Some graffiti eye sores of our neighborhood.
Is there is a way to channel this graffiti energy into something positive?
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Graffiti
3 comments:
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The answer is plain as the paint on the walls... YES! It's no coincidence that from an historical perspective the explosion of graffiti happened as we began cutting back on art and music opportunities in the schools.
ReplyDeleteWe need to expand art, music, and performance activities in our schools and once again make them regular parts of the curriculum. Not only will young people have a legitimate, productive outlet for their creative expression, but they will also feel better about themselves and more confident. This will go a looooong way to eliminating one of the main causes of graffiti... the need for recognition.
The answers are simple and obvious. Neanderthal thinking at the top seems eternally penny wise, but pound foolish.
Yes. We find the money to clean up the mess. Let's find the money to support young artists.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of the graffiti writers in the pictures are good artists. They need a venue. Their creativity demands expression. Our un-creativity gives kids no space so they take it.
Right now you can click on over to see pictures of kids doing graffiti at Haven Arts a gallery and education center in Mott Haven havenarts.org
It's all in the way we look at things and how we nurture talent. There's an artist in every person, and an entrepreneur. Find the money to make a little loan so a kid can buy a board or a canvas or take a class.
I watched a documentary about Keith Haring last night. He was getting arrested for chalk drawings on empty subway ad panels. Then he was selling the same stuff for $10,000 a picture. Soon he was given walls to paint in every major city of the world.
Ben Stock of Brainpower
art business education for homeless LGBT youth
of course there is no better example of what you're saying than in the Bronx with Tats Cru, one time graffiti vandals who have become world renowned artists.
ReplyDeletethe larger question is how come we all know the obvious answers, but still have to fight to have the right people listen to them?