When you think of graffiti you might think of unsanctioned euphemisms scrawled on walls, dumpsters, signs and sidewalks. There also is commissioned graffiti art: beautifully done murals appear endlessly across urban landscapes if you know where to look.

Personally I enjoy urban exploration and discovering well-done street art. My eyes are always peeled when I'm driving, busing, walking or biking through Minneapolis. Lately though, I've been seeing, reading and hearing about innovations in the graffiti field. More and more unique ideas are coming out of the woodwork. Ideas that don't damage the public space at all, but actually improve it. The following list includes an interesting variety of ways that artists, gardeners and everyday city people are brightening up their public spaces:
 

Reverse Graffiti: cleaning dirty surfaces into art.

Moss Graffiti: spread moss paste onto walls and watch it grow.

Yarn Bombing: attack of the guerrilla knitters.

• The Guardian covers the yarn bombing movement in the U.K., the New York Times does the same in San Francisco and the Walker Art Center follows the Minneapolis scene.

Guerrilla Gifting: e.g. spread custom door mats across the city.

• "Welcome Home" by Project M (video).

EyeWriter Art: technology to create art with your eyes.

• Tony TEMPT1 is an artist who, due to Lou Gehrig's Disease, lost the ability to move his arms and legs, speak, eat and even breathe without life-support systems. However his mind and creative spirit are still alert and he uses the EyeWriter technology to continue his artistic aspirations. See the video.

Robot Graffiti: machines used to create public art.

• Bike-propelled rainbow spray-painter. See the video on WIRED.
• Paintball gun graffiti: Video on Vimeo.
• Facade printer: Video on Vimeo.

Digital Graffiti Wall: all the fun of spray paint without any of the externalities.

• Check out the videos from Vancouver and Converse.

Projection Graffiti: light displayed on the sides of buildings.

• Example (the good stuff starts 30 seconds in): YouTube video.

Guerrilla Gardening: seed bombs, shoe planters, moss art and anything else that expands the urban greenery.

Animation: Street art stop-motion techniques.

•  Video and animation by the artist BLU. Watch video.

And last but not least,

Dinosaur Graffiti: the title explains itself.

• There's more to this than you can see. Watch the comedic video.

This post was originally published by Tristan Pollock on Blogger.