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hello to all, first off I just want to say, i don't wi***o argue or fight as to what art is, and I come with my reply in a positive and friendly manner, but having had formal art instruction since the age of seven ( now 26) - University Graduate Student ( BA in Art emphasis in graphic design) - and being a native to Los Angeles - I can see how people can say that graffitti is not art, but I do not agree. Just like in formal art, there are good artists that know color theory, composition, and borrow ideas from art history, and there are not so good artists that make people question if their work is art or not. The same is true with graffitti. It is a form of expression by a group of people who have not had the opportunities I have had. Not everyone can learn formal art ( oil painting, watercolor, photography, etc.) But their artistic drive and passion still lives inside of them, yearning to break out. In an urban culture, the closest a kid from the streets or of a less than rich household, comes to an art exhibition - is by creating their own mural to show their talents and expressionwith spray cans. However, I believe there is a difference between taggers and graffitti artists. Taggers usually write, or "scribe" or tag their names to be recognized as an individual or part of a crew. ( usually done in a quick manner- sloppy messy writing) The more they write the more respect they get from others. - A graffitti artist usually paints with purpose of creating something colorful, dynamic, or simply beautiful. There are some graffitti artists who do know about color theory, composition, and other formal elements that make their piece stand out. As a professional Artist, having worked with illustrators from Disney, WB, UNiversal, and Dreamworks, and being exposed to the art culture in L.A. - I see a lot of the same qualities and characterisitcs of rendering, painting techniques, and color choices in the streets on walls as I do in the professional world. - More and more art programs get cut from school district programs and people still wonder why graffitti artists continue to grow in numbers. Its not obvious to those who are used to having the luxury of having the money to enroll their kids in art classes, but just think what your kid would do if he/ she loved art with all of their heart, but couldn't find the means to buy canvases oil paints, flaxseed oil, watercolors, brushes, or other expensive art materials or even the classes themselves. If they really loved art and needed to express themselves - they probably secretly grow up in the shadows, risking their lives sometimes, just to relieve their minds and hearts with a simple piece of urban art. Graffitti, despite the surface or means of their media, is art. In response to whether or not they get caught. They do, and the cities keep track of how many violations that "vandal" has written. When they get caught, they assess how much damage has been done and fine them for graffitti and all the cost of their damage to public and private property. At least thats what happens here in L.A. - a former high school companion of mine, is currently paying off $80,000 dollars of damage in monetary compensation and community service. when u go to your next art exhibit in a museum and see an ugly painting, ask yourself is this art? It might not always be pretty, but it is still art, it is till an expression of a living mind and its creative soul.
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