06-11 Restorying the Streets: Space, Politics, and Recuperative Discourse in Urban Street Art

Co-Chairs: David Todd Lawrence and Heather Shirey.

While street art is often dismissed or even criminalized for its perceived “destructive” rather than “restoring” role in urban space, this panel explores the critical role of street art as a form of vernacular expression and its role in “restorying” urban spaces, reclaiming marginalized narratives, and fostering community dialogue. Despite its ephemeral and often contested nature, street art provides a powerful lens through which to understand the ongoing negotiation of identity, memory, politics, and power within the urban landscape. This panel will explore the emotional and political dimensions of street art as vernacular expression - a form of specialized communication in public space.