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The "graffiti as art" movement seemed to have more strength in the 70s and 80s. I don't think anyone has a real objection to truly artistic graffiti jazzing up the wall of a rundown tenement or warehouse. But as others have noted, there are a lot of taggers out there that aren't really in it for the art. Maybe if we could have a law that allowed very artisitic graffiti but outlawed gang markings and graffiti that is really bad art, it would all work out!!!
I'm a supporter of graffiti, not vandalism. There is a difference. One thing though, I've always wondered how people manage to tag or bomb billboards, overhead freeway signs, and overpasses without getting caught. You might be driving to work one morning and all of a sudden there is some brand new graffiti "smack dab" in the middle of an overpass or even on a freeway sign. Something I could never figure out.
Back in the 80's in Denver, there was an artist who did gorgeous graffiti art (almost always animals of some sort) on dumpsters and such. (http://www.ddlarue.com/reviews/review3.html - broken link)
She later became well-known and successful, we commissioned a piece from her.
Of course, the decision of what is and isn't art, and what is mere tagging, can be subjective.
And no matter what the graffiti, no doubt the thrill of the forbidden is at least part of the appeal.
I hate tagging. It got really bad in Denver before we left, though most property owners do their best to combat it.
There is a difference between graffiti art (there is an alley by my house where it is accepted and as long as it is not gang related, left up) and tagging.
I'm okay with graffiti art as long as the owner of the property in question is okay with it too (or if the property is abandon), and think it can be sort of fun. I'm not okay with those idiots (I'm looking at you Latin Kings) who go around scrawling crowns and pitchforks all over my neighborhood (and in one case, on my front door).
The absolute best display of graffiti as art I've ever personally experienced was walking around this warehouse at 5 Points, Queens, I even met and spoke with some of the artists who were there working (all with permission of the owner). If you ever are in nyc, check it out.
It seems everyone on this website is strongly anti-graffiti. Not only that- people use it as a reason to fear neighborhoods and public transit systems. Is graffiti really a judge of how bad a neighborhood is? In my opinion no. Graffiti is found in any urban area. I think well-done graffiti makes the urban landscape 100 times more interesting and dare-i-say beautiful. When you ride on a train and look out the window and see the art going by- ya, that's great. It's not really a gang thing any more. It's straight-up art and usually the people doing it are fairly upstanding citizens- in my experience.
Just wondering if anyone else out there enjoys seeing a well-painted piece thrown up.
I do, I love it. Here is a piece in Albuwuerque New Mexico done by my father
I tried talking to other forums about it but some guy just completley went off over nothing
I agree with thewereabbit on graff. There is a lot of bad art and a lot of good, graffiti is a great way to stop kids from using drugs or doing violant things. Some may dissagree but its true in most cases. Not all graff artists are gang bangers & drugies, a lot of us ARE “stand up citizens” infact I work for lockheed martin space systems & I go out painting almost every night.
I don't tag houses, I don't tag cars, I don't tag schools, churches or any personal property. I paint old wherehouses, dumpsers, billboards and government property its just how it is & how it should be to every one. Get invalved and become an artist NOT some one who scribles on walls!
I dont think graffitti can determine if its a bad area....most of the time its just rebels without a cause.....my father lives in Columbia, Md and there's graffiti but little to no crime or murders just kids really acting up...i live in prince george's county, md and there isnt too much graffiti but way more crime than Columbia, MD....I think the main thing to look out for it if there are bars on all the windows
Location: Concrete jungle where dreams are made of.
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In my old neighborhood in Queens there was graffiti, but it's the most sought-after neighborhood in the borough and one of the more expensive areas. It wasn't all over, but on the side of a building you sometimes see someone tag their name or something like that. Nothing gang related.
the gang graffiti that the person posted on page one is west coast type ish...
graffiti is different on the east coast (particularly the tristate area). i love graffiti and am a former writer, myself...to me, all of it (minus that west coast gang graffiti stuff) is art. everything from bombs, handstyles, pieces, and things associate with graffiti such as stencils, wheatpasting, etc. all are art to me.
examples of what i consider art:
and i don't care what you say. these things make society better to me. it makes things pop. things stand out.
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