REVIEW: Urban Nature by Katie Taft There are a couple of characteristics that I think of when I think of graffiti: 1) the work is generally large-scale; and 2) it is compiled in some kind of way that pertains to the street. Graffiti artists who show in galleries tend to cover entire walls with paint, layer image on top of image, canvases on top of wall drawings, move around corners and use the full space of the wall. Some of the hottest gallery artists these days have roots in the street, and they are able to find a way to bring a little bit of that energy or the excitement of the anti-establishment style into the gallery. So I had high hopes for Urban Nature at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and don't get me wrong, I do not want in any way to discourage the Gardens from stretching out and showing a variety of art styles but I was a little disappointed. The work is relatively small, mostly four by eight foot boards standing in the gardens and really lacked any kind of edge. There were a few standouts, however. The first, a very large (approximately eight by eighty foot) piece by Mac of two women painted in meticulous detail was really awe-inspiring. The women lie in empty backgrounds, one green; the other blue. The detail with which they are painted would be exceptional with a brush; with a spray can, it is truly amazing. The figures have a grid-like texture covering their skin and the cloth that drapes them created by the lines of the spray. The metaphor here is the grid of the city placed on top of these natural bodies. Local artist Amanda Marie is showing the kind of work she is known for around here, mostly stencil work of young girls and animals repeated and layered through out the images in pastel colors with graphic lines and simplified shapes. It's definitely the sweetest of the group included in the show, but still comes together to evoke street style. Jolt is another local; his work is very animated, with bright colors and amazing motion in his line work. The Guerrilla Gorilla, which he depicts in one of the three murals he created for Urban Nature, is a recurring character for him and fits in beautifully with the theme of the show, referencing the guerilla gardening movement. The vibrancy and motion come together to rival the natural beauty of the garden itself. Lady Pink is known for being one of the first female street artists in New York, her mural is classic imagery for her; humans made from brick in a garden scene, while the work is not as fresh or vibrant as some of the above-mentioned artists, it is nice to see it here nonetheless. The concept for the show is interesting and the idea of bringing these two groups of outdoor lovers (gardeners and graffiti writers) together is inspired. I can't help but wonder what I would have thought of the work had I stumbled upon it while strolling through an alley. Perhaps I would forgive the unevenness and lack of curatorial vision and been able to appreciate the gems I discovered.