Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space

"A community’s physical form, rather than its land uses, is its most intrinsic and enduring characteristic." [Katz, EPA] This blog focuses on place and placemaking and all that makes it work--historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts & cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism & destination development, and quality of life advocacy--along with doses of civic engagement and good governance watchdogging.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

(Specific) graffiti: art or vandalism? You decide.

facade, 266-268 Carroll Ave., Takoma DC commercial district
Graffiti is visible on the west elevation of this building at 266-268 Carroll Ave., in the Takoma DC commercial district.

At least in Bristol, UK. From "Bristol Asks Public To Vote On Its Fondness For Graffiti" in the Telegraph:

Bristol City Council will put to the public vote whether murals which appear on buildings, walls and fences are street art or graffiti. As part of a formal street art policy, the council's street clean team will not take action if people decide the graffiti is nice and want to keep it.

The approach was prompted by a Banksy work which shows a naked man hanging out of a window while his lover's partner looks for him. When it first appeared on a council-owned building in the city's Frogmore Lane in 2005 it sparked debate over whether it should be removed.

The council set up an online poll and said that 93% of people wanted to keep it.

Now they are extending the public vote to any other street art that appears across the city.

Is garffiti art?
Sign at Bristol Museum for Banksy's exhibition 'Banksy Versus Bristol Museum' Photo: Publishers Association.

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