Graffiti Permanent Marker Tagging

Graffiti - Graffiti Permanent Marker Tagging

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.

1. FakturaGalleryExhibitions
... alliances or subculture fame, tagging is one the most prevalent and ... to forego the very nature of graffiti. It is an art form that ... in the 70's, bringing a permanent marker to the shitter was ...
http://homepage.mac.com/k ...alleryExhibitions.htm

2. Neighbourhood Support
... capable of leaving a permanent stain on various ... has been replaced by "tagging". The typical tagger ... of $1000. Vandals Graffiti vandals are often ... paints, aerosols and marker pens used are often ...
http://www.nsupport.co.nz/graffiti.html

3. Boise Guardian: MAYORÄôS HOTLINE May 22 to 26
... wrote a permanent note on the trash can itself with a marker to put ... M/CC BPD Ombudsman 5/26/2006 Graffiti: I am calling to report what looks like serious tagging on a large light pole on the ...
http://www.boiseguardian. ...ine_may_22_to_26.html

4. NARPAC-RECENT ANALYSES-Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital
... As it developed, facilities to house the permanent offices of the government have been built to promote the efficient conduct of governmental functions. These buildings were also meant to serve as a ...
http://www.narpac.org/REXCOMPL.HTM

5. Ariakon Paintball: Safety First
... won't kill you...or even do any serious permanent injury...it certainly doesn't feel good and ... ... no personally eradicating graffiti with your paintball marker, no tagging of the security guards at ...
http://forum.ariakon.com/ ...asp?TID=4662&get=last

6. Graffiti
... on an object with a marker (there are many ... the express purpose of tagging strive to be "all ... glass. Unlike graffiti with paints and ... off. It results in a permanent marking that can ...
http://www.vandalwatch.citysoup.ca/Graffiti/

7. City Of Oxnard California | Oxnard Police Department
... the Watch Patrol until more permanent equipment can be secured ... catch in the act of painting graffiti. This is not as dangerous or ... spray paint can or marker away. Watch for TAGGING CREWS in cars ...
http://www.oxnardpd.org/p ...hoodwatchhandbook.asp

8. new eyes's February 2006 Archives
... image is a bit more permanent. Here's a happy note ... He's an old school graffiti artist in the line ... text written with marker, spray paint, and the ... four people I'm tagging kate M jennie W cat ...
http://neweyes.atlblogs.com/archives/2006_02.html

9. The Village Voice: Power Plays
... to possess spray paint or a permanent markeróand so designer Mark ... can, broad tipped indelible marker or etching acid to any person ... but in reality, graffiti isn't just tagging. In fact ...
http://www.villagevoice.c ...s/archives/002583.php

10. Press
... aerosol paint can and marker pens in hands ... a five-part special on tagging. It made the activity ... financial burden for graffiti in other ways, as ... or use alternative tools, like permanent markers .
http://www.liftoffinc.com/press.asp

11. Graffiti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
... in either spray paint or marker. "Tagging" is often the example ... the graffiti. This means that graffiti forms incorporate elements ... Spray paint and broad permanent markers are commonly used ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti

12. The New York City Transit Authority in the 1980s
... Yard expansions to store out of service trains would reduce the possibility of graffiti vandals tagging trains stored outside of yards. The yards to be expanded were 239 th St., Unionport and Coney ...
http://www.nycsubway.org/ ...story-nycta1980s.html

13. Center for Problem-Oriented Policing
... on them. Engraving, stenciling, or using permanent marker to imprint the school s name, logo, or ... ... in the case of gang-related graffiti, the likelihood of retaliatory tagging. Repairing damage quickly ...
http://www.popcenter.org/ ...blem-vandalism_p3.htm

14. Graffiti Intro
... art, consists of a writer's signature, usually done in permanent marker or spray paint. Artistically, tagging is the root of graffiti, and a skill a writer must become proficient at before ...
http://www.graffiti.org/faq/graffiti_intro.html