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Graffiti - Graffiti Removal
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. Institutional Purchasing - Graffiti
... By Topic By Type Activity By Jurisdiction By Category Products Overview Cleaning Computers Graffiti Removal Hybrid Vehicles Paint Overview Issues & Impacts Resources Print Guide Paper Overview ...
http://www.newdream.org/procure/graffiti.php |
2. Community Pride Graffiti Removal
... OFFICE - 020 8592 7576 Home Company Services Contact Us Before and After Watch it Work Links Community Pride Graffiti Removal Offensive, intrusive and unsightly graffiti has become a disease making ...
http://www.graffitiremovalessex.com/ |
3. GRAFFITI REMOVAL CREW GIVES FRESH COAT TO WEED & SEED AREA
... J. Luecke, Mayor RELEASE FROM: FOR RELEASE: Office of the Mayor Monday, June 27, 2005 GRAFFITI REMOVAL CREW GIVES FRESH COAT TO WEED & SEED AREA Starting today and continuing through August, the South ...
http://www.ci.south-bend. ...5/062705_Graffiti.htm |
4. Cleaning power jet washing pressure steam hot graffitti removal grease fat o...
Graffiti & Gum Removal HFM Cleaning 01677 428786 HFM Cleaning Water Jetting equipment sales No overspray systems Graffiti removal Gum removal Wet Blasting Drain Jetting & Inspections Wallpaper ...
http://www.hfmcleaning.com/clean5.html |
5. City of Nedlands - Graffiti Removal
City of Nedlands - Graffiti Removal News | Online Payments | Community Consultation | Community Directory | Report a Problem | Make a Request | EmploymentTendersCouncil PublicationsCouncil Agendas ...
http://www.nedlands.wa.go ...73/graffiti_remova.pm |
6. City of Fremont - Graffiti Removal Volunteers
... Adopt-A-Street > Contact Coordinators > Creek Cleanups > Featured Programs > Graffiti Removal Volunteers > Storm Drain Stenciling Employee Login Home> Community> ...
http://www.ci.fremont.ca. ...nteering/Graffiti.htm |
7. Graffiti Removal Service
- Aquatic Centre - Community Development - Council People - Employment - Key Documents - Meetings - Online Map-TV/GIS - Rates - Services - Sister Cities Graffiti Removal in New Plymouth District Free ...
http://www.newplymouthnz. .../graffiti_busters.htm |
8. Graffiti removal - Hydro-Dynamix
... DOMESTIC CLEANING COMMERCIAL CLEANING CLEANING ACTIVITIES; CARPETS UPHOLSTERY HARD FLOORS EXTERNAL FLOOD, FIRE AND ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE RESTORATION GRAFFITI REMOVAL QUOTATION REQUEST FRANCHISE ...
http://www.hydro-dynamix.com/graffiti.asp |
9. Enviro Crime Graffiti removal - Enfield Council Website
... Graffiti removal What We Do We will remove racist or offensive graffiti, from Council-owned property such as street nameplates, benches etc., within 24 hours of it being reported to us. For graffiti ...
http://www.enfield.gov.uk .../Graffiti removal.htm |
10. Chewing Gum & Graffiti Removal
... uk TEL: 01403 273444 FAX: 01403 273445 CHEWING GUM and GRAFFITI REMOVAL, SELF-CONTAINED MOBILE STEAM CLEANERS, and the TRAFALGAR DRY STEAM GUM REMOVER CHEWING GUM GRAFFITI SELF-CONTAINED MOBILE STEAM ...
http://www.trafalgarclean ...nt.co.uk/graffiti.htm |
11. Graffiti Management Program: Application for Financial Assistance for Graffi...
... Free Paint Out Kits Commercial Graffiti Removers Applications for Financial Assistance for Graffiti Removal Community Paint-Outs Mural Program Mural Gallery Preventing Graffiti Graffiti By-Law FAQs ...
http://www.city.vancouver ...fiti/applications.htm |
12. Graffiti Removal, Paint Removal
Graffiti Removal Mobile Wash & Steam Cleaning A division of Mobile Services Serving the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas and states for over 20 years. Before Graffiti may be considered art to some ...
http://www.mobilepressure .../graffiti_removal.htm |
13. Graffiti Removal - MSA Department of Transportation
Jump to Page Content Home | Documents | Services | Projects-Programs | About | Sitemap GRAFFITI REMOVAL What is Graffiti? Graffiti is the unauthorized spraying of paint or the application of chalk ...
http://www.sacdot.com/ser .../Graffiti_Removal.asp |
14. Graffiti Removal Services - Graffiti Cleaning - Perth, Western Australia
Surface Restoration Graffiti Removal Smoke Cleaning Pool Restoration Limestone Cleaning Building Wash Downs Other Services Graffiti Removal Services Perth, Western Australia FCT Surface Cleaning ...
http://www.fctcleaning.co ...ti_removal_perth.html |
15. JC Cleaning Contractors Inc. - Graffiti Removal Toronto
... Graffiti Removal Toronto Graffiti Removal Toronto Post Construction Cleanup Toronto Home : Home & Garden : Construction : JC Cleaning Contractors Inc. - Graffiti Removal Toronto Visit Our Website JC ...
http://www.shopincanada.c ...al_Toronto/428852.htm |
16. Graffiti Removal Limited
... 01256 880 651 Home Company Services Contact Us Testimonials Find an Operator Before and After Watch it Work Environment Processes Become a graffiti remover Licensees Operator login Graffiti Removal ...
http://www.graffitiremovalltd.com/ |
17. London Borough of Croydon | Graffiti Removal
... Environment Health & Social Care Housing Jobs & Careers Leisure Transport & Streets Graffiti Removal We aim to remove all graffiti promptly. See below to find out more and to fill in a form ...
http://www.croydon.gov.uk ...raffitiremoval?a=5441 |
18.
... Community Leisure Business Planning > Home > Services > Neighbourhood Nuisance > Graffiti Removal View printable version Home Services Neighbourhood Nuisance Abandoned Vehicles Bonfires ...
http://basingstoke.gov.uk ...d/graffitiremoval.htm |
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