New York City street artists are escalating their fight against the proposed Parks Department regulations on expressive matter vendors.

In Union Square Park, vendors started displaying "Artist Power!" signs on their stands last weekend. Many plan to attend the community board hearings tonight and tomorrow.

Robert Lederman, president of the street art advocacy group A.R.T.I.S.T., unveiled a new poster today that accuses Mayor Bloomberg of violating street artists' First Amendment rights.

"Bloomberg is killing New York City street art," reads the headline. "He wants to steal our First Amendment rights of free speech."

These bold statements appear over the jarring image of a skeleton.

The proposed Parks Department restrictions would limit the number of vendors who sell "expressive matter" in four popular Manhattan parks.

The "expressive matter" label includes street artists selling their own work, as well as vendors selling books, writings and other protected materials.

>> Learn more about the proposed Parks Department restrictions by reading the first article in this series: "Union Square artist market threatened by new Parks Department rules"

>> UPDATE 4/8/10 - Poster is part of new creative campaign: "Street artists target Mayor Bloomberg as 'destroyer of artist's rights'"

Poster created by Union Square artist Victor Spinelli accuses Mayor Bloomberg of killing New York City street art (provided by A.R.T.I.S.T)

Defiant message

Lederman emailed the poster to Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe on Tuesday afternoon. His message read:

Dear Commissioner Benepe,
Exactly as predicted, you will be seeing a lot of creativity unleashed in USP [Union Square Park], Central Park and elsewhere thanks to your latest misguided efforts against street artists.

See attached sign by one of many USP artists now getting busy on this. It is being printed in the hundreds right now. You have awakened the artists.

Keep up the good work!

The poster was created by photographer Victor Spinelli, who sells his original work at Union Square Park.

In a separate email, Lederman encouraged A.R.T.I.S.T. members to communicate their opposition to the new rules.

"Let your own creativity be on display as we fight to stay in all NYC Parks. Use your art to fight for your rights."

Media to step up coverage

Street artists interviewed by the NY Destinations Examiner are closely following media coverage of the conflict.

Aside from an initial report on TV's NY1, an article in the New York Daily News, and my previous article from March 30, the local media has paid little attention to this story.

The New York Times finally published an online article on Monday, a full week after my initial report.

Considering the Times' influence, media coverage will almost certainly increase in the coming weeks, leading up to the public hearing on April 23.

I am attending the community board #6 meeting tonight and will provide detailed coverage of the event.

Stay tuned...

What do you think?

Both the Parks Department and A.R.T.I.S.T. encourage members of the public to voice their opinions before the hearing. 

Written testimony should be submitted to the Parks Department legal counsel, Alessandro Olivieri, by April 23. His email is: alessandro.olivieri@parks.nyc.gov