Graffiti Thoughts

For the most part, I'd say graffiti is art, or has the capacity to be art. 

Now, following that statement, what kind of graffiti can qualify as art?  Is it all inclusive, profanity, tags, bubble letters, politics, cartoon, life-like, and any other imagery?  Don't know, but I still believe in the first sentence.  I've been thinking about a certain youth centre I went to a few months ago, where they did this amazing thing: they created a space for youth to showcase their art.  The majority of space of this centre was the main floor, where a variety of skateboard equipment was set up, including two huge ramps on either end.  On the walls and equipment was a variety of graffiti- all different, and there were plans in place for more. 

Now, there's sill graffiti in the town itself, but it seems to me that providing kids and teens (and let's not forget adults) a space that welcomes their form of art is important.  I would like to wonder what any given community would look like if there were designated spaces (inside and out) for graffiti.  In particular I remember seeing the graffiti tunnel in London, England.  In all fairness, I have to bow to my inner skeptic and admit that yes, there will probably always be people who abuse their use of graffiti due to current laws or regulations... but what about those who use a non- permanent medium for creating their graffiti?

I can think of some alternatives to spray paint, but chalk and what's called 'green graffiti' are sticking out as favorites.  I've often used chalk myself, as a continuing project called 'Chalk Walk' which isn't a typical form of graffiti, but it's related I believe.  Instead of walls, it's sidewalks, and it's often in blocks of solid colour and sometimes text and imagery as more people join in its creation.  There aren't any tags per say, and it washes away on the next rainy day.  Green graffiti is basically creating a mixture that when applied to a surface grows moss within a week or more.  I have never seen this in action though.

                                                                     'Chalk Walk'


With any luck in the weather, I hope to do a 2012 installment of 'Chalk Walk', and as always, I hope and welcome community involvement.  Here's to sunny days.