Who dictates art—is it the artist or the observer? Why will a monkey with a paintbrush never be as famous as Pollock? What makes Banksy’s work art and not mere vandalism? Why is Basquiat more popular than a kid having fun with his art materials?

Perhaps the discourse on what makes art truly worthy of recognition is something that will never be resolved—but that doesn’t mean that its subjectivity should hinder people from attempting to understand its very nature.  And in the light of a recent fiasco where LOS ANGELES MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (L.A. MOCA) director Jeffrey Dreitch painted over a controversial street mural he himself commissioned, a group has pitched in by creating a movement which allows ordinary people to answer the question, “Is it art, or not?”

The censorship of street art by the head of an art establishment has struck a deep nerve, considering that this form of art is said to be the most populist and accessible of all artistic incarnations.  Through “The Red Sticker Campaign” by  MOCA-LATTE,  a group “seeking to provide, at no public cost, a spark to ignite essential discussions about art in Los Angeles,” ordinary people may express their approval or dissent of street artworks scattered all over Los Angeles.

To achieve this, MOCA-latte distributes “Approve” or “Disapprove” stickers which the public can post on or beside artworks, asking the public to curate the street art themselves and afterwards post the pictures of their curated works online. Through this, MOCA-latte engages ordinary citizens into participating in the discourse about art as well as sending a message against its censorship.—The Soy Boy

via MOCA-latte