3. The aerosol paint can is science's
contribution to the ancient art of
public defacement, and the vacant-
minded or vicious are taking to it in
ever-increasing numbers -- gleefully OR…
spraying their names, initials, class
numerals and favorite biological
functions over national monuments
and natural wonders. The taxpayers'
bill for cleaning up after them is
getting higher all the time.
From The Spoilers
Jul. 3, 1964
4. “The people who run our cities don’t
understand graffiti because they think
nothing has the right to exist unless it
makes a profit...
The people who truly deface our
neighborhoods are the companies that
scrawl giant slogans across buildings and
buses trying to make us feel inadequate
unless we buy their stuff…
Any advertisement in public space that
gives you no choice whether you see it or
not is yours, it belongs to you, it’s yours to
take, rearrange and re-use. Asking for
permission is like asking to keep a rock
someone just threw at your head..”
― Banksy
6. AND IT HAS AN INCREDIBLY
RICH AND DIVERSE HISTORY.
7. BANKSY SAYS…
.
e apon s
“The gre
commit atest crimes ry b i g w t t h i n g”
b u t b y tp d b y p e o p l e i b t h e w o r l d a r
e n s a ve nasties with. a
a l l io f t h e m e o n e a i n s t
“ A wo n e
e e
p e o p l e o p l e f o l l o w i nrg a k i n g t h e r u l n o t
e
so Ag
w e
b o m b s h o f o l l o w o r d et h e r u l e s . I t ' s s 's can hit r Head l
It u
y o i n g Y o ui c k W a l
and ma
s s a c r e rv t h a t d r o p
s
illages”
Bang Br
e few
is on e o f t hu h a v e
“G r a f fi t iu h ave i f yo
o
t o o l s yt n o t h i n g . o n ' t c o m e
a l m o sv e n i f y o u d o c u r e
And e a picture t can
up with over ty you ile while
world p omeone sm ss.”
make s having a pi A gainst
t h e y ' r e g Yo u r H e a d
B a n g i n Wa l l
a Brick
9. IN THE BRIEF ANNALS OF STREET- ART HISTORY,
GRAFFITI RANKS AS SOMETHING LIKE CAVE
PAINTING-- A FIRST GESTURE, RECOGNIZED FOR ITS
PRIMAL INTUITION THAT PUBLIC SPACE IS UP FOR
GRABS-- AND HAS, IN THE PAST FOUR OR SO YEARS,
BEEN OVERTAKEN BY A HOST OF NEW PRACTICES:
WHEAT-PASTED POSTERS, ADHESIVE STICKERS WITH
ODDBALL IMAGES ON THEM, ELABORATELY
STENCILED IMAGES AND EVEN THREE-DIMENSIONAL
OBJECTS. AND LIKE MANY THINGS THAT START
BELOW THE ESTABLISHMENT'S RADAR, IT HAS
CAUGHT THE EYE OF THE MAINSTREAM AND IS
EDGING INTO THE GALLERIES.
FROM TAKIN' IT TO THE STREET S
BY RICHARD LACAYO
OCT. 24, 2005
10. FOR MORE STREET ART,
GRAFFITI, AND MUSINGS ON
THE SUBJECT:
¡ t witter.com/outsideartny
¡ o utsideart.tumblr.com
