had the chance to experience something truly special - we went on an alternative tour of Berlin, a street art tour! Our guides, Trevor and Frances (from Ireland and Australia, respectively) took us around the Friedrichshain/Kreuzberg area to show us a beloved form of Berlin art: street art and graffiti. In two groups our students walked around and got to see the work of some well known German and international street artists like BLU, Berlin Kidz, 1UP, and more.

So what is the difference between street art and graffiti?

Street art is usually painted with permission or commissioned but it doesn't have to be. Its aim is usually to spark conversation and it makes a statement about society. It can be a large mural or a pre-made sticker and can range in size from a small sticker to a mural which covers the side of a building. Graffiti is usually word-based and is often interpreted as vandalism although it too has purpose and meaning. Most graffiti is a word or phrase painted all over the city by a "crew" (a group of street artists) and can be done as a quick 'tag' or a more elaborate 'throw up.' Berlin, as a city and culture, has embraced street art for its free form and its anti-capitalist nature. According to some artists, if corporations are allowed to cover public spaces with ads then why can't everyday citizens cover public spaces with art?

All in all, it was an amazing tour, followed by an amazing demonstration. After we walked around for 1.5 hours we all went back to Frances's and Trevor's studio where we got to try our hand at street art of our own. We got to choose stencils and cut them out and then we learned how to layer colors and make patterns for our background. Everyone had a blast and some really amazing pieces were created. It was such a fun afternoon and a great way to bring back our own little piece of Berlin culture.

Thank you for joining us! Check in later to keep up with our final week of Abenteuer, Lernen, und Berlin-Liebe!

Tschüß,

Julianne