Worcester Stencils Photo Essay : IMC Worcester

After returning from Argentina my curiosity about stenciling had grown. Buenos Aries is a city of stencils. Some might call it the birthplace of the political street stencil.

Two years ago, the StART on the Street Artists’ festival announced a call out for stencil artists. The organization had made an agreement with the City to allow stenciling along the sidewalk in the area of the festival. I found out about the invite late, so I called to learn more. I had a great stencil, BUSH-GORE MORE WAR 2004, it made the Boston Globe during one of the big national demonstrations, typing the words out now doesn’t do it justice.

Anyways, I called about participating in the StART stenciling. There was excitement in a stencil artist joining in, “so what’s your stencil?” After describing my BUSH-GORE stencil, there was a pause, followed by an “ umm.. uhhh....ummm” There was a clear hesitation and sign of consternation. “Ooooh, that’s probably too political for us, you see this is our first year.. and um... we worked hard to organize this with the City. Could you do something a little less political?”

It was hard to hear that .....particularly given stenciling’s political roots as mass media of the streets. And that was doubled after my experience in Argentina. Well, the year before I had stiltwalked at StART on the STREET, so I replied I could make a stencil of the sign I’d held the previous year, “PIP, the Heart of the Arts District”. There was silence briefly...then again the consternation “oooooh.... ummmmm, I’m not sure if we could do that either. That’s a touchy subject”. Seeing where this was going, I quickly asked, somewhat facetiously .... “How about, ‘I love Main South’”, to which, perhaps out of relief ... I was told.. “oooh yes, that would be great”.

I asked why this one was OK and explained that I didn’t feel comfortable with art censorship. Stencils are meant to be political, and art is meant to provoke.

From that point forward I started cataloging the growing stencil scene in Worcester. Thank you to the amazing artists that continue to prod and provoke us along Worcester’s streets. You’re great! You’re amazing! Here’s a part of the Worcester stencils I’ve cataloged.

Big Brother

This is the first stencil I ever remember seeing in Worcester. It's probably four or five years old by now.
It's on Mechanics Street. At one time Congressman McGovern's office window was smashed and there was talk about installing surveillance cameras nearby in response. This may have been an artist's response.

Oil

Stencil on Paper on Stop Sign. Not a true street stencil, but I liked the message so it makes the catalogue.

Mission Accomplished

Some stencil are works of craftsmanship, while others other are much more wit or an effort to catch our subconsciousness.

STOP BUSH

How long did it take after the stop sign was invented before someone tagged or stickered it. You could do a whole flicker set just on stop signs.

Iraqi Civilians Killed

Found this stencil today on Main Street. Bus stops are a frequent site for stenciling. This is the only multi-colored stencil I've seen in Worcester. If you check around elsewhere you can find some amazing 2 and 3 colored stencils that really add depth or highlights by the way they're overlayed.

Bike Culture

Thanks to Laura for spotting this hidden gem. It's actually on a building my friend owns, but it's so small I had never seen it myself.

Bike Culture 2

This is my all time favorite! The outline of the bricks give you an idea just how small this stencil is, and still the negative style stencil has alot of detail. A good stencil artist can create not only detail but depth with their artwork.

Squirrel

minus 2 points for the collateral spray ......

Clean Needles

While most local stenciling carries a national or international message this one is clearly locally focused. It's a message to City Hall, and a call out to local residents.

Make Tea Not War

Nice stencil, well done with the curvature of the lightpole. Unrelated..... my friend Nathalie's in the corner of the shot, getting a little impatient waiting for me to snap this photo.

Peace

I came across this stencil the night of the Mr. Hetero protests downtown. I'm not sure if the peace symbol was part of the original or an addendum. There's a lame R2D2 stencil done just w/ those four letters/#'s next to this.... It didn't deserve a photo.

Boredeom=Routine=Death

ehhh...not on the top of my list

I Kill

Sometimes simple is the most clear.

lightpole

Nice depth and angle on this stencil

Jack

I was at a stop light, looked to the left and came across this stencil.

Oi? Bollocks

Found this over by Becker College......
Does anyone know what this is about?

Don't Dump Drains to Beaver Brook

Late night artists aren't Worcester's only stencilers. Here's a reminder done by either the city or a local organization reminding us not to dispose of waste in storm drains. Everybody's getting into Worcester stencils!