Graffiti

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So I've been taking the Sacramento SF train once a week for the past month which along with some stunning bay views also gives you a front seat view on all the latest in graffiti. My question is what is up with these artists. It would be like the rest of the art world still doing variations on cave drawings. Almost nothing has changed since the 70's. 98% is stylized letters. It's strange that it has evolved into one of the most rigged art forms right along with ballet.  

During the pandemic, they stopped cleaning up graffiti for a while and much of the town, especially along I-5 through North Portland, got covered.  A lot of it was pretty cool art, while some of it not so much.

Eventually, the city painted over it, but within days, it reappeared.  Some of it is in really inaccessible places under bridges and overpasses and wonder how they did it.  Mad skills.

 

"I saw your female with them too.  What's up with her? I have been hearing she has been giving that shit to all those graffiti guys.

Yo, shut the fuck up Chico man.

Man, I would paint three of those murals for some of that ass."

^^^

I like the reference from the Wild Style movie and Professor Booty by the Beastie Boys. (sampled from the movie). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IehdeQZnWdk

"The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls,
And tenement halls"

-  Paul Simon

Bag it
Tag it
Sell it to the butcher in the store?

I found it interesting that the early NYC graffiti artists were acid-eating Deadheads, as outlined in Jesse Jarnow's book, "Heads", and basically helped inspire all of the others whom followed in their footsteps...for better or worse. Keith Haring was a significant player in that scene as well. RIP.

Most graffiti today looks like shit.  The work of attention needy meth-fueled jack-offs.  The preponderance of it is another sign that the police and city attorneys have abrogated their responsibility to protect and serve.  It is a blight, and just another reason why I want to move to a more rural setting.

Love the "more rural setting" around here in Kelseyville, Dave. No graffiti either. Really no place to put it.