Making Change

Graffiti is typically found as a form of art for most artists, but for community members it is a form of vandalism within cities and towns. I believe that Artists who create Graffiti are destroying public and private properties without even realizing which is disturbing the owners and visitors. As people like me stroll through the metropolitan areas and spot graffiti most typically think of gangs, violence, and crimes. Finding ways to put an end to these horrible acts may seem like a challenge, but in reality, it isn’t difficult to find a solution to this problem.

Graffiti isn’t art it is vandalism and people spot it almost anywhere throughout the world, but it is most common to see it in bigger cities and popular tourist areas. There is a large variety of types of Graffiti for example ” Monochrome a collection of letters, known as a tag, with little artistic merit. Because it’s quick to produce and small” (Dolan 6-8). Artists typically make these types of Graffiti on walls, fences, larger spaces, and in commonly seen areas. ” If it wasn’t for the fact that most graffiti is placed on private property without the owner’s permission, then it might be more recognized as a legitimate form of art” (Dolan 12-13). This becomes an annoyance to the property owner because they have to continue to paint over it and spend their own money. The same issue happens on public property which makes the areas come off as trashy.

Creating solutions to solve these simple problems are not difficult and some solutions have already been stabilized around the world, with a variety of successes. For example, in the State of Maine you cannot buy spray paint unless you’re over 18 along with other States, this minimizes the vandalism. Other solutions are ” Paints have been developed that basically cause graffiti paint to devolve when applied” and ” Community groups and government departments coordinate graffiti removal teams”(Dolan 18-22). Creating these alternatives allows for happier property owners, citizens, and visitors. Graffiti is a form of vandalism and is causing people to associate it with crimes, gangs, drugs, and violence. ” Even before graffiti became associated with gangs, people became afraid of riding the vandalized subways” (Graffiti as Vandalism). This is a fear I think nobody should ever experience especially since subways in big city’s are one of the most popular ways of transportation. Graffiti needs to come to a stopping point, it has been becoming costly for decades, graffiti is constantly viewed as a crime, and it has become an eyesore.

By engaging in simple solutions to put a end to graffiti on property’s this will help states, towns, and communities come together and be looked at in a better way. Helping out little by little will eventually make a big change and end the horrible vandalism acts of many artists. Paper and canvases will look more professional compared to walls and other people’s items.

Featured Image: “Bright and colorful Graffiti” by Singing With Light is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Articles: ” Is Graffiti Art?” By Steve Dolan and ” Graffiti as vandalism”