THE BIRTH OF PAVEMENT ART!
A long, long time ago, somebody decided, it would be a great idea to pave the muddy walk-ways with stone. As soon as they did, they became known as pavements; then somebody else came along and decided to scribble on the paving-stones, the words “I AM STARVING!” Then people took pity, and started throwing money!
Later on, somebody else came along, and wrote “I AM STARVING” and decorated it with little swirly bits in coloured chalks, and made it look pretty. Then people stopped to look, took pity, and started throwing MORE money.
A little time later, another person came along and started drawing little pictures on the pavement, and writing “All My Own Work” and, by the way “I AM STARVING” under the pictures. Then even MORE people stopped, looked, admired the pictures, took pity & threw pennies…….and this is how pavement art was born!
In Britain they became known as Screevers, in Italy – Madonnari’s….the rest is history 
Philip Battle; (Big Professional Screever) Liverpool cir. 1881
Philip Battle
I’m a profesional screever who has something to say…….exactly what I say I’m unsure about, and whether anybody would be interested in reading my muses is debatable but one thing is certain….I’m a compulsive communicator who needs to say stuff even if it means talking to myself all day. I’m a phone-a-phobic who believes it’s healthy to have a dialog with oneself.
I’ve lived my entire life trying to make sense of it all, and, the truth is, as the song goes….” The further one travels the less one knows”
I live with my partner Catherine and a cat called Rosie, in LIVERPOOL, UK….. the creative centre of the universe!
We both run a company called UrbanCanvas; providing visual street-art projects for festivals and events.
I enjoy traveling, art, photography, reading & writing…….but not arithematic!
What a great site, Philip.
It’s just full of great information and ideas.
Greetings from Western Kansas,
where we role up the streets at sundown.
Ellen
Thanks Ellen, glad you enjoyed your visit & thanks for the postcard.
Another piece of the jigsaw, that was until now, the untold history of the pavement artist. Keep your eyes peeled, and if you come across anything related that I may be interested in then be sure to let me know…..I love that saying “role up the streets at sundown”
Best regards…..Philip
Hello Philip,
I was searching for glass lantern slides from the Great Chicago Fire I am writing a book about, at any rate I stumbled upon your blog in the process, what wonderful
find, I enjoyed reading some of the entries. I have to return to it again with my wife who is also into the visual arts. thanks for sharing. Cheers from Chicago!
Hi Thomas, Many thanks for your kind comments…hope you keep dropping by. Glass Lantern slides often come up for sale on Ebay. But I also find these people to be rather helpful in researching such stuff: http://www.magiclantern.org.uk/index.html
Good-luck with your search
Best Wishes from Liverpool, UK
Greeting Philip,
I was searching the intranet for glass lantern slides from the Great Chicago Fire I am in the process of writing a book about and somehow I came a cross your blog.
It was a wonderful find, I enjoyed reading some of your entries. I will have to share it
with my wife who is always interested in the visual arts. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers from Chicago!
Hi Philip
Thank you for a lovely website. I can’t believe I have only just found it. Lots of great information and photographs. You will see why I am so interested in your site if you have a look at my blog Pavement Graffiti (http://www.meganix.net/pavement) or my website Pavement Appreciation (http://pavementappreciation.net/). Both are related to the PhD project on pavement writing that I am doing at Macquarie University in Sydney. I will be returning to look at more of your posts.
Best wishes
Megan
Great blog Megan, and many thanx for your kind comments. With regards to your “Chalk Power part 1″ posting, you may be interested in this: Pavement Art and the SUFFRAGETTES! (1907-1914)
Hi Philip
Congrats on a very interesting site, do you have any other information on the origins of the term screever? You may be aware that the Irish term for writing is scríobh (pronounced screeve), and a writer is a scríobhnóir (screevnor).
Le dea ghuí – with best wishes
Deaglán