Is anyone else outraged by this Daniel Montano saga -- Pittsburgh's biggest graffiti vandal? (Lawrenceville: mortgage)

[Spacegirl]

I just know for a fact that a lot of the people in Lawrenceville are racist and have issues with Danny because he is hispanic. There is one man in specific who is a Nazi that targets Danny and says terrible things about him. You may think his graffiti is crap, and I disagree, but there is no way you could call his canvas paintings crap. Hes won dozens of awards for his artwork in San Francisco. I'm done with you guys and am not going to waste my time defending my boyfriend, whom none of you know. "YINZ" are brainless morons that probably never made it past high school, and your just jealous that Danny is going to do well in life because you all probably pray everynight that he spends the rest of his life in jail. DREAM ON SILLY RABBIT TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS.

[suzeeq521]

Yeah, Danny is going to get far in life with that reputation.

Whatever.

I love the "fact" that a lot of people in Lawrenceville are racist. I guess I must have just met all the ones who aren't.

[COPANUT]

OmiGod, there's Nazis in Lawrenceville.

[subdivisions]

I didn't even know Danny was a Hispanic and I still think graffiti "artists" suck. All of them. Graffiti is one of the biggest social reasons why inner city neighborhoods go downhill - people see graffiti and assume that the place is crappy and then start treating it like crap, which leads to more crap happening and the next thing you know you have a ghetto and all the houses are falling down and filled with drug dealers and prostitutes. It's a horrible cycle.

If I ever catch anyone painting the graffiti that constantly plagues my neighborhood I'm literally going to beat the everliving hell out of them right there on the street. I'm not kidding. Graffiti artists are the devil, and it makes absolutely no difference what color they are.

[pghcleak]

Originally Posted by subdivisions

I didn't even know Danny was a Hispanic and I still think graffiti "artists" suck. All of them. Graffiti is one of the biggest social reasons why inner city neighborhoods go downhill - people see graffiti and assume that the place is crappy and then start treating it like crap, which leads to more crap happening and the next thing you know you have a ghetto and all the houses are falling down and filled with drug dealers and prostitutes. It's a horrible cycle.

If I ever catch anyone painting the graffiti that constantly plagues my neighborhood I'm literally going to beat the everliving hell out of them right there on the street. I'm not kidding. Graffiti artists are the devil, and it makes absolutely no difference what color they are.

I agree...I remember when I visited Paris, the buildings were beautiful but when you looked on the sides they were covered in spray painted grafitti. I thought it ruined the beauty of the city and made it look "ghetto" for lack of a better term.

[wordzgirl]

I was in the courtroom a couple of years ago when Danny (or the defendant) was being sentenced for tagging. His father stood up and basically begged the judge not to give his son a harsh sentence. The judge was actually very lenient, but it seems to me that Danny totally thumbed his nose at the judicial systen, which never goes over very well with any judge who gives someone a light sentence.

[pitt_transplant]

Originally Posted by Spacegirl

I just know for a fact that a lot of the people in Lawrenceville are racist and have issues with Danny because he is hispanic. There is one man in specific who is a Nazi that targets Danny and says terrible things about him. You may think his graffiti is crap, and I disagree, but there is no way you could call his canvas paintings crap. Hes won dozens of awards for his artwork in San Francisco. I'm done with you guys and am not going to waste my time defending my boyfriend, whom none of you know. "YINZ" are brainless morons that probably never made it past high school, and your just jealous that Danny is going to do well in life because you all probably pray everynight that he spends the rest of his life in jail. DREAM ON SILLY RABBIT TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS.

Look little girl..They are ticked because it cost them cash to take paint off property that was suppose to be there. Simple as that. If it was so great they wouldnt have a problem with it being there. L-ville is embracing artists but not vandals. Other g.kidz from this area think the same think of his "works". Its not just me. They also are the ones that know him as the spoiled little boy that doesnt even follow the code of not spraying private property. Yeh...real artist in touch with the movement there...
It doesnt matter how many awards people win. There are things you do and do not do because it creates a hardship for another human being because of a megalomaniac narcissistic ego.

[pitt_transplant]

In addition...Calling someone who does that sloppy mess an artist is like calling a the a c*ck-rocker and musician. Its not about the art...Its not about reflection a community or pure emotion or even a refined skill..Its about how much attention THEY can get for themselves.
I really hate sloppy taggers. They make me sick. I dont hate all g. artist. Just the wanna-bes that make ugly messes on private property. Taggings for gang work. Not artist work. BLAH!
Ive seen some fabulous art in NYC...Pittsburgh has the WORST wanna bes everywhere.

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by Spacegirl

I just know for a fact that a lot of the people in Lawrenceville are racist and have issues with Danny because he is hispanic. There is one man in specific who is a Nazi that targets Danny and says terrible things about him. You may think his graffiti is crap, and I disagree, but there is no way you could call his canvas paintings crap. Hes won dozens of awards for his artwork in San Francisco. I'm done with you guys and am not going to waste my time defending my boyfriend, whom none of you know. "YINZ" are brainless morons that probably never made it past high school, and your just jealous that Danny is going to do well in life because you all probably pray everynight that he spends the rest of his life in jail. DREAM ON SILLY RABBIT TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS.

SpaceGirl, a few questions, but before I ask them let me just say that I have never seen a picture of this guy so race is really a non-issue. How much education does Danny have in art? If you are calling us "brainless morons" then that means you and Danny have at least a Masters in art theory, right? I am just curious where he studied to become an artist. Second, what does his graffiti mean? The value of an artistic work (painting, song, etc.) is in the meaning, and what it stands for. When I look at any given work he has 'tagged', intellectually what do I bring away from it? I know you said he doesn't believe in private property, but that cannot be the meaning of these tags. If it is, then that makes the graffiti the means to make a political statement (rendering him an activist, not an artist). Assuming what you say is true, he doesn't seem very consistent in what he claims to be.

Basically, I think it comes down to respect. Even if he truely believes there is no such thing as private property, he must understand tagging makes people pretty upset. If you make someone angry, there is absolutely no chance they will listen to you. SpaceGirl, if he is serious about this issue, then why doesn't he work to buy up some houses and open them up to the public? There are very constructive and community-serving methods of dealing with that issue.

I don't like to talk about something unless I consider both sides. I have honestly thought about what you said, SpaceGirl. This guy's methods seem to portray someone who wants attention. Someone who is simply seeking an excuse for actions which are nothing more than self-serving.

You said he will be the next Andy Worhol? When Andy Worhol was Danny's age, he was just finishing the Carnegie Institute of Technology's School of Fine Arts program, and was about to move to New York City to start a job as a commercial artist. Is Danny really following in those footsteps? Worhol's art was very unique, but at least he had respect for the law, and studied his chosen vocation on a serious level.

[Sheradenmom]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

You sound like my Mom.

I will take that as a compliment!