Posted by admin | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 08-23-2009
With graffiti becoming a big problem within the city of Fitchburg, especially with an increase in abandoned buildings, State Rep. Stephen Dinatale is discussing an alternative to dealing with these local vandals.
Dinatale believes that the city should designate a specific area for graffiti artists to compete with; maybe a vacant lot or wall for them to show off their talent instead of vandalizing private property.
Fitchburg would not be the first city to institute such an idea, which might in the long run encourage some positive creativity while deterring vandalism and saving the city, business owners and residents a good chunk of money used cleaning up graffiti left behind by vandals and taggers.
i like how now it looks like the city is using me as a scapegoat for everyone to blame.
people dont understand that im trying to help the city.
im even organizing a cleaning crew to clean up graffiti so the city dosnt have to use as much money.
but once something gets printed about graffiti. or anything about it. the readers label me as a “criminal”
Kris we know that you mean good and have not done any illegal graffiti in a long time. We get negative comments and such all the time on the news paper website but we have been told to ignore them because most of the people there don’t want positive change. Hang in there Kris you are an outstanding example of what youth can do with a little drive. Look what you have done in a little over a year with Free Idea so to H-E-L-L with the negative folks, do your thing and just believe in what you are doing.
Respects
George
I think the idea of a designated graffiti spot is a good idea! I was in Boston a couple weeks ago and saw so much graffiti along the train tracks and thought what a waste…some of this is really good!
Graffiti, or tagging is a method for some to mark the boundaries of a territory and/or to communicate.
While I think it is a marvelous idea, to give the taggers a place to call their own and to display artistic street talents, do it because you want street art displayed. The benefit beyond the cultural exchange may be that some will gain a greater understanding of the meaning behind the graffiti.
A designated canvas for the graffiti artists will not do anything to change the reason for some or most of the graffiti that you see. I suggest instead, that you work to understand why some so generously apply their artistic abilities on private and public property, and then work to find an appropriate solution that solves the real problem/issue.
The number one way to fight graffiti is to be diligent in getting rid of it, it does become a battle of wills, but eventually one side or the other will give up.
Removing graffiti is expensive in time, and resources – but, it’s gotta go.
I suggest that if you commit to a designated area for this kind of display, that you also commit to a removal program from un-designated areas, and be prepared to be cleaning, the same spots over and over again!
At the same time, incorporate education into the mix, starting the day school starts and beginning at a young age. Teach that graffiti is vandalism, disrespectful, etc. Try to change the culture, and enhance the mores that will keep future taggers in the designated “art zone”.
Best wishes!
I grew up here in Fitchburg. I have “tagged”, and still do, but legally. More and more artists are going to legal walls as a way to spray. We had one, behind Halloween Costume World, but Mr. Hoover has recently decided to stop that. Giving a place for graffiti artists to go to with out worry of legal action is a great idea. Will it stop the illegal painting? No.
Valerie, you talk about graffiti being a way to mark one’s territory, and or communicate. If we were in L.A., Boston, and LARGE cities, yes that would be the case. Here however, in Fitchburg, most are young kids from about 13-21 years of age. Who do it as a way to have fun, or just to be an ass. Even the “Gang” symbols, are not real… As far as “tagging crews” you will not find a very violent one around here.
One great place to give graffiti artists to paint is the Lunenburg street lot where kids skateboard. There is already a number of “tags” there. It is only used by skaters anyways.
I personally paint on some Ply Wood behind my house. I have not done anything illegally in over 7 years. I still paint all the time. Giving these kids a place to go will help a little, but will not stop illegal graffiti. There will always be some dumbass with a can of paint, marker, or whatever and wants to do some serious damage.
And just a tidbit of info, when it comes to removal, the methods now suck. You can still see the tag, and because of the recent “improvements” in removal, vandals got smart! Go on Youtube, and search for “Oink Ink”. This ink is ultra staining, takes over 5 coats of paint to stop the bleeding of the ink, then you are still left with a “Ghost” of the tag. Want to use thinner on the oink ink? Won’t work so well… It will take you hours to remove one tag. AND… You can make your own at home using nothing more than ink from pens, 70% alcohol and yes, paint thinner. They even have ultra staining paints now. So the more people try to stop it, it is just going to happen.
I also wanted to leave you all with another major problem I have. IF YOU REMOVE OR BUFF THE TAG, YOU ARE CREATING A BLANK CANVAS FOR THE NEXT VANDAL!” THINK ABOUT IT! If I was a cop, I’d be able to arrest damn near all of them. But Im not so goodbye and good luck to the stopping of graffiti.