Why are they there, you ask? Who cares? They’re cool to look at and more fun to spot than a red-tailed hawk, unless of course you’re a birder, in which case you’re all set with your hobbies anyways.

Dan Witz

Then there’s the work of Dan Witz, whose tiny photorealistic paintings are ingeniously placed so as to blend in with their environment. When you’ve finally spotted one, pat yourself on the back because you’re well on your way to becoming a superstar. Just don’t let it go to your head.

Bäst

Now that you’ve gotten a little taste, you’re ready to hunt down some stencils and wheatpastes. If you used to huff glue as a kid, I hate to break it to you, but wheatpaste won’t get you off. Still, it’s a cheap and easy solution to make glue at home with little more than flour and water and it’s the best way to get paper to stick to walls. Did I mention that DIY is the name of the game? That having been said, what should you be on the lookout for? If you come across a cut-n-paste collage of say, Paris Hilton or Whitney Houston, with extra eyes or other superfluous appendages, you’re onto Bäst.

Judith Supine

Unless you’re blind, Judith Supine’s oversized, neon-colored collage wheatpastes are impossible to miss downtown. Especially if you like your street collages on the titillating side, then Judith Supine’s your man (wink wink). Although he’s also a wheatpaster of fine woodcuts, lately Elbow-Toe has been giving his hands a break and us a treat by stenciling. You too will be amazed at the details he can achieve with a multi-layered, multi-colored stencil, if you can find one. What are you waiting for? There’s a whole world of street art out there and I haven’t even mentioned any of the crazy 3d stuff yet.

Of course there are forces in the City that conspire to paint over anything that isn’t a paid advertisement, but thankfully, they aren’t the most vigilant bunch. Occasionally there’ll even be a closet art critic who carefully repaints a wall, making a point of going around even the art that isn’t supposed to be there. My advice to you? Turn off your TV, put on some sneakers, get out of the house and explore… you’ll never know what you’re missing if you don’t go looking for it!