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Graffiti - Graffiti Board Of Facts
It doesn't matter where you live in the world, chances are
you've seen graffiti somewhere around your local community.
It seems to spring up in every culture, although it tends to
be more prevalent in big cities.
But is it vandalism? Or is it art? That's a difficult
question to answer, mainly because there are so many
different types and styles of graffiti. The most basic form
of graffiti is "tagging" - which is usually a simple
graphic, usually letters, perhaps a play on the creator's
initials or nicknames. Often small and monochrome, it's
probably one of the most annoying and frustrating types of
graffiti, because it is small enough to deface almost any
surface, and is almost universally condemned as having no
artistic merit.
Graffiti, however, isn't restricted to tagging. On larger
surfaces, many graffiti artists employ multiple colors and
intricate designs to create their pictures. This is the type
of graffiti that starts to cross the line into being
artistic. It's this type of graffiti art that is now being
showcased in a number of art galleries, both in the USA and
around the world.
The other problem with graffiti as art is that the issue is
clouded by the location of the art. If some of these
stunning designs were created on a canvas, or a wall
specially set aside for the purpose, then it would be easier
to recognize them as art. Unfortunately most graffiti is
placed on private property, without the owner's consent, and
so is less likely to be viewed as a welcome addition.
Around the world, communities and governments have become
more vigilant in their attempts to reduce the amount of
graffiti. In many places there are community groups or
government funded teams who guarantee to clean up graffiti
in 24 hours after it's reported. Trains in New York were
given new coatings that allowed paint to just be "dissolved"
off their surfaces.
In my own local area, the sale of spray paint to persons
under 18 is illegal, and all spray paints are kept in locked
display cupboards. Another area has a team of painters who
regularly go around and repaint any fences that have been
covered in graffiti. One homeowner I know has had his fence
repainted 7 times so far! Over time, however, the amount of
graffiti reappearing is reducing, which is a victory for the
opponents of graffiti.
Still, simply removing the problem may in fact be a loss to
the artistic community in general. If graffiti is considered
in its most highly refined form, then are we in fact
stopping artistic development in its tracks by making it
impossible for budding graffiti artists to practice their
craft?
When you illegally deface someone else's property, no matter
how beautiful the art you create, you have still committed a
crime. Maybe what we need to do is find ways that graffiti
artists can learn and practice their craft, without needing
to deface hundreds of properties in the process. Some
communities now provide blank spaces and invite local
graffiti artists to paint them. Others have graffiti walls,
where anyone can paint whatever they want.
Maybe there needs to be a shift in the thinking of graffiti
artists, so they can discover the value of painting on
paper, rather than walls. Would the great painters of the
past still be as famous today if they had painted on walls,
rather than on canvas? The problem is complex, so finding a
solution that makes everyone happy is unlikely to be simple.
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Some Other Useful Web Resources
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1. Acclaim Posters: World Culture Posters
... statue. This poster includes facts on Buddhism. Artist: The ... of a Latin American doing Graffiti. Artist: Justin Bua The ... Trinidad and Tobago tourist board" appear at the bottom. Artist ...
http://www.acclaimposters ...orld_Culture_Posters/ |
2. English site: About GVB - Summary annual report 2005
... About GVB Company profile Facts and figures History Annual ... also felt safer. In 2005 the Board of Management held intensive ... vehicle and station cleaning. Graffiti on metro trains was a ...
http://www.gvb.nl/english ...vb/annual-report.html |
3. Frontlines :: Newspaper of the Left
... and Artists Art Crimes: Graffiti The Art of Marxism BURN ... Lawrence Rockefeller is on the board of directors. NORML The Coming ... Guide Nike Wages: Provides the facts on Nike--especially in terms ...
http://www.sf-frontlines. ...21068a2c357f75aff3278 |
4. Answers to Your Boating Questions - Purrfectly Given by BoatCat - Boating Ar...
... Vinyl Window Care | Plane Facts Index To Articles Boat ... PFDs) for each person on board. Children and non-swimmers ... paints (they're only good for graffiti) but there are some good ...
http://ask-boatcat.com/ |
5. City of Santa Rosa
... Frequently Asked Questions Graffiti Abatement HWY101 ... and Staying Informed Fast Facts Current and Major Issues Santa ... Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). Penalties for ...
http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/pworks/ |
6. HometownAnnapolis.com, Teen Pulse - St. Mary's High School
... along with free room and board. The popular SCA (Student ... 2006 Catching Thieves Pompeii Graffiti Abstraction Thermadore and ... to form an opinion based on the facts we ascertain from knowledge of ...
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/teen_stmarys.html |
7. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
... & Shops Health & Wellness Facts & Information Forum Photo ... argument in Hungarian and see graffiti in Khmer. Most major cities ... Trade Centre, the Vancouver Board of Trade, cruise ship ...
http://www.vancouverbritishcolumbia.com/ |
8. Minutes 2006
Pacific Palisades Community Council For Minutes of a Board Meeting in 2006, Select Date of the Meeting. January 12th January 26th February 9th February 23rd March 9th March 23rd April 6th April 27th ...
http://www.pp90272.org/minutes2006.htm |
9. Oak Lodge Hostel
... and Developments Prospectus Facts and Figures What do we teach ... students the opportunity to board in school, either on a long ... Mr Merrifield but we did a graffiti project in the pool room ...
http://www.oaklodge.wands ...h.uk/about/hostel.htm |
10. St. Johns County School District -- Student Conduct Code
... more... Awards District Facts Grants Media Releases Programs ... and approved by the School Board. Examples would be school ... the knee are acceptable. Gang graffiti will not be drawn or worn on ...
http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/rules/conduct.html |
11. TheBus - Customer Service
... are asked to report any graffiti or vandalism promptly to bus ... toxic liquids or gases on board TheBus. [ß711-1112 ... Passport About TheBus TheBus Facts Careers @ TheBus Purchasing ...
http://www.thebus.org/CS/RulesReg.asp |
12. City of Dana Point - Official site
... Location & Hours City Facts/History City Map Staff ... Quality/Urban Runoff Youth Board Municipal Zoning LIP Draft ... Hotlines --Code Enforcement --Graffiti --Water Quality General Info ...
http://www.danapoint.org/ |
13. Keep America Beautiful
... community concerns. Solid facts and data are the best way to ... to missing road signs and graffiti. Survey scoring also allows ... Keep Georgetown Beautiful Board of Directors. Now Im a ...
http://www.kab.org/kabtoo ...ox.asp?id=360&rid=361 |
14. export import europe, business directory europe, manufacturer marketplace
... consoles, games, and accessories. Get the facts before they pass you by. ... Added: Jun 17 ... ... but also includes a myspace pet and a graffiti message board for myspace profiles. ... Added: May ...
http://eu-business-direct ...om/directory/new.html |
15. Rental car insurance
... http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/archives/car_rental_ins.htm ... as, of spoken be to nature as facts; your borrow we arrived, we ... manifested Directors that of of Board the institution. She has ...
http://1746.gybqn0.info/ |
16. C:\Documents and Settings\Bill\Desktop\ane406.html
... Techniques in Archaeology. NY: Facts on File, 1980. Cloth. Very ... of plates. Bottom corner of top board bumped, else VG. $25.00 [15995 ... W.F., ed.. Medinet Habu Graffiti Facsimiles. Hard Cover ...
http://www.bbsmith.com/home/ane.html |
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