nohomers

"This is extremely rude. Sixteen year olds are often enamored with music, art, and activities that go against the grain of the establishment. That does not mean they are criminals."

Unfortunately my neighborhood seems to have a number of young men who are enamored with "street art" and view every wall, sign, car and truck as their canvas. You may view them as artists but to me they are criminals and should not be encouraged.

persimmondeb

This is why I thought our murals might interest Glasgowgirl's son. It is street art, it's perfectly legal and fairly highly regarded, and is a positive force in the community.

Aduchamp1

Adults watch the Sopranos, Goffather, etc., etc. There is a fascination with the illegal in all ages, economic, and social strata.

J_Correa

Audchamp - I figured you knew the difference between graffiti art and tags, just wanted to make sure others did. There was a bit of ambiguity in your sentence - just looking to clear that up

And on the general issue of criminality - yes, graffiti for the most part is a criminal act. There are property owners that give permission or commission graffiti art, but for the most part, it is done without the property owner's permission. That said, the ciminality doesn't negate the creativity and skill required.

Glasgowgirl

Thank you all! Appreciate your comments and I in no way condone the "vandalism" aspect which we have all suffered from. He has moved on from "tagging" and fortunately in Scotland there are legal areas set aside that allow the budding "Banksy" to express him/herself. As I said....I would like him to be inspired......not arrested.

Glasgowgirl

Thanks McLaurie. Exactly what I was looking for.

artman

Gekko and Bardo,
There are lots of things is this world that are illegal. I think its pretty well documented that the large banks that you and I use everyday have been involved with some pretty illegal Enron type accounting practices. My point is that we live in a world that is not always fair. Do I like seeing tags everywhere...well no not really. I do like interesting graffitti art..well yes I do,and more importantly I try to understand from whence this ART FORM comes from. It tends to come from a segment of society that doesn't always get the breaks that you and I have had. It tends to come from a segment of society that lives a completely different lifestyle than you or I have. It tends to come from a segment of society that is at least attempting to have a voice, a identity in a world that doesn't always recognize them. Its good to remember that Jazz at one time in parts of this country was illegal.

bardo1

I cannot excuse anyone spray painting my property without my express permission regardless of whehter society gave them a break or not. There are other ways to have a voice. Some of history's greatest artists were poor beyond imagination - if you can afford to buy or steal cans of spray paint, then you can do likeways with parer/pencil/paintbrushes.

wliwl

If I had a 16-year old who was "totally consumed with street art" I think I'd enroll him in an art appreciation or art history class QUICKLY.

Street art is ugly and severely devalues and marginalizes urban neighborhoods. It just isn't a good thing and it's pretty hard to turn it into a good thing.

Take a great, one-on-one tour of the architecture of NYC or the Met instead.

As so often with teens, they just need a little re-channeling and little broadening of their horizons, and where better to get that than from a parent?

Glasgowgirl

Dont agree. We should celebrate diversity. I think that like a lot of others on this site you are confusing vandalism with creativity. Have to say that if I had the type of 16 year old, who allowed himself to be enrolled into an Art Appreciation or Art History class because I thought it was a good thing.....I would worry about the next generation. As a matter of fact he is doing both to a very high standard at school. You obviously have a very low opinion of the youth of today.....maybe you should speak to some of them.

artman

Well if your hell bent to look at them as criminals I guess it would be a good idea to ask what have we done in this society to cause this type of issue to be a concern. Sounds like our educational system stinks.

TwoFatFeet

Not ALL street art is ugly. Just because it's illegal doesn't mean it's not "art". Yes, MUCH of it is ugly and poorly done, but the good stuff is skillful and beautiful.

Several graffiti artists have had their work appear in the very museum -- and others, including the Whitney, the Brooklyn Museum, etc -- wliwl tells Glasgowgirl to take her kid to.

Illegal? Yes. Always ugly? No, no way.

Gekko

Good grief .. I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry at the sheery lunacy/stupidity.

I'll choose to laugh.

nytraveler

I hear yesterday about a gallery that was having a show of New York graffiti - but the phone rang and I didn't get the details.

To find it you might check out

New York Magazine web site - which you can search for special events by topic and date

NY1.com - web site of the local 24 hour news channel - and I think may have mentioned the show

artman

Gekko,
Beauty is in the mind of the beholder as long as you agree that not all minds are created equal.

wliwl

"We should celebrate diversity."

Tell that to the people who are stuck living in blighted, "graffiti" drenched neighborhoods.

bardo1

I wonder how the Whitney, the Brooklyn Museum, etc. would feel/react if those same artists secretly painted those same works on their buildings?

TwoFatFeet

Bardo, no need to wonder -- they'd be pretty pissed.

I won't argue the illegality of graffiti. Just saying that much of it is really impressive, and apparently many museum curators think so too.

TwoFatFeet

glasgowgirl -- I wonder if your son has been to this site...

http://www.zephyrgraffiti.com/

Not all of the work shown here is nice, but a lot of it is pretty great. Zephyr was one of the NYC originators.

Aduchamp1

Equating an interest in grafitti and criminality is simply unforgiving and hypocritical. I am sure those who are complaining never cheated on their taxes, cheated on their boss, cheated on their wife, broke traffic laws, stole something as a child, lied to family members, etc.

What makes me laugh is the insinuation of hip hop into the suburban culture. Whites move to the burbs to escape the city and then their children where their pants to show their underwear, listen to hiphop and pierce their noses and other places.

It is their worst nightmare. And now you have some kid from Glasgow who is a good student from a good school with an understanding Mom, twisting knickers. Go kid.