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Graffiti - Graffiti Tagging Tips
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. Secret Witness - Graffiti Campaign
... Links Pays Rewards for Tips Leading to Arrest of Graffiti ... s Office, will begin erasing graffiti throughout the Carson City ... on notebooks to practice their tagging," said District Attorney ...
http://www.secretwitness.com/graffiti/index.html |
2. Manhattan Wardrobe Supply: Wardrobe Supplies - Film, TV, Theater
... Shipping Tags Tagging Guns Tagging Gun Refills Boxes Tape Tissue ... Color Moment Sprays Streaks & Tips Sprays Nu-Life Sprays Magix ... Tree Sap, Bird Droppings, Graffiti, and Dyes. Directions: Use ...
http://wardrobesupplies.com/store/m2_mjclean.html |
3. Alicante juice
... canon s500 astro photography art graffiti tagging panasonic fz20 uk panasonic sv av10 ... ... cd rom tgce 7500 diesel generator ebay selling tips womens clothing jet blue engine maintenance ...
http://alicante-juice.nagy.lubin.pl/ |
4. Web Graffiti 2.0
... staff blog Transit Authority : business travel tips Featured Services Find an Online Degree ... ... Web. The key is a device called "tagging" (from the slang for graffiti). You see something online, you ...
http://www.fastcompany.co ...ext-tech-support.html |
5. City Manager's Office Home
... leaders and citizens. Acting to remove or paint over graffiti immediately to discourage tagging. Giving businesses and homeowners tips to prevent or treat graffiti. Contacting paint retailers ...
http://www.sioux-city.org ..._manager/graffiti.asp |
6. Press Release
... 2004. The site also includes tips on good practice and training ... orders, and electronic tagging for young people, there has ... neighbours, boy racers, and graffiti; and over 1,500 on the spot ...
http://www.w-isles.gov.uk/press/060223a.htm |
7. ESP Online
... graffiti referred to as: "tagging", HipHop, pieces, throw up ... toward urban beautification, graffiti sub-culture erosion ... activity to call (416) 222-TIPS anonymously. When you step ...
http://www.esponline.ca/groups.htm |
8. BDI Valentine Stalker 2004
... AngelFire DreamWater Graffiti ** Netscape WebCities ... Also, be very careful when tagging boards that your URL is ... this page often for further tips, hints, suggestions, updates ...
http://bdistalker.blogdrive.com/ |
9. Notes From A Caf© : Travel stories from the deep end: Seven Things You Shou...
... About Brussels Lynn 29 May 2006 Travel Tips Belgium Earlier this month, Tonje and I ... ... a major destination also means plenty of graffiti and tagging around the city. Janneken Pis, the ...
http://notesfromacafe.net ...d-know-about-brussels |
10. Knowing Art by PJ Brunet » Tagging
... day, programmers calling me for tips, newspaper reporters looking ... Interview Library Metadata Tagging Music Privacy Process ... myspace large pic ( Google ) graffiti contact tables ( Google ...
http://metadata.knowingart.com/tagging/ |
11. Cut Out + Keep Blog ~ By Cat Morley - Blog
... Podcasts Ramblings Reviews Tips Writing + Articles ... side. Knitta are a team of graffiti knitters who are "warming ... one car antenna at a time" by tagging public property with wool ...
http://www.catmorley.com/blog/?catergory=4 |
12. Tech Updates | News Headlines | Computers | Security
... tagging are concerned that the tagging devices may provide a direct ... on Monday offered users a few tips on how to avoid falling victim ... the front page with online graffiti. Trojan targets Google ...
http://www.tech-updates.com/news14.html |
13. Database Guide
... Item Markings Special markings, heralds, graffiti, and the like User maintained, free format ... ... grouping or tagging the item so it can be retrieved in searches. (See Tips & Techniques.) Use ...
http://www.trackmytrains.com/database.htm |
14. PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about "Design and Making Things"...
... art. Not interested in most tagging and rather annoying smudge ... Night! ª PingMag Party! ª Top 5 Tips for PechaKucha Presenters ... today 31 Oct 2005 X - color: Graffiti in Mito 17 Oct 2005 Hardcore ...
http://www.pingmag.jp/200 ...chakucha-night-vol23/ |
15. Knowing Art by PJ Brunet » Communication
... none; Let me know if these tips were helpful. 6 comments Posts ... Interview Library Metadata Tagging Music Privacy Process ... myspace large pic ( Google ) graffiti contact tables ( Google ...
http://communication.knowingart.com/ |
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