Just as a well-trained hunter may learn a great deal by observing animal tracks and broken twigs on the ground, an adept coolhunter can discern fascinating details by perusing urban streets and sidewalks. Today more than ever, the ground beneath us harbors interesting clues surrounding the latest design and lifestyle trends. Two particularly valuable markings to look for are street art and chalk markings.

Street Art

While most of us are accustomed to finding street art plastered over urban walls (and now, many indoor gallery walls as well), more and more of the most interesting contemporary graffiti can be found on streets and sidewalks. Most of ground-bound street art is stencil work, however some pieces (such as those by Stikman, a well-traveled American artist) are made with material similar to that used to delineate crosswalks and lane markers. By getting to know major street artists in your city, you can bring yourself closer to the latest design and artistic movements- plus get a whiff of social commentary or an inkling of the local zeitgeist.

Chalk Markings

Though traditionally associated with child’s play (and sometimes street art), chalk markings serve as excellent clues revealing new urban gaming movements. Chalk has increasingly been appropriated by fully grown (if youthful at heart) adults for use in alternate reality games (to mark clues and game elements), scavenger hunts, and extended, marathon-like games of tag. If you find unusual markings on the ground made in chalk, and happen to notice a pattern with them, continue investigating- you just might discover a fascinating (and cutting edge) new urban game!

by Simone Smith http://www.harukosama.com/

Photos by Simone Smith http://www.harukosama.com/