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Street Art Throwdown
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Reality competition showcases world's best street artists.
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Street Art Throwdown
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What's the Story?
STREET ART THROWDOWN is a competition series that pits some of the country's most promising street artists against each other for the chance to expose their work and win $100,000. Hosted by world-renowned pop artist Justin Bua (aka BUA), the show features 10 artists who compete in two challenges designed to highlight their art and technical skills -- and to eliminate them from the competition. Judging their work is BUA and gallery expert Lauren Wagner. Guest judges such as graffiti artist and muralist Mear One also help determine who has the best command of the aerosol can. From scaling buildings to tag a billboard to wandering dark urban tunnels to find spots to paint, every challenge allows the contestants to show off their talent while demonstrating how graffiti has evolved into an important part of the international art scene.
Is It Any Good?
It's a standard reality competition, but the series successfully articulates how the genre has evolved from being an urban nuisance into an internationally recognized art form that combines traditional painting techniques with edgy modern aesthetics and popular imagery. How the artists tell stories through their art, and the judges' constructive criticism of their work, also adds depth to the show.
Artists of all ages will be drawn to the series, which makes a point of highlighting the various methods used to conceptualize, execute, and master the form. It also showcases some of the more common traditions and vernacular of the street art community. But you don't have to be an artist to appreciate the insight the show offers into the work and the culture from which it is born.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes someone's creative work "art." At what point is something like graffiti considered to be inspired and valuable to the art world? Who makes those determinations? Does this reality show help answer some of these questions?
Do you like seeing art out in the world? What's the difference between seeing it in a museum setting?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 3, 2015
- Cast: Justin BUA , Lauren Wagner
- Network: Oxygen
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
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