I guess the answer to that question is whether the graffiti was invited? Whether it offends? Whether it helps add beauty to the spot?
Here are a few pictures of the “graffiti” wall at the Hospital where I work. An artist was hired to paint a 100 foot span of wall on the inside of our parking garage back in 2003. Let me tell you, I love seeing this painting each day. Over the years, people have taken it upon themselves to personalize the wall. Which I think is totally cool, as long as there is no profanity or innuendo. Here is where patients have thanked their nurses or Doctors. The family has written prayers for healing. Widowed spouses have written love sentiments. Children have memorialized a parent or grandparent.
You’ll have to excuse the picture quality, these were taken with my phone.
As you can see, the graffiti here is really pretty special. Every now and then you’ll see a full name or a date. But mostly it’s written by the anonymous amongst us.
Not one profane word. I think this is similar to the playing of classical music in the roughest subways stations in New York. Then they see less crime there because the behavior of the vandals has been elevated, from hearing the classical music. Either the bad guys can’t handle “genius” in music and high tail it, or it speaks to the higher side of the would-be vandals nature.
Other than this wall, the only other time I’ll see graffiti these days is on the side of a box car of a train. I always watch the train go by because every now and then I’ll spot some real talent! And I always hope that the person behind it is using it…..using it for good.
I found this alphabet on line. It looked like a simple enough graffiti for me to draw myself. Using my usual tools I proceeded to write out GRAFFITI in my moleskine. This was fun!! The only thing I wish I had more of was paper, got a little tight down there toward the “i.t.i”. I don’t do much word art. Probably because I have a very limited idea of hand-drawn fonts.
What do you think of Graffiti? Dare I ask, have you ever graffiti’d?
Related Links:
