Fighting Graffiti With Graffiti
Using Graffiti As Art
If you take a closer look at the graffiti that seems to be everywhere in some cities, you will notice that while most graffiti is all about gang symbols; not of it isn’t. Graffiti very often also depicts drawings in addition to slogans. Very often, graffiti depicts life in the inner city and all the turmoil and struggles that go on. You will very often come across graffiti that is astoundingly artistic in nature, especially that which is done by air brush painting.
Getting a Message Across using Graffiti as Art
Some cities have found a way to combine graffiti with art. They have offered buildings that can be used to depict murals in some areas. Those who want to display their artistic talents that they have been using for illicit purposes can now use them for positive purposes, such as mural paintings. They can still get their message across to those that they want to reach.
Making Money using Graffiti as Art
Using graffiti as a form of artistic expression is nothing new. It is has been used as a mode of not only decrying social injustice but also as a way to make money since Victorian times. It was a common sight for side walk artists to create drawings using chalks and pencils for money. Often, they would be told to remove any offensive displays. Many of the drawings that the sidewalk artists did were meant to amuse others and also to make a political statement. As is always the case, some of the graffiti artists were very talented, while others merely drew the same thing repeatedly in an effort to try to make money.
During the Great Depression, sidewalk artists began to use this art as a way to make money. They would offer to draw on sidewalks in front of stores as a way to lure customers in the shop in exchange for money. The Great Depression saw a number of self made businesses spring up that were technically not pan handling and gave the individual who was accomplishing these tasks a sense of pride in what they were doing.
Fighting Crime using Graffiti as Art
Today, there are many inner city youth groups who try to get kids away from gangs and off the streets. Those who are caught creating graffiti are often ordered by judges to clean up the mess they created, but also given an opportunity to display their talents in a more positive manner. They can still use the graffiti that they enjoy and work on their art, but in designated areas and to promote a more positive image. This can not only give someone a sense of purpose, but also pride in accomplishment that can be crucial towards keeping a young person out of trouble and steering them towards a positive way of life.
Most cities have countless murals and graffiti walls that have been painted by those who want to get their social message across legally. There are also many tunnels and walls where graffiti is not legal but have turned into their own murals. While no city wants to have graffiti damage throughout the area, allowing free artistic expression by graffiti artists who want to make a social statement has proven to be somewhat of a deterrent to youth crime in some areas.