SAN DIEGO, CA-

I love the Internet, and MySpace, and connectivity in general.

The random meetings with interesting people more than make up for the Viagra spam, the occasional e-stalker, and the millions of pages of utter drek that clog the tubes of this ‘ere Internet.

Case in point, NOMAD.

ADD THE NOMAD

(NOMAD is not drek.)

NOMAD found me because of Stue.

You remember Stue, San Diego’s zealous, quixotic tagger and subject of one of my first Urban Archeology posts, hereafter known as Part One of my Three Part Series.

Well, NOMAD was “bombing” one night and took this picture:

NOMAD goggled “stue” and found The Nervous Breakdown.

And me, on MySpace.

(Thank you, Stue!)

And I thought it was cool, but that was it.

Until I saw some NOMAD stickers whilst walking around downtown–north on Fifth Ave, to be precise.

Oviously, I had to write NOMAD back with this news.

What follows is our MySpace-messaged conversation, rearranged for clarity by me.

I am in italics.

NOMAD is in normal text.

(It may help to read NOMAD’s MySpace Profile, first.)

I remember sticking Mr. Yuck stickers on inappropriate or incongruent surfaces in elementary school. I also remember collecting Scratch ‘n Sniff stickers as a kid. Is there a type of sticker you remember from childhood? Any plans to incorporate Scratch ‘n Sniff to the sticker campaign? If so, what scent would you pick?

Interesting question, but sorry, I can’t recall any particular type of sticker other than the Scratch ‘n Sniff ones. Well, I remember Garbage Pail Kids cards that doubled up as stickers if that counts. As for incorporating scents into NOMAD, it would be different, which is good, but I’d think it would be very costly, which is bad, especially considering the DIY ethic behind NOMAD.

Well, if you do, I’m thinking something citrus. What’s the proper term for sticker placement, anyway? Is it tagging?

Sticker placement can be referred to as bombing or sticker bombing. Tagging is used more in regards to spray paint usage. Some people tag on a sticker to bomb with.

I’ve seen that–the “Hello, My Name Is” stickers seem quite popular, as do Priority Mail labels. What do you look for in a place to sticker bomb? How much does locality or environment count when choosing a place to bomb?

The highest priority in any mark should be maximum visibility. If that spot just happens to be illegal, even better. It’s also my intention to place stickers in spots that are difficult to reach.

How did you come up with your graphic?

It was just something easily thought up while looking at a “no smoking” sign and trying to incorporate a nomad into it. After coming up with the rough draft I refined it so it would be easier to stencil and look cleaner and uniform. Beauty in symmetry, right? My image isn’t symmetrical yet, but I’m working on it.

I’d say it’s an effective image, even if it scares me a little in a horror movie kind of way. Is NOMAD someone to fear? Or is this part of your motive to get people to consider what they feel when they see the image?

If anything, I’d like the NOMAD to instill fear in those who are against street art in general. If others fear the image, that fear would come from fearing the unknown, I think.

I’m embarrassed to say it took me about two weeks to figure out how your image matched your name. “MAD” with a slask through it = NOMAD.

I don’t expect anyone to get the image right away because it’s just begging to be clever and failing miserably. According to some feedback, it gets people thinking different things, such as, “Is it telling you not to be mad?” or, “Is the person who tagged it not mad?”

You can double up the meaning depending on what definition of “mad” you choose. Crazy or upset? Both?

To add more depth, you can involve the meaning of a nomad (one who travels) and this “nomad” basically left his mark upon his bath, kinda like we all do in life.

I like what you say on MySpace about Phenomenology and “reawakening wonder about one’s environment.” I’m a big fan of “wonder.” Will you tell me about your first “awakening” in terms of environment and the desire you developed to subvert it?

My first true awakening came about this past summer while getting a better understanding of graffiti roots and how society responded to it. I think I’ve always been open and perceptive towards my environment, but actually filtering the BS lingering within advertisements especially, have caused me to be hyper-aware to the point where I wanted to be part of a greater movement that countered the images society has become so desensitized to.

The desire grew from others’ involvement who shared similar intentions and that pushed me to start NOMAD. NOMAD became my outlet by allowing me to put my art in the public eye as well as get the adrenaline rush you usually get when meddling with the law.

On your profile you invite us to imagine a city where street art is legal, where everyone “could draw wherever they liked.” Yet part of the appeal of street art is that because it’s
(usually) illegal, there isn’t much of it around. The element of surprise or non sequitor remains a key factor. So tell me–would it really be better if we could all draw on the walls? Or is it the illegality of street art that makes it worth paying attention to?

