Art Propaganda

I love graffiti and I think it's a phase in post modern art that has a hard time gaining general acceptance. I see a lot of beautiful graffiti get erased and some towns have anti-graffiti day or policies put in place to re-enforce the anti-graffiti idea. It's such a shame.

If they only know how many people in those towns actually love the graffiti artwork that's out there. I had a show last year in which I had some graffiti pieces and was pleasantly surprised at the reception by fellow artists and art lovers (young and old) who attended and commented positively at the show.

I once had a show at a small contemporary underground gallery anti-graffiti day in Nanaimo, BC. Because the building was to be repainted outside, the gallery owner gave all the art exhibit attendees a try at graffiti. The party for the opening spilled outside, it was very enjoyable. The bike cops came and tried to stop it but when invited to look at the artwork inside and the situation explained he enjoyed the show as well. Someone took a pic of the back of the public servant looking at artwork and it made quite a nice poster for the next event at the small gallery.

I know some places where graffiti is appreciated, like skate parks and it just adds to the skate park atmosphere. If there are more places that can be devoted to miscellaneous public art maybe graffiti can gain better acceptance.