Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Everyblock's reporting: Graffiti and Noise

From Did they report your graffiti binge? Ask Everyblock. on Pinkomag
"Everyblock does skew towards the graffiti reports and noise violations. But for someone getting to know a new community, it’s invaluable."

Speaking of value, if EveryBlock.com is mainly reporting on quality of life issues, is it just preserving the property values of the net savvy?

Just a thought.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Graffiti in GTA IV

As far as I'm able to tell, you can't make graffiti in GTA IV. Maybe in V?

However, the walls of Liberty City do come replete with said notorious sign of urban decay and sometimes it contains hints for the game.


If graffiti is in a video game, is it automatically graffadi?

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Graff-Fest '08 - a graffiti-off in Greensboro, NC


The 915 Skate Park in Greensboro, NC is holding a graffiti contest.

It seems like an easy way to get their park painted by writers...

or maybe a trap by local law enforcement. Muh muh muh!


In any case, it's also a way for the public to see graf artists doing their work out in the open and in the light of day. Get out and make some friends, people.

Friday, April 11, 2008

"Future Arts," an "art brand"


Future Classic, a Boston-based marketing company, will hold a launch party on April 19 at the Boston Center for the Arts for its new "art brand, FUTURE ARTS." They claim we can witness the future of urban art if we go.

However hokey the press release, there will be a couple artists there worth checking out: Rob 'React' Larsen and Yuko Adachi, to name a couple.

From the North Andover Eagle Tribune: "Mike Rich, aka Too Rich, create a graffiti-style mural just outside the school's McQuade Library. He was at the school demonstrating his art as part of a self-titled exhibit inside the library."

"'I don't do so much bombing,' said the 34-year-old Rich, referring to the practice of 'tagging' a building illegally."

-FYI, Eagle Tribune, the term bombing, according to Subway Art (by Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper), the writer's bible, defines bombing as "prolific painting or marking with ink." It could be considered, on the scale of graf prolifics, in between a "throw-up" and a "burner."

I also like the quote from the Art professor, David Raymond: "The graffiti artist is a bandit, but that is not a reason to not call it art. It almost completely lacks pretense. It has a history of forbiddenness. I think that appeals to people. It's not like the art stuff they are studying in class."

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Legends of Style returns to Boston.

Though "an event based brand" and partnered with car maker Scion, Legends of Style will not be entirely bereft of authenticity. The Boston veterans Target and React will be exhibiting work, and you should go check it out.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Boston's setting an example?!

So says this editorial in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. But don't bother getting all red in the face, the writer doesn't bother citing actual facts (you know, the stuff newspapers are based on (other than advertising)).

Here's a video that accompanies the piece - includes nice footage of graf artists in action: