The Lardner Report

Unleash your creative superpowers!

When Tools Become Art

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(Pic #1) “Trapped Sole” spray can sculpture by Stinky Punk. Featured at Art Share L.A. in downtown Los Angeles.

A stunning Los Angeles exhibit celebrates a fresh way of looking at Spray

“Spray paint simplifies the creative process, acting as both a paintbrush and paint.”  (Up Magazine)

It’s a tool that offers the sleek finishing touch we associate with graffiti. It’s super popular because it’s portable, versatile, and accessible. Since the 1960s — when modern graffiti emerged as a veritable art form on New York City subway trains — spray paint became an extension of a tagger’s imagination. Invented originally as an application for aluminum coating for radiators, it quickly became the mainstay of a new brand of inner-city art.

And now, a master of “the art of spray” — a graffiti artist who calls himself “Man One” — has transformed a ubiquitous “tool of the trade” into art itself. Man recently curated dozens of “can-formations” made by Los Angeles artists — into a collection that magically transforms utilitarian objects into fanciful works of beauty, surprise, and wit.

(Pic #2) “Transformation” by Vox

(Pic #3) “The Golden Crwon” – “L.A. Lifestyle” – “The Garden Life” by Oldskool33

(Pic #4) “Energy, Love, Movement of Souls” by Ms. Yellow

(Pic #5) “Brain Candy” by Joe Ded

(Pic #6 ) “Spray Pillar” by Paul Patrick

(Pic #7) “Cut My Hearts Out” – “Cut Ups” by DMN One

(Pic #8) “Untitled” by P Behind the Art / 2022

(Pic #9) “Quetzal Roots” by Ronald Del Cid 

Art on the Outside

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(Pic #1) Vera Cruz House, Santa Barbara, California, front.

The House of a Thousand Paintings

It’s classic creative collaboration. But the participating artists could never have known what their work individually would create as a whole. They could never have predicted the artistic impact their paintings would have on the City of Santa Barbara. This installation blows my mind, and If you have a chance to visit, you won’t stop smiling.

(Pic #2) Close-up, Santa Barbara Art House

It’s called the Vera Cruz House. It sits at 521 Santa Barbara Street, downtown. It’s a bright green home now completely covered in hundreds of pieces of original art. The project was the brainchild of architect Jeff Shelton, who handed out panels to local artists — and asked, in a super vague way — to “paint something” from a place they’ve traveled or where they grew up.

(Pic #3) The original “House of a Thousand Paintings” Photo circa 1973.

According to Noozhawk in Santa Barbara County, Shelton was inspired by a home from his childhood, Sanford Darling’s “House of a Thousand Paintings” near Santa Barbara City College. It was demolished, and the paintings were sold to collectors and museums after Darling’s death in 1973. “It was kind of a shrine for our family — we loved it,” Shelton said.

He was asked to design something for the small lot by owner Jason Yardi, of REH Property, and pitched a house “covered in art.” Yardi agreed, and Shelton got to work getting city permits.

Shelton had promised no profanity, nudity or political statements. But perhaps the coolest pledge he made was to ban artists from using rainbows, clowns and dolphins.

I think I’m in love. Thank you, Jeff.