Murals Done Right

This is the complete opposite of the Giants of Edmonton, which is as institutional as public art can possibly be. These murals in Miami, FL are done by graffiti/street artists. Edmonton has so many blank walls...hmm...

Sao Paulo + Graffiti = Toursit Destination???

A travel website has a slideshow of some graffiti in Sao Paulo, so graffiti can attract tourists to your city!!! Hint, hint...Edmonton

Banksy is Witty

This Banksy piece appears in between billboards at a tram stop. I wish there was an Edmonton equivalent to Banksy, putting out these thoughtful statements in amongst corporate advertising...Something to make people think and question the current state of things. This image is open to interpretation, it can be read in more than one way. His communication is smart and simple. Awesome. A+.

Painted Walls + Edmonton

Here is a slideshow of my Edmonton Graffiti Photos...including tags, roof pieces, and unsuccessful removal/cover ups...

For Your Reading Pleasure...

Here is some great reading about graffiti...

Iceland + Graffiti

Graffiti occurs everywhere, it is part of every city around the world, even the frozen places! Every city dweller deals with graffiti on a regular basis...To show you that graffiti is everywhere, here is some courtesy of Iceland...

Broken Windows + Graffiti!

The "Broken Window Theory" states that disorder and crime are linked. If a window is left broken, soon the all the other windows will be broken. A window left unrepaired creates the impression that no one cares, so it is okay to break another. One act of vandalism can lead to more crime. Vandalism leads to an environment where the people in the vandalized neighborhood feel unsafe. They may think that more serious crimes are occurring when they are not. Vandalism is connected with urban decay, if unruly people (rowdy teenagers and drunks) and vandalism in the neighborhood are left unchecked. The general idea is that if bad behavior goes unchecked, it will lead to more serious crimes. In cities like Edmonton, all graffiti is considered an act of vandalism. The general public may not see the reality of graffiti, and many misconceptions occur. Graffiti can be vandalism and it can be frightening for those who are faced with it, but not all graffiti should be considered vandalism. Graffiti can be more than simple vandalism, as we have seen with graffiti artists like Banksy. Could the City of Edmonton better educate themselves and the public about the realities of graffiti?