Art and challenge

Is this art, graffiti, protected political expression, and/or vandalism? (Painted poster on the O Street Market, 7th Street NW, Washington, DC.)

Something that my girlfriend and I argue about is graffiti. An artist, she focuses more on the expression and execution of graffiti, while I, committed to commercial district and urban revitalization, (while admiring some qualities, at times) tend to come down in favor of order, and the negative perceptions that too often result from what is called, justifiably, vandalism.

Dealing with a massive tagging of buildings on 12th Street NE in Brookland DC's commercial district took a great deal of my time in February 2007 and beyond, when I was a Main Street commercial district revitalization program manager there.

Shepherd Fairey (Obey, Obama's Hope poster, etc.) is a good example. He's amazing. As of course is Banksy. At the same time, some people see their products as vandalism. See "Cultural acclaim, residents' anger: Artist's arrest points to a Boston divide" about the recent arrest of Mr. Fairey in Boston, from the Globe.

This image of a Banksy effort, "graffiti," painted on the wall separating the West Bank from Israel is a particularly powerful comment on politics and separation.

There is a great journal (I meant to get a subscription for Suzanne as a Holiday present...) called BEAUTIFUL DECAY on this broad field.