Stop and Smell the Flowers
The monarch butterfly sits atop the yellow sunflower, feeding on the nectar of the flower, before it moves on to the red rose beside it. A purple flower behind the rose is the feeding grounds for another insect who is indulging in the flower’s sweet nectar. Between these three plants are pink and yellow blooming flowers, ready to be the next to give off their sap. Flying above the beautiful florals is a lonesome dragonfly, watching over the other insects receiving their tasty meals. This scene is depicted in a stunning piece of graffiti, signed by “@artbygia.” When I was walking through the streets of Harlem to find a piece worthy of writing about, this wall stood out to me. The mural has no words, but the imagery, design, and colors seem to speak more than any writing could. The vibrant colors could not go unnoticed. The red, yellow, and green tinges seemed to pop off the wall solely due to their brightness. When I think of a typical graffiti piece, I see neon colors and dark shades of black, grey, etc. Seeing this artwork created a different visual experience through the use of its atypical color scheme. The thick black lines sculpting the flowers and creating shading made my viewing experience even more elevated and realistic. Looking at this piece, it was as if I were in a field of flowers, smelling the wonderous scents and feeling the charm of nature. This piece feels refreshing, nourishing, and optimistic.
After doing research on “@artbygia”, the artist who tagged her Instagram on this mural, I came to learn even more about the piece of graffiti and its importance. Giannina Guiterrez, otherwise known as “@artbygia” on Instagram, is based in East Harlem, where she painted this specific mural. (Guiterrez) Guiterrez on her own website gives us insight into why she paints the way she does. She says in an autobiographical paragraph, “We are all connected beyond our understanding, my goal is to visually and viscerally capture the dance between the seen and the unseen, the intangible essence, movement and beauty of life.” (Guiterrez) Guiterrez uses the devices of nature in many of her pieces to depict the power and charm of the natural world. She creates her murals with the purpose of grounding humans and connecting us to other living beings.
This gorgeous mural is not the only piece of graffiti that resides on the corner of E. 124th Street. On the same wall as this work are many other pieces. These murals all work together to make this crosswalk more exciting than the otherwise standard crosswalks of New York City. Harlem, where this piece is located, is a unique portion of NYC’s art world, as in the 1920s it became the mecca for African American art. The Harlem Renaissance resulted in much cultural and artistic expression, as black artists wanted to prove not only to America, but to the world, that black people can be intellectual, artistic, and talented individuals. (Harlem Renaissance Multimedia Walking Tour) If not for the enchanting designs, the street would be the same as all others; grey sidewalks, a white crosswalk, and a dull streetlight that barely lights up the night. The mural seems to bring a necessary new life to E. 124th. At this particular intersection, there is a traffic officer patrolling the endless stream of cars and pedestrians. There are cars stopped at the traffic light, waiting to grab their morning coffee or head off to work. There is a family passing by, as I am taking this photo, ready for the school day to begin. A man on an electric scooter rushes past me, nearly knocking me over as I hold my phone up for the photo. This fast-paced movement of the environment surrounding the piece is exactly the irony of the mural. Being in the city, we can oftentimes overlook the beauty around us due to the quick speed at which we are moving. This piece encourages us to “stop and smell the flowers,” to appreciate the world around us. The placement of the mural is also ironic because of the contrast to its otherwise bleak urban setting. The dull grey city buildings and black lampposts completely oppose the vibrancy of the yellow, purple, and red flowers. Undoubtedly, city life contains a unique charm, but this piece reminds me of the beauty of nature due to the contrast of its urban environment.
Through analyzing the relationship between the meaning of my chosen graffiti piece and its implications on location, I have come to realize that we as humans have a huge disregard and misappreciation for life. To ensure a better quality of life, we must all take a step back and admire the blessings we’re granted. Appreciating even the small victories in life can lead to more fulfilling experiences. Humans unfortunately have a habit of noticing the positives only when things take a turn for the worse. In Mike Robbins’ article, “Appreciate the Small Things,” he delves into the unappreciative nature of human beings and searches for new perspectives. Robbins says, “Think of all of the simple (and not so simple) things that we weren’t or still aren’t able to do because of the pandemic…and how much impact this has had on our perspective.” (Robbins) In this quote, Robbins seeks to redirect readers' mindsets. Why is it that we only appreciate what we once had, not what we have in the present moment? Also in the article, Robbins urges readers to put down what they’re doing every once in a while to look around and admire the little things. By admiring my graffiti piece, I have come to realize that there are many beautiful aspects to life; aspects we look past. Flowers, butterflies, and the sky are all “simple” things that we must come to acknowledge and cherish.
Art has a huge influence on its environment. Graffiti can make the space in which it’s located in a more positive place, or even a more negative place. It can emphasize the seriousness of poverty, racism, sexism, etc. Furthermore, like this piece, it can lighten moods and encourage a happy and healthy lifestyle. Graffiti can motivate and promote a certain way of life and thinking. In my example, the artist inspires Harlem’s residents and visitors to slow life down and appreciate what is around us. Placement of graffiti is also critical to its meaning. Location can be intentional by the artist, but it may also be random. Purposeful or incidental, the environment of art deeply affects its meaning. In the piece I chose, the surroundings of the work greatly differ from the tone of the art, creating contrast and forming new meaning. Because of the floral mural opposing its urban surroundings, I interpreted my piece as an ironic representation of lack of human appreciation. By closely reading my graffiti piece, it was evident that human beings must open their eyes to what’s in front of them; we must cherish what we have and strive for what we don’t.
Works cited:
“Harlem Renaissance Multimedia Walking Tour.” Harlem Heritage Tours & Cultural Center, 2015, www.harlemheritage.com/history-of-harlem/.
Murals, Art,. “Giannina Gutierrez.” Giannina Gutierrez, 2014, www.gianninagutierrez.com/public-art-murals. Accessed 29 Oct. 2024.
Robbins, Mike. “Appreciate the Simple Things | Mike Robbins.” Mike Robbins, 10 May 2021, mike-robbins.com/appreciate-the-simple-things/.
