I've been seeing some especially creative paste-ups around the city lately. To me, that's a very good sign. It signals a city that has an growing scene of young artists willing to get out there and slap their pieces on walls for the public to see -- whether those pieces are small, odd quotes or full-on works of art.

Dipped in homemade liquid adhesive made from vegetable starch and water and based on a craft fostered since ancient times, these lovingly-applied (and often immediately torn-down) paste-up pieces are notorious and important parts of the urban street art scene. Every city I've been to around the world has its own forms of paste-ups -- whether they are called "wheatpastes," "flyposts" or "poster bombs." Many are outwardly political and display controversial ideas, some are beautiful and whimsical, and almost all are applied and maintained by anonymous, faceless artists.

The whole idea of sharing one's artwork without intending to make a profit -- indeed, with the knowledge that by revealing that art, one risks getting arrested -- is a romantic concept. As an artist myself, I believe it also raises some important questions. Should the role of the artist be to please the public or to embody philosophical ideals? What is ultimately more satisfying -- to make money off one's work or to participate in subversive artistic movements?

Dichotomous concepts like these mirror similarly polarized legacies of some of the most well-loved (and hated) street artists of our generation, from the gorilla-faced (and feminist-minded) Guerrilla Girls to the anonymous Parisian student Princess Hijab to the famous Banksy to the timeless Posterchild. Philosophical debates aside, here are a few of Vancouver's most well known paste-ups.

Some of Vancouver's paste-ups depict the baby-faced. Taken by "luckyfish."

Some are iconic and well-known, with notorious names such as RED RUM's. Taken by "REDRUM."

Some are typed and obtuse printed-word statements. Taken by "notthatcool."

And some are bunched together in a haphazard, brilliant jumble. Taken by "knightbefore_99."

What are your thoughts on paste-ups? Are you inspired by them, as I am? Does the obstruction of private property with paste-like materials bother you? Or are you entirely indifferent to the random societal criticisms, artworks and cut-up faces that stare out at you from countless alleyways and walls in Vancouver as you walk to work?

Cut-up face cover photo taken by "rocketcandy."