Is Graffiti Art or Vandalism?
Monday May 1, 2006
Did you know that if you're under 21 and in New York you can't possess spray paint, broad-tipped markers, or etching acid if you're "on the property of another or in any public building or upon any public facility" (read city code) and no-one can sell you any of these items? This has led to a group of artists filing a lawsuit against the city, according to news report on BBC. They say "the law violates their constitutional right to free speech" while a lawyer for New York City is quoted as saying "it strikes a "constitutional balance between the First Amendment rights and the need to control the long-standing plague of graffiti".How do you feel about graffiti? Is it street art or just vandalism? Vote in this poll by simply clicking on your choice in the list, or add a comment by clicking on the link at the bottom:
1. It's definitely art and should be celebrated
2. It's definitely vandalism and creators should be punished
3. It's art but there ought be specific places to create it
4. It's art but I don't want it on my wall, thank you
5. If it's art, why not do it on a canvas and frame it?
6. Some of it's art, but most is rubbish
7. Something else.
(View the results of this poll so far...)
More Painting Polls...
Photo: © Schnittke--Greenwich building
Comments
This has led to a group of artists filing a lawsuit against the city, according to news report on BBC. They say “the law violates their constitutional right to free speech” while a lawyer for New York City is quoted as saying “it strikes a “constitutional balance between the First Amendment rights and the need to control the long-standing plague of graffiti”.
The Constitution guarantees us free speech, but not the platform with which to utilize it. If you have something to say, which is what free speech is about, you have to find your OWN forum, you don’t have the right to use anyone ELSE’S platform for YOUR “speech”.
I thought this was understood. Instead, I see people complaining when they can’t use platforms owned by others. The prevailing ignorance about this topic has become annoying.
Graffiti is art if it is placed on a surface that is owned by someone who wants it there otherwise it is Vandalism
I belive that griffiti is becoming an art to todays cisiity. also I think that it is a very cool way to express your feelings.
I think graffiti is most definitely art, i am an artist myself, and i do graffiti as well. I have been involved in this graffiti world for about 7 years now. I also do a lot of canvas graffiti, but once in a while street graffiti. Its just how i like to express myself. I like people to see what i feel.
I think that graffiti is vandilisim it is bad nasty and rude. If people put graffiti on their own property and want it their that is fine. If graffiti is put on an abandoned building that is ok like what the hell i think graffti is awfull.
I think graffiti is a great way of expressing art. I’m always amazed how people do graffiti so good. I think its only vandalism if its done on unauthorized ares/properties. other than that I think it’s a great way of art.
Dude this is art. people sell painting of random colors on a piece of paper and i think this takes more time and thought. as long as its not gang related its cool too me. I mean they are arresting kids for painting a beautiful thing while there are crack dealers and meth addicts with kids. Why don’t they worry about real crimes such as gang activity. id love to see Rupt or pestoe or athia or tahoe do a big piece instead of that.
if a voice within you says you cannot paint then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced-vincent van gogh
Graffiti is an art and should be displayed for everyone should be allowed to have there lives on display in an artistic way. It is not something that will just go away. It is going to be around for many generations to why waste you time and try and get rid of it? It is just an expression so don’t bug and we won’t bug…..
It depends really.
For the most part, I think it’s vandalism. However, if it’s with the consent of the property owner, or it’s a place you yourself own, then it’s art.
Spray painting street walls and what not is, by my standards, vandalism.
So yeah, if it’s your own wall, or you’ve got permission to do it, then it’s art, otherwise it’s most certainly vandalism.
I don’t understand how people see paint on a wall as an agression of their visual landscape, while we’re being agressed all day long on every TV screen by cheap rap singers whose lyrics are about selling crack and slapping b*tches…
I do want to question, where is the reflection in here?
Is it because graffiti is not coroporate-related? is it because on an old decripiting wall should remain poor and ugly?
graffiti may not be the purest form of art, but it surely is one of the freest..
All I see here is a bunch of people arguying because of colors on their walls…
MY NAME IS SOEL! I AM A ARTIST IN AUSTRALIA.
GRAFFITI IS ART THAT COMES FROM THE HEART OK. PEOPLE PUT ALOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN THIER ART. ITS NOT JUST FOR SOME1 TO STATE THEIR NAME BUT ITS SOME1 TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY FEEL AND ITS A FREE WRIGHT OF SPEECH.
IM KING OF FWC= FREEDOM WRITERS CREW AND WE PAINT TO RELEASE STREES AND TO SHOW HOW WE FEEL IN SOCIETY!
SOEL!
im am a tagger my self and i believe that graffiti is ART because us graffiti artist take alot of time and perfection i nour work just as if a writer does in their books. so thats what i think
but ppl should give us a place to work on our art then we wouldnt be breaking the law.
its way of expressing ourselfs and how we see this crappy world we live in. were just trying to make it a more beautiful place to live in instead of a dump!!
i think that graffiti is definitely an art form, but i do have to agree that there is places that graffiti should be aloud to be and also not aloud to be. i havent ever tagged anything in my life but i have to say i am a big fan of the art style because i feel it is one of the best ways that people can express themselves.
I think graffiti is art when used in the “right” way. I live in Paris and see incredibly beautiful work done in areas where street art is allowed and encouraged. However, I don’t like to see mindless scribbles with a paint can all over town which I then think is vandalism. You can see some incredible art work at http://www.StreetArtInParis.com
Randy
Graffiti is art…. until someone does it to the side of your garage.