Tamara Gilmore

Professor Slobod

English 113B

8 March 2012

Urban Art is a Crime ?

            Vandalism for decades has been a huge problem all over the United States. Currently, it can be classified as much more than just “writing” on public property. Instead vandalism consists of defiling previously owned items of any sort and an act of “disrespect” towards things and even groups of people. It is done in various forms and often faster than anyone expects. While many people are losing sight of punishing small acts of vandalism, many are turning their focus to what has been a serious issue for more than thirty ongoing years, graffiti crimes and tagging. Many people have been caught and punished due to the crime of vandalism by graffiti even when it is harmless or speaks a positive message well needed in the community. Graffiti has been done to mark territory and still has. However, there are various art pieces that are graffiti and are mind boggling. Many of these marvelous works promote the positive well being of people and their willingness to change their current ways while introducing change for the future. Graffiti is an urban art form that is often misunderstood and misrepresented but Graffiti artists should be free to express their artwork but only in permitted areas.

            Graffiti initially classified as an underground art form, started to surface its head around the late nineteen sixties and its birth place stands identified as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Around that time the individuals engaged in the activity were known as “political activists” that wanted to promote change in their individual lives or even throughout their country. Many would see this as an ineffective way of gaining attention but it did the exact opposite. Before any messages were written, people first needed to be known so they wrote their name. Early names that could be found throughout the cities were “Cornbread and Cool Earl” (History of Graffiti). Shortly after Cornbread and Cool Earl made headlining news, a few others began doing the same thing and arose in Manhattan and gave birth to what was known as “writers.” This name “Writers” was a positive way to classify these individuals in fact they were rarely ridiculed for their work. People saw it did no harm and in fact it was done so often that it became part of the offered sub culture in the poorer neighborhoods according to Professor Goldman (Graffiti Art: An essay…). Many of these writers were creative enough they created aliases, or nicknames, of their choice in which many included the street name they lived on. Such names were: Taki 183, Julio 204, Frank 207, and Joe 136 (History of Graffiti). These artists were a mystery to the public and so they were given the most recognition throughout the city and people wanted to know who they were (History of Graffiti). The nature of a writer was becoming so common that people sought out to change their way of making a difference. Instead of merely writing their names, they began to write sayings and logos and different things that would make people stop, think, and wonder about the world they live in. Works like “Stay High 149” and much later on “Hope” with Obama’s face on it, were inspirational, had meaning and kept people thinking. However, influential people in the government and higher sources of power disliked this work and they created laws against it. Due to the uprising of the law against “writing”, many artists were forced to do their work elsewhere, more so in much more dangerous areas. These dangerous areas were more like last resorts because there were no permitted areas in which the artist could do their work. If there were permitted areas then the artists did not have to risk their health or well being for the work they love to do. If there were more places like Venice beach around where people were free to do their art, there probably would not be many laws against it. Even though, they have a great love for the work, there were a lot of negatives things that arose because of it.

            While graffiti was blossoming by way of recognition and positive thinking, some trouble that arose had many people saw it was a “cause to be famous.” If one was known they could earn respect and in most cases people began becoming known for their work in dangerous areas and places people would think twice about going before actually going. When graffiti first started out it was done in the open, for everyone to see and they were done in more forbidden areas mainly due to safety from being caught but not from the heights and depths they were being done. Their artwork moved from the side of abandoned walls to the bottom of bridges. Once those places filled up then people began moving their work to the bottom of subway and train entrances. They even moved their work to freight trains. The artwork was seen practically everywhere but public officials began making laws that forbade the painting of any type of publicly owned item of any sort. So painting on any wall, any train or anything they once enjoyed painting on was off limits and considered a punishable crime. The law had changed many times and saw it was unfair to be punished in the past for a changed law. Few fought to lift the law like famous graffiti artist “Saber” significantly later in 2009 where he fought to lift the mural ban after the city of Los Angles painted over his mural. Known as an international graffiti legend, Saber holds the record for the largest graffiti art piece in the world. It was completed along the LA River in nineteen ninety seven where it stood untouched for a total of twelve years. After such a long period of time, the city of Los Angeles spent approximately eight hundred thirty seven dollars to paint over it in two thousand and nine. Their reasons consisted are that “the art work was done without the consent of the owner and that the place was a privately owned space” (Saber, Graffiti Artist…) It is arguable that the owner could have given Saber permission to paint on the LA River, because the river has been vacant long before he began working on it. There is no doubt that Saber knew of his rights but he had no idea he would be sent to jail for a total of two years for a long finished work. What he did had consequences but he knew very little of what  followed but with continuously changing laws, it would be hard to say if he really knew the worth of what he did or not. It should be impossible to charge people on past crimes they unknowingly commit and for that he should not have had to serve the time he did for an act. Something as harmless as writing ones name should not be heinous enough just to throw someone in jail. Instead there should be specified places where graffiti artists can let go and express everything they have bottled on the inside waiting to be set free. There have not been any type of places such as these until one opened up in the early nineteen eighties in Venice Beach.

            Venice Beach has been known as a tourist attraction for more than thirty years. People come from all over just to experience the joy in the weird and quirky atmosphere. One can experience the joy of walking along the shore and lying in the sand. Or they can walk along the boardwalk and buy collector’s items from vendors as well as engage in street performing. What also makes this place unique is its graffiti wall. Famous for various artworks, Venice Beach has a few walls dedicated to those that feel the need to let go and paint. In any way shape or form, artist have come and gone leaving their names and whatever else they feel free to portray. This wall was specifically donated for that purpose and has been part of the reason for lowering rates of graffiti t and vandalism crimes throughout the city of Venice. If we want to see a change in the rates of graffiti and vandalism, there should be some sort of investment in places or walls where they can paint instead of penalized for the laws they do not know.

            Although graffiti started off as a way to be well known in an area, over time it transformed and took the role of something greater. It became a way to express ones motives and its way to political change. It even challenged the law and justice to itself as an art form. Many times we as people might find ourselves writing on public property and getting away with it, while there are those who paint murals and go beyond themselves for a greater good and are being thrown in jail for it. We as a people, if we want to keep this art form alive in a positive way, need to invest in areas where we are free to express ourselves and influences others for a greater good.  

Work Cited

Akabr, Arifa, and Paul Vallely. "Graffiti:street Art or Crime?" The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 18 July 2008. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. graffiti-street-art-ndash-or-crime-868736.html

Eric Aka Deal Cia, and Spar One Pft. "History of Graffiti." Davey D's Hip Hop Corner-Where Hip Hop & Politics Meet. 1998. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. <http://www.daveyd.com/historyofgraf.html>.

Goldman, Professor. "Graffiti Art: An Essay Concerning The Recognition of Some Forms of Graffiti As Art." Graffiti Art. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. <http://www.graffiti.org/faq/stowers.html>.

Post, The Huffington. "Saber, Graffiti Artist, Fights To Lift Mural Ban In LA." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 13 Oct. 2011. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/artist-saber-fights-to-li_n_1009758.html>.