RSSWriting on the Wall
It’s sad that most contemporary hip-hop consumers don’t realize that graffiti was once as big a part of the culture as bling bling and wack lyrics are today. When NY Mayor, Ed Koch was in office, “the buff,”a chemical wash that dissolved the paint off of trains, forever changed the art form. In fact, it’s widely accepted that the buff’s effectiveness in removing the art off of subway cars is the primary reason that the city’s moving canvases no longer exist. Fortunately enough, NY is still blessed with a speckle of random jewels. Props to Swagger for the fresh art.
5 Comments, Comment or Ping
*SB*
I love to see the artistry and culture expressed in graffiti and I do believe that it is an art form…when talking with a friend who is a tag (another name for graffiti) artist..he shared that tagging public work is liberating…
I dont think “the buff” was the best solution because people will find ways around that…we should embrace this new art form and provide spaces for artist to tag.
[Reply]
The Heart of the City
I know what you mean! People who have been the reason for the demise of Hip-Hop don’t even acknowledge all of the elements of Hip-Hop, including Graffiti. I have always been the one to glorify and admire great graffiti. Unfortunately here in Los Angeles our subway game aint all the way up, but we have our fair share of graffiti. The thing about it is I haven’t really seen anything dope lately. Although I did go to this program given by an organization called P.A.Y (Positive Alternative for Youth) and they have a program called Mosaic. What they did is get graffiti artist, upcoming hip hop acts, and just people off the streets to come together on a college campus. They set up these huge canvases and let these young kids go to work. I thought it was pretty dope. They showed all the aspects of being a graffiti artist, even to the point where two artists had the same tagging name, and battled for it on the spot. People see Graffiti as negative, “I don’t”. I feel if you don’t disrespect the church or certain places, then it’s all good. “If it’s art!” I think it gives a community “or” the right community a sense of culture.
[Reply]
"a mom"
Art is Art. And I love it. It is extremely important in our world. Without it there is nothing. BUT! don’t come by my house late at night and spray your name on my freshly painted building so someone else can come and spray theirs and so on. Yes I try to cover it up everytime so that you will stop. That ain’t art. Now if you have a plan or layout to do art than I would surely support art. There is a beautiful mural on the Opera lot wall near my house commissioned by the city. Great! all done by painting and tiny pieces of painted glass.
[Reply]
Keene
I love the graffiti art form!!! But in alot of cases toady I do agree with MOMZ! I agree to a point that you don’t have to vandalize someone’s home with a wack ass name piece. It makes me sick to see these faggots with no skill throw a 30 second piece up of only their name and think they’re hot shit, only for someone to come along and put a line through it in a few hours. What ever happened to complete compositions with the clouds and characters to complement and balance out the image of the name? What happened to the message that the picture was supposed to get across? I’m an art head, period. Alot of graffiti pieces were killin that asstact bullshit that Piccaso was producing
[Reply]
"a mom"
Your right! There are great artists out there yet to be discovered. I know a lot a places in the city that really need that talent. Like I said without out art life ia dull. There are some very nice art work on buildings through out the city that have been vandalized by these people who can’t appreciate talent. So they spray names etc. on them. This really bothers me.
[Reply]
Reply to “Writing on the Wall”
SEE ALSO
♦ Rob Mania - Drivin’ Me Wild Pt. 2
June 5, 2008
♦ Lag - Background Noise
June 14, 2008
♦ Leroy Kafka - Midnight Musings…
July 29, 2008
♦ Q - AOG: Key Messaging
March 31, 2008
♦ Q - AOG: Take a Break
March 24, 2008