I have this HUGE pet peeve. Graffiti! Hawaii spends way too much money just trying to keep up with painting over the graffiti that idiots (yes, IDIOTS!)deface public and even private property. I see these patchwork paint jobs all over the place. I wonder why the city doesn't just use the same color paint?There are organizations trying to combat graffiti, but it's an ongoing problem through the ages.
The son of my classmate, Diane did an Eagle Scout project mobilizing a huge group of volunteers to paint over graffiti that covered a skate park (above photo). We all felt really great seeing how nice it looked after we were done painting in the hot sun. (below photo)
I passed that park a few days ago and saw graffiti once again scrawled around it.
I saw this piece of wall defecation down the street from our house.
Somebody (I won't say who) said some of the graffiti is actually artistic. I was told that it's called Tagging where idiots decorate their name and call it art.
When we were in Japan three years ago, my brother took photos of graffiti we saw there.
You can see below where the owner or the city tried to paint over it. At least they used one color.
I don't consider graffiti art. We shouldn't make excuses for dunderheads defacing property. If they want to do this, they should do it on their own property, some place in the back yard where nobody has to see it. Or... hey, why not do it on a piece of canvas and stick it up on their own bathroom wall. That's where all cr-- belongs. Oops! Sorry... got carried away...
OK... that was my rant for the day.
I'm going to my happy place now and will try to think of something nice to write about. I've got Tai Chi tomorrow. That should calm me down.
I can understand your rant Kay. Graffiti is so unsightly.
ReplyDeleteI partly agree with you Kay, that graffiti in general is unsightly, though I think a skate park is probably okay and a place to expect graffiti, the whole sub-culture of graffiti and skateboarding seem to go together all over the world, and certainly I don't think the youngsters who use a skate park are too bothered by the graffiti. And then of course there's Banksy, who's become an internationally famous artist because of his graffiti. There's one wonderful piece of his work in Brighton, the kissing policemen (http://emgfo.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/banksy3.jpg), that's preserved with a perspex sheet over it, but still on the wall where he painted it.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti is an eyesore. Art? My Foot!! It's disrespect for other's property. In one way, I don't blame the kids. The parents should be made to clean it up because that respect should have been taught in the home. There, I said it.
ReplyDeleteWhether you consider graffiti art or not doing it on someone else's property is just wrong.
ReplyDeleteI have seen graffiti in many places in the world, but it seems worse in larger cities. We don't have a lot of it around Bellingham, but of course it's still there. I agree that it is disrespectful, but it also seems to be a fad that kids have embraced. I hope it will go away one day when they get tired of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised Japan has graffiti...it seems to be universal...sadly.
ReplyDeleteTagging reminds me of cats and dogs going around marking everything with their 'scent'.
ReplyDeleteAnd for heavens sake, yes, use one color of paint! We do here.
When graffiti artists are given designated areas to paint they produce work of outstanding skill. The rubbishy graffiti is horrible!
ReplyDeleteThere used to be graffiti on the walls and fences in my neighborhood, but, for some strange reason, it has disappeared -- unless I am blind. Knock on wood! I agree with you: Graffiti is crap!
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that many places, like Hawaii, use whatever leftover paint they have to cover graffiti and the cover-up looks just as bad as the graffiti!
ReplyDeleteThere was a "gang" in Vegas -- a group of former gang-bangers -- who policed a neighborhood cleaning up graffiti when they found it. Since they were toughs themselves, it didn't take long for word to get around that the neighborhood was off limits to spray painters!
Yes, what a mess. Yes, the one you painted looks like a mural. They use many colors because they use donated paint.
ReplyDeleteHugs....
How prevalent was graffiti in japan?
ReplyDeleteI think rebellious and alienated youth isn't soley a problem in the US, but I'll bet its more prevalent here.
As social services are cut back (forcibly) in that place where responsible government spending meets finite resources, you are going to have to find more happy places, I'm afraid.
walt
We saw plenty of graffiti in Europe, too, Kay.
ReplyDeleteI agree, defacing someone else's property is NOT art, but we saw some graffiti evidencing great skill on the part of the graffitist. It is such a shame to see skillful artists wasting their time performing criminal acts.
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
I hate to see graffiti on any thing. We have a town next to ours that has lots of buildings with it on. I like your rant, we all do. Thank you for coming by.
ReplyDeletepart of the rationale for this is a protest against the concretization of everything. Graffitti abound everywhere in Europe. It's an Italian word, after all. I think there are more in Belgium than anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteIn some places municipalities are fighting back with colorful paint and inviting artists to make murals.
One well known graffitti artist in Zurich was called "The Sprayer." He painted big headed stick figure aliens around town. And of course there is Bansky.
We all have our gripes. My cousin's is those orange cones everywhere.
understand, Kay.
ReplyDeleteSpeaks to the lack of creative outlets for youth? Their rebellious frustration with how we've handled things? Mindless conformity & coolness?
Warm Aloha from Town Side
Comfort Spiral
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I agree, how annoying. Enjoy your Tai Chi, it's all you can do about this problem.
ReplyDeleteYou should see the Graffiti in our capital! It´s actually shocking when you see a wall without Graffiti! Especially the fliers they stick on every wall when there is a political rally or vote. Terrible!
ReplyDeleteIt's disgusting.
ReplyDeleteOne city erected a large wall on a downtown corner that could be seen from almost any angle and its purpose was for graffiti artists to do things that were considered artistic. I think it worked for that city and maybe still does.
ReplyDeleteStopping it is another problem. I don't think they will ever stop it.
Did you know our Roman alphabet got it cursive start as a result of Romans writing their Capital letters rapidly and carelessly on the Coliseum walls? True.
And it was acknowledged, at the time, to be graffiti.
this is really awesome kind of work i love it
ReplyDeleteKay, have a good laugh by rewatching the Monty Python Roman graffiti scene
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIAdHEwiAy8
And I agree!!!
ReplyDelete