EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP

I get that many of the folks that follow my blog are interested in the business of balloon artistry. They want to know Who I am, What I do, Where I'll be, and How I do it. Of course, there's always the "What does it cost?" question too, to which I usually respond,  "Price will vary" and then quickly begin answering the other more important questions that actually have to do with the ART form itself. It's not about the money, really. For me it's about the ART. It always has been. Artists have to make a living too, but the primary focus for us is in the creative processes that make the ART possible. Our "message" trumps our "money" for lack of a better way to explain it. This isn't a job. It's passion for a purpose. I call it ART FOR A CAUSE and I enjoy the pursuit of artistic excellence as much as I do the ART itself, even if we are just talking about some silly balloon animals! I expect people's natural curiosity to bring them here. If for nothing else than to just see what all the buzz is about. The pictures alone make this site something of interest for people who stop by. Thanks again for your interest in CREATIVE INFLATION. We wouldn't be what we are if it were not for our fans.


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I wanted to take a minute and let you guys know that there is a movie you need to see.
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP is a movie that should be seen by both artists and non-artists alike. It is the unlikely story of how a French shop keeper named Terry Guetta in LA who sells vintage clothing to the Los Angeles, Bohemian Art-Crowd develops an obsession with "STREET ART", better known as graffiti, and decides to make a documentary about the experience. Armed with nothing more than a video camera, VERY little film making skills, and a passion for the art scene, Terry records thousands of hours of footage detailing the underground life and meaning of the artists from L.A. to England who risk arrest and prosecution for vandalism in their mission to use art to make statements that often flare with political unrest and poke fun at the establishment. Many of you will recognize the iconic images in the film and probably remember seeing them recently, somewhere in the real "DIRT" world before. Perhaps the most recognizable image is the Obama HOPE poster done for the Presidential campaign that got President Barack Obama elected as our first black president.This image was done by SHEPARD FAIREY who is a prolific street artist who is also responsible for the GIANT OBEY stickers that were mysteriously seen posted  throughout the world a few years ago on the sides of buildings and in cities on other surfaces of other structures where they seemed to appear overnight (which they did) and ultimately communicated a message that seemed authoritative, yet unclear. If you have seen these images and wondered what they meant, especially the image of the giant that commands you to "OBEY" then you can go to Shepard's website and hang out there for a while. Buy some of his art. It's way cool and I highly recommend it!

http://obeygiant.com/archives/page/3

The film features art by a variety of street artist, but none is probably more famous or INFAMOUS than the artist known as BANKSY. His identity is unknown, being kept a secret by those closest to him and even in the film he made his face is constantly obscured and his voice is digitally enhanced to prevent identifying him. BANKSY has done street art all over the world and though his true identity remains a mystery, his art has become so famous that it sells to some of the richest people in the world. Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Christina Aguillera, are just a few of the wealthiest buyers who recognize that ART FOR A CAUSE, the very theme of the CREATIVE INFLATION blog, is worth whatever price is asked if it means furthering the mission. BANKSY ART commands prices that are thousands and thousands of dollars, and if you are fortunate enough that he Tagged one of your buildings you are trying to sell, then chances are that the art will be worth more than the real estate itself! The statements made by manipulating iconic images found in popular culture has a powerful effect on the minds of the masses. We are so used to seeing images, designed by slick agencies who are hired to sell services and products, that when we are faced with an image with a message, designed for no other purpose than to just be ART, our minds are temporarily shaken and our reactions can be totally unpredictable. That's precisely what ART should be. It needs to stir in us a response that reminds us to stay conscious of what the advertising guerrillas are really attempting to do. They wish to control our minds. Street Art attempts to liberate your mind and help you unplug from the temple of hyper-consumerism that seems to be sucking us in to what I imagine to be a vortex, constantly spinning and pulling us down.  I could go on but instead I just ask that you see the movie, "EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP." You will be glad you did. Also, I want it to be known that I am made humble every time someone appreciates my balloon artistry. I never expected it to move anyone. It does, however, and that's how art should be. A force that moves the world to think and to feel, even if just for a moment. If balloon artistry is what you do, then your chosen art-form should be no exception. Presented in interesting ways, intelligently conceived, and thoughtfully presented, the right art, be it street art or even balloon art, may just change the world.

ART IS LIFE! 
=RICK=