What do you think about graffiti in the city? (Minneapolis: fit in, homes)

[ThisIsAMinneapolitan]

Most people have come accustomed to seeing it on stop signs, buildings, etc. What do you think?

[fashionguy]

I hate it. But I do understand this is a common thing in any city of reasonable size in US rather than a Minneapolis thing.

Originally Posted by ThisIsAMinneapolitan

Most people have come accustomed to seeing it on stop signs, buildings, etc. What do you think?

[BarbaraMN]

I don't see much at all, but I spend 99% of my time in my small area of Southwest. Someone did tag the Penn Ave bridge over Minnehaha recently which begs the question of why? So people kayaking down the creek know whose "hood" it is?

[GDK94]

Originally Posted by BarbaraMN

I don't see much at all, but I spend 99% of my time in my small area of Southwest. Someone did tag the Penn Ave bridge over Minnehaha recently which begs the question of why? So people kayaking down the creek know whose "hood" it is?

graffiti is not about letting someone know what "hood" your in. you obviously know nothing about graffiti.

[ThisIsAMinneapolitan]

Originally Posted by BarbaraMN

I don't see much at all, but I spend 99% of my time in my small area of Southwest. Someone did tag the Penn Ave bridge over Minnehaha recently which begs the question of why? So people kayaking down the creek know whose "hood" it is?

It is important to note that most of the graffiti Saint Paulites and Minneapolitians see is not gang related. If anything they are "crews" who only do graffiti and no other crime.

[uptown_urbanist]

I hate it. I don't care if it's gang-related or not. What kind of responses are you looking for?

[DaPerpKazoo]

I honestly don't mind it that much. I could really care less about stop signs, freeway sound walls, ect. It does **** me off if it's on a building, especially brick, glass, or unpainted concrete. I get really sad and angry when I see something obscene written somewhere, but luckily I don't see that much of that.

I think it's actuallypretty cool as an art form when done tastefully and in appropriate places. Builds that allow graffiti artists to really work on them almost always look better than the cinder block or stucco that was there before.

I guess what I don't like is the "I'm gonna write my tag here just because I can" mentality. And what I hate is the obscene stuff. What I don't mind is stuff that's done artfullyina non-obtrusive manner, and what I actually enjoy is stuff done in cooperation with business owners, artfully and relevantly.

[fashionguy]

I don't like the so-called artistic graffiti either, because most often it wears out easily and nobody takes care of it. Before long it becomes ugly and dated and the colors don't fit in the city environment at all. Luckily Minneapolis is not one of those cities having most of them. I think Boston and Detroit have a lot of this stuff and it is not very pleasant to me.

Originally Posted by DaPerpKazoo

I honestly don't mind it that much. I could really care less about stop signs, freeway sound walls, ect. It does **** me off if it's on a building, especially brick, glass, or unpainted concrete. I get really sad and angry when I see something obscene written somewhere, but luckily I don't see that much of that.

I think it's actuallypretty cool as an art form when done tastefully and in appropriate places. Builds that allow graffiti artists to really work on them almost always look better than the cinder block or stucco that was there before.

I guess what I don't like is the "I'm gonna write my tag here just because I can" mentality. And what I hate is the obscene stuff. What I don't mind is stuff that's done artfullyina non-obtrusive manner, and what I actually enjoy is stuff done in cooperation with business owners, artfully and relevantly.

[BarbaraMN]

Originally Posted by GDK94

graffiti is not about letting someone know what "hood" your in. you obviously know nothing about graffiti.

Having worked in gang prevention/intervention in Chicago for many years, I do know quite a bit. Sorry my post wasn't more elaborate. I do know that graffiti seen around SW Minneapolis is not gang-related.

My point was that the people who see the graffiti in this specific spot on Penn Ave bridge (visible only from on, or right next to, the creek behind private homes) would only see it as vandalism which is not what the "artist" is seeking. The only person that would actually see it--and not see it as just stupid vandalism--would be the person who put their tag there in the first place. So, again, what's the point?

Added: I should note that I'm not talking about artistic graffiti--this is solely tagging--nothing more than a one-color signature. I can actually appreciate "good" graffiti where it brightens/decorates an otherwise barren spot. My old neighborhood in Chicago benefited from the graffiti--it added a cultural identity to the area and it just looked cool. The only thing I've seen like it in Minneapolis is the large murals which are usually done with permission.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by BarbaraMN

Having worked in gang prevention/intervention in Chicago for many years, I do know quite a bit. Sorry my post wasn't more elaborate. I do know that graffiti seen around SW Minneapolis is not gang-related.

My point was that the people who see the graffiti in this specific spot on Penn Ave bridge (visible only from on, or right next to, the creek behind private homes) would only see it as vandalism which is not what the "artist" is seeking. The only person that would actually see it--and not see it as just stupid vandalism--would be the person who put their tag there in the first place. So, again, what's the point?

Added: I should note that I'm not talking about artistic graffiti--this is solely tagging--nothing more than a one-color signature. I can actually appreciate "good" graffiti where it brightens/decorates an otherwise barren spot. My old neighborhood in Chicago benefited from the graffiti--it added a cultural identity to the area and it just looked cool. The only thing I've seen like it in Minneapolis is the large murals which are usually done with permission.

There is some tagging activity is SW minneapolis. I can give you a list of specifc spots beyond the bridge. It tends to get painted over quickly though. For example 50th and Xerxes has had some of that. On the billboard, behind the buildings near Dunn brothers, on stop signs, on bus benches, etc.

I mostly find it annoying more than an indication that the area is not safe or that gangs are moving in.