I think legalizing street art would take away much of the risk/fun of it but at the same time, I believe those contributing to the movement would be satisfied knowing the act of putting artwork out there is available to them.

It’s just wrong for anyone to limit the artistic freedom of others based on their lack of interest and
understanding of a different culture. Legalizing street art would take away appeal but possibly inspire greater things such as positive communication between individuals of different cultures or at least some kind of compromise. Those merely seeking the illegal nature of street art would undoubtedly conjure
up ways to push the envelope and learn new ways to bend the rules again and again…it’s a constant struggle and like they say, without struggle, there is no progress.

Have you seen your movement spread?

Especially with persistent use of the internet in addition to the DIY efforts of mailing out stickers and poster/sticker bombing, I have seen my image spread very quickly. I’m proud to say my stickers have traveled as far as New Jersey (there are 3 New Jersey images on my MySpace). My image and sticker will also come with the upcoming issue of PEEL magazine. Only 500 limited edition copies will come with the sticker. So with that, I’m sure my sticker/image will multiply pretty rapidly.

That’s cool about PEEL Magazine. Congratulations.

Recently, Mayor Gavin offered a reward for sticker bomber BNE’s capture. Mayor Gavin says it costs San Francisco $ 20 million a year to clean up “vandalism” like the BNE stickers, so the extra $2500 to catch BNE would be worth it. What do you think?

I think BNE gets prouder with every article that comes out and the $2500 is just the icing on that cake. I personally think that $2500 is better suited for the homeless and poverty stricken of the area. The $20 million cleanup money should be used towards education, especially directed towards
enlightening those ignorant of street art and the culture that generates it.

Vandalism is harmless (I usually only condone vandalism on public property and abandoned property) and is perceived negatively through the very media that exploits graffiti, street art, etc. when trying to sell a culture back to its people.

I strongly believe graffiti is made illegal not only because of big corporation influence so they won’t have to worry about other images distorting or distracting the public eye away from their product.

But it is also made illegal to draw greater distinction between classes of society. Those who buy into these stereotypes and take steps to oppress art in any form only promotes hate between people and cultures.

Can you imagine an entire city block filled with graffiti writers who all of a sudden have a level of harmless artistic expression stripped away because one tenant on that same block called the shots? Yet that one person will not even think twice about the PEPSI billboard blocking his/her view of the ocean.

PEPSI, yes. NOMAD, no.

Must we all have to strive to be individual corporations to gain respect? Free speech seems to be going out the window for some, but this NOMAD is the little engine that could, hehe.

I’m very intrigued by your comment about corporate branding and logos, which are ubiquitous (though usually paid for in established advertising spaces) and the counteraction of street art to take back iconography.

I greatly dislike advertising.

I dislike billboards that are, by nature, slick, and often simplistic to the point of patronization.

I like street art that that is polished even through its grit, that compells me to think, that isn’t selling anything more than an idea or an image. I guess this is an observation more than a question and an invitation to write more on the subject if you want.

All I want to say here is that I want people to understand that street art has evolved from many different things. Just like music, there are subgenres or art. There is hip-hop graffiti and gang-related graffiti. Some who represent one genre do not necessarily condone the actions of another. Unfortunately,
preconceived notions of graffiti in general hinder the creativity and usage of street art.

I want street art in any form to revolutionize art in the public eye and level the playing field on what is to be considered visual pollution and what’s considered appealing to the art community.

Eventually, you’ll leave NOMAD behind. What happens then?

I guess when I feel my image/sticker has reached its peak of attention, I will begin another campaign with possibly an evolved but still identifiable image accompanied by some political, tongue-in-cheek message, some kind of dissent. Dissent is vital, I believe, in getting people to remind themselves of their true values in life.

Thank you, NOMAD, for enlightening me and others on your art and philosophy.

Strangely, sadly, not two days after I took pictures of NOMAD’s stickers for this blogularity, they were removed.

Other images on that particular walk were removed, too, images I’d grown to enjoy.

I have a very guilty feeling that the street was cleaned because I was observed taking pictures of it.

I didn’t try to hide my actions.

I’ll have to learn stealth.

Stay tuned for Part Three of the Urban Archeologist’s Street Art Series, in which I attempt to create a stencil, debate the intelligence of posting my stencil online, chicken out before spraying any public property, and ultimately lose what little street cred I ever had by using street art to decorate my home.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 1st, 2006 at 7:57 pm and is filed under Art, Consumerism, Criminals, Interviews, Journalism, Philosophy, Pollution, Pop Culture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.