Roadsworth est un peintre de Montréal. Son canevas : les rues, les trottoirs et le mobilier urbain. L’art de Roadsworth est controversé, aimé, détesté, mais ne laisse jamais indifférent. Et vous, qu’en pensez-vous ?

Roadsworth began painting the streets of Montreal in the fall of 2001. Initially motivated by a desire for more bike paths in the city and a questioning of « car culture»  in general, he continued to develop a language around street markings and other elements of the urban landscape using a primarily stencil based technique. In the fall of 2004, Roadsworth was arrested for his nocturnal activities and charged with 53 counts of mischief. Despite the threat of heavy fines and a criminal record he received a relatively lenient sentence which he attributes in part to the public support he received subsequent to his arrest. Since that time, Roadsworth has received various commissions for his work and continues to be active in both visual art and music.

What began as a form of activism rooted in a desire for more bike paths and justified by the rationale outlined above eventually grew into an art project that, to a certain extent, continues today. Fuelled by a sense of righteous indignation I also felt empowered by the expressive and creative outlet that street art afforded me. Instead of feeling like a helpless passenger on a train headed for disaster I felt that I had created a voice for myself amid the noise of the city.

Un documentaire sur Roadworth est sorti en 2009 et tourne en ce moment en Amérique du nord. Bande annonce :

Roadsworth: Crossing the Line

Francine Lord, Public Art Commissioner (à lire à haute voix avec l’accent québécois) :

A mon sens, c’est la première fois que les gens de la rue, le public, des gens ordinaires, s’adressent aux autorités municipales pour soutenir une oeuvre et un artiste. C’est pas rien ça !

Photos supplémentaires :

Roadsworth’ website : http://roadsworth.com/

_______________________________________________________________________________

Ceci devrait vous intéresser :

1. Nuit Blanche, Paris (vidéo, photos)
2. Attaque de couleur (vidéo)
3. Growing stocks of unsold cars (photos)
4. Besoin d’herbe sous les pieds
5. Tako loves the work of Katie Sokoler! (Vidéo)