Vulcans in Cyberspace

"Bomb", originally uploaded by alanbenzie

Sphere was added to the blog several weeks ago to link readers of similar topics around the blogosphere. Sphere enables you to find content on the same topic anywhere across the Internet.

To use Sphere, click on the icon that appears at the end of each blog post. A menu will pop up providing options for your review. If something looks interesting, click on it and you'll go to another place on the web. If not, go past the pop up to the Sphere site, where you'll find more options that you can sort.

Using Sphere on the previous blog post, "Graffiti Art: Street Art or Street Crime?", a half dozen articles appeared on the pop-up, but over 2,000 were available at the site.

Selecting one led to uncharted, a Chicago artist who has blogged about graffiti as art. Uncharted acknowledges Chicago's big problem with gangs and the tagging that makes the city look dirty, yet contrasts that with the occasional work that intrigues her.

Uncharted is up on art exhibits happening elsewhere in the world, including Berlin, Germany which is a mecca for street artists. What's helped to perpetuate this? The lure of many bombed-out buildings.

Ironically, one of the most bombed cities is the most bombed city on a list where Syracuse, New York is notably absent.

Further, some consider bombing a science, not an art. Who knew the old art/science debate would arise while surfing about graffiti?

Pursuing the subject further led to an online universal gallery of graffiti art.

A link beneath uncharted's post goes to this video describing the phenomenon in Berlin in depth, which may either fascinate you or totally tick you off. At minimum, the segments of German Hip-Hop are worth a listen just for giggles.

The video raises awareness of the stunning prevalence of graffiti culture around the world, and further discusses the concept that Alphabeta is trying to run with in Brooklyn.

Sphere can take you in another direction in cyberspace. We think it's cool, so we're offering it to you. Go along for a ride sometime.