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The History of Urban Graffiti And Some Of Its Founders

admin — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Depending on how you define it, the history of graffiti can go as far back as the cavemen writing petroglyphs in caves. The modern concept of graffiti, spray painting on public properties, broke onto the scene in the late 1960s on the subway cars of New York City.

Taki 183, a messenger from the Washington Heights area, had been drawing his name in thick black marker on just about anything he came in contact with on his travels throughout the city, especially the inside and outside of subway cars. Everybody saw the tag, but it wasn’t until 1971 when the New York Times did an article about him, that the practice caught on. Kids throughout the city began emulating Taki 183, hoping they could gain the same notoriety.

The subculture of modern graffiti was born out of the ‘style wars’ of the 1970s, The Golden Era. Artists wanted to out do each other with bigger and better tags on the sides of buildings, expanding from the subway car, though the subway car was still a major blank canvas. Spray paint cans replaced black markers and artists met to go over sketches to approve or disapprove of others work. During this time the practice spread outside of New York City across the country.

Urban Graffiti Etiquette: Do’s And Don’ts of Street Art

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

From the time of cavemen, graffiti has always been an intimate part of our culture. Nabateans, Greeks and Romans have all left their scribbling on canyon walls and buildings. Ancient Native Americans have inscribed the walls of El Morro with pictographs whose meanings can yet be deciphered. Graffiti is a legitimate and enduring form of human expression and a means of communicating today as well as a way of reaching out to those who come after us. So do create graffiti and do express your ideas with it. Use it to rub out the ugly and fill it with art. Do not use it to destroy good stuff and replace it with yours. That is vandalism.
Create your good art with good intentions in bleak corners and dreary alleys. Spread your voice and your message and share with your community. Art is a superb form of communication and street art communicates directly with urban dwellers. Graffiti speaks directly to all of us without pretense.
One graffiti writer blogged that personal property, small businesses and places of worship should be off limits. Another said that you should never do anything that your are not willing to be held accountable for. That sounds like good sense graffiti etiquette.

Is Urban Graffiti Art A Crime Or Not?

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

It takes an artist to create some of the graffiti on display, but at the same time, it is still a crime unless the artist has obtained permission from the property owners to create it. Graffiti is another art form displaying creativity and self-expression. Controversy rages over the right to place graffiti in public places. Some city governments have dedicated certain parts of their city to graffiti art.

The controversy is comparable to the continuing debate over the fine line between art and pornography. Some people think that because graffiti originated from the heart of city ghettos, and much of it created by gangs, that it is a punishable criminal offense. They refuse to see the creative talent involved. If you drive through a large city and observe some of the beautiful graffiti murals, there is no question that graffiti is art.

Today, you will see graffiti placed on canvas or other materials and displayed in museums and art galleries. Graffiti is like any art form, some is better then others and subject to individual interpretation. The crime lies not in the creative expression of the art itself, but in how graffiti found its way onto personal or government property.

Where To Find The Best Underground Graffiti

admin — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Underground graffiti is a unique and interesting form of art. While graffiti can be found in many cities, it’s often difficult to find high quality wall art. Most graffiti is either the name of an individual or a gang. While its possible to find unique and beautiful graffiti, it will require some work.

One of the most well-known graffiti artists in the world is Banksy, a UK resident. While no one knows Banksy’s real name, his artwork has sold for millions of dollars at major art houses. A genuine Banksy art piece will usually require the removal of a wall. Since the graffiti is more valuable than the surface it was painted on, many homeowners and companies are willing to destroy property to protect his artwork.

It’s a good idea to research graffiti artwork on the internet. While Banksy is one of the most well-known underground artists, it’s possible to find many new artists online. In addition, some underground forums can provide information on which cities are most likely to have graffiti art. Sometimes, a certain district or neighborhood in a city may be home to higher-quality graffiti art.

It’s also a good idea to ask local residents about graffiti art.