To Tag? Or not to tag?

From bridges to tunnels, brick walls to trucks, artists have made these surfaces their gritty-city canvas throughout the New York-New Jersey region. Graffiti artists, perhaps the rebels of the artistic world, operate under the shade of night, scrawling their best works on the surfaces of abandoned buildings throughout the tristate area. Creative expression goes head to head with the authorities, as one fights to stop the vandalism that already covers a dilapidated city scape. Vandalism is certainly illegal and cause for arrest, but in places like Harrison, Jersey City, and Newark, doesn't this public art enhance the scenery? I think the word 'vandalism' is debatable on several fronts. 

The aesthetic quality of some of the more intricate pieces definitely reveal the talent behind these mysterious Michaelangelos of the night--- That's not to say that some of the more obscene tags (the tags meant for the purpose of defacing property) are a favorable addition to the sides of buildings. But what if this public art form were encouraged in more run down areas? I found two articles that indicate the benefit graffiti has on various neighborhoods, one in New Brunswick, and one in Queens, New York. 


When artists were encouraged to brighten up these run down regions, the neighborhood found that the expressive and elaborate array of talent that poured forth from spray cans was a marvelous display. 


Five Pointz in Queens is described as a Mecca for graffiti artists everywhere. 

5 Pointz, Queens

http://5ptz.com/graff/about/

This article tells about how this particular area of New Brunswick was dirty and run down; now it has the essence of an outdoor gallery as artists gather everywhere to make their mark.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/outdoor_graffiti_gallery_brigh.html

I have even experienced the talent that lies over-seas in European cities. The street artists I encountered in cities like Zurich and Basil, Switzerland were exuberant in their technique and execution.

Europeans feel differently about street art I've come to realize. Works like this piece in Basil, Switzerland are scrawled across a three mile long wall... I doubt authorities will be fighting to cover works like this.


If people feel that street art defiles the sides of buildings, then they're certainly entitled to that opinion. But I feel that more public are should be encourage in the right places! If you've seen the eye-sore that is the Jersey Turnpike, and the Jersey City region off the Holland Tunnel, then you'll see that this colorful display may be the right touch of aesthetic beauty this region needs.