Bombing is the act of hitting the streets and getting your art or tag out there. It’s an illegal activity aka vandalism and property damage, but it’s also the primary means by which a street artist gains notoriety. The more notorious the bomb, the greater the respect and stature garnered.
Dressed in black and armed with a tub of wallpaper glue, Dropstitch does paste ups of humanoids made from knitting. No, not dollies, but rather images more akin to bogey men or from some deep disturbing dream.
Of course, this level of bombing requires certain prep. The simple tag requires nothing more than stealth and possibly a long sleeve hoody of which to slide the texta up.
Same goes for stickers. Paste ups? A bag to stash that pot of glue in. Pieces?
This is perhaps a little more coordinated, with a bag that minimises the metallic rustling of spray cans and potentially a blanket to throw over tricky walls or fences.
Naturally, we don’t endorse any of this, since it’s illegal.
What led you to do paste-ups?
I’m kind of sick of the way gallery scene and I just want to make art without worrying about costs and no strings attached.
What have you done to prep for this?
Watched many YouTube videos and read street art books before I finally had the courage to go out in to the streets and do my own.
What materials are you using?
The loyal sharpie pens, ink, & house paint. (Dropstitch also specialises in completely recycled paper, using materials sourced from dumpsters and recycling piles, the good old dumpster dive another aspect to their practice and another form of bombing, albeit one of eco-sustainable appropriation).
What advice would you have for other potential street artists wanting to bomb?
Get some good running shoes.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
