Graffiti

[sheltiefan]

 

[javier]

This is a beautiful capture. :thumbup:

 

[sheltiefan]

Thank you Sir...I appreciate the feedback!

 

[dtzitko]

A couple from a shoot I did with a friend's motorcycle.

 

[Prometheus]

Generally speaking, graffiti writers (at least here) go by these rules. Although they aren't limited to them:

No religious buildings
No houses or cars unless it's abandoned

Commercial buildings and commercial property are OK, public property is definitely OK and usually the main target.

I grew up around all sorts of graffiti, so it feels like home when I'm in an area with a lot of it.

Gang graffiti is not art, it's purely to mark territory. It's easy to distinguish gang graffiti from what a graffiti writer has painted. Much easier if you already know what gangs are around the area you're looking at.

Notice how I didn't say graffiti artist. Some graffiti is art in the traditional sense, yes, but the majority of graffiti writers are bombers. They go out and hit an area as hard as possible to get their name out. The bombers I know have enough talent to go out and do some serious painting, but they usually don't bother. I do consider bombing 'art', but in a weird, urban calligraphic sense.

As far as what people think, most of the graffiti writers could care less. Getting all huffy-and-puffy about it and re-painting the wall with a big, ugly mismatched splotch only makes it look worse. It'll probably be hit again soon afterwards if the writer cares enough.

And for the record, BANKSY IS NOT THAT GREAT. And he's NOT A GRAFFITI ARTIST.
He's a street artist. Graffiti writers don't use stencils.

 

[J.Kendall]

The kids who go around tagging people's houses and cars are just the ones who think they're little thugs.

 

[TM4RT]

k, I have some more from my project 7 Colors/7 Days:

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/tm4rt/sets/72157623450317441/]

 

[flashgordio]

wass this??

 

[Eton]

This is a place behind a town where I live, literally the entire bridge and the surrounding rocks are all graffitied

 

[MayWood]

Vancouver B.C.

 

[TM4RT]

DONE with my 7 Colors/7 Days project! (this photo was one of the last days photos) Check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tm4rt/sets/72157623450317441/

 

[javier]

 

[bitteraspects]

work in progress.
get some!

 

[TheSolicitor]

This is only a small sampling of the back of a building on Folly Road on James Island, SC. Apparently the owner of the building was approached by some artists, and he was all about it. There are many more photos, but until I take care of making a Flickr account, someone would have to host for me.

You'd Never Know - TheSolicitor - Photoblog.com

Yes, I did take these photos, and this was maybe a week after I had gotten my camera--I need to go out with my wide angle and get some more...

EDIT: As to the question at hand, I think there's a difference between graffiti and tagging. A tag is a method of identification for an artist within the community, but too many people see tags and automatically assume gang activity. Tagging is relatively bland in my opinion, and it's CRIMINAL if you do it on private property or don't have permission of the property owner to engage the building. Actual graffiti pieces, ones that take a great deal of time, display the talent of the artist, and express the artist's personality. Is it art? Usually--art is like pornography--you know it when you see it.

I don't consider my photographs art, typically, but sometimes, I get lucky and someone wants to buy a picture from me. Either way, it's a level of expertise and dedication to a craft that I don't have.

 

[bitteraspects]

As for the comment earlier about not seeing graffiti @ a museum. The picture I posted above is being completed @ the Contemporary Arts Museum here in Honolulu. I will post more pictures of these pieces as they're completed.