Stick it to the MAN, MAN!

So I just got this email from the 3rd ward assc. talking about graffiti showing up and as a notice and a bit of a warning to whoever is doing it, I'm gonna make my one comment about graffiti and "street art." First of all, if it is actually clever, aesthetically pleasing and artistic, I'm usually not to salty about this whole thing (that cloud one is pretty good). But when its just a big scribble or something that was done just to do it and to get your name on buildings around the city, I see no point other than us youngins bein rebellious and disrespectful. So all that name stuff and thoughtless scribbles have to stop. It doesn't look good, no one cares who you are, and it gives a bad name to the actual street artists.

As for the street artists, I'm a bit torn. I love seeing very creative, funny, and beautiful street art...it's very refreshing and great to see people moving art out of the stuffy galleries and schools. However, IT'S A SERIOUS CRIME. Not in the sense that people are hurt and you are a terrible person...in the sense that YOU WILL GET F*CKED if they find out who you are either money-wise or jail-time wise. I know the odds of getting caught are low (if you're careful), but the more you do it around the 3rd ward, the easier it will be to catch you and 3rd ward people are not the most forgiving to the unwashed masses. Plus, I understand the "F*ck the establishment" mentality, the "sticking it to the rich man" idea behind it, but it's really just a cover. You're graffiti may piss off a building owner and cost him money, but you are really screwing over the janitors and street cleaners who already have shitty jobs and have other things to do...Think about how much will it cost the landowner compared to how much of the day will it take for the workers to clean it? Add how long it takes to clean to the list of other things they need to get done that day and then see who it's really affecting. I know its appealing and everything, but really you're not sticking it to anyone but the worker.

I guess what I'm saying is you should probably just stop and use your creative energy to do something more artistically productive, less illegal, and less annoying to the people that have to fix the wall. If you decide to continue, do so for the right reasons. Know that your aren't leading any revolution and that the millionaire building owner you feel like you are teaching a lesson to probably knows nothing about it. If it's about art...then go for it, it's your call. If it's to rebel, fend off boredom, or your attempt at getting your name known, stop...it's screwing up someone's day and no one cares who you are.