Legalizing Graffiti

It's weird, I see these murals all over DC and love it... but it feals different knowing that the government paid for it. It takes away the art, but it does make a new level of love for it at the same time.

I think it is highly illogical to "feel differently" about a mural just because it was funded by the city. People should see thinks like murals in the cities as just another part of the city instead of something to appreciate less. This is what city governments should be doing, seeing a problem and fixing it in a way that benefits all parties.

Nice to see DC thinking a bit more progressively but I'm always skeptical when then try embracing the subcultures around the district.

It's great that the DC government is actually acknowledging art in their city besides statues and fountains. Usually the government never supports artisits. It is about time!

I do think there's a big difference between the real artists and the gang bangers that do it like pissing to mark their territory... This is great for the real artists!

Very, well-done all around...definitely represents a dying aesthetic in DC that is hopefully on the rise with the resurgence of the art and fashion industries here...More videos like this, please....

I did one here, about a graf show @ The Arlington Arts Center very recently...

http://vimby.com/video/life/us/all/detail/5951

nice work, and a great idea that DC should take even further. i've noticed that philly has tons of interesting, massive murals scattered around; they're a beautiful addition to the city and more go up each year. this made me think that a bunch of them were probably sponsored by local gov.

I like it but they should tell the shops before they do it! The city should not be paying for it.

This is a wonderful idea. Once this program is put into effect, DC may very well become the most beautiful city in the US because it becomes a true expression of the American people that can be viewed by all.

finally someone recognizes the potential of young street artists! i myself, am a graffiti artist and i have been put down by many people, and in fact even my school (which boasts about how they support art and young artists), saying that graffiti is not an art, but vandalism. in fact there are different types of graffiti, there is tagging, and then there is doing it for the art. there are taggers, writers and graffiti artists. instead of trying to destroy this underground culture, the government needs to support us young artists in our creative endeavors, rather than funding other useless BS that THEY feel is art or "Creative"...really, who cares about pottery? haha

it's great that they're moving in a more progressive direction, but it would be nice to see more public space reclaimed.

i think graffiti look sick as hell but come on, no one is going to let people paint buildings around town..

This is a contradiction. By definition, graffiti is illegal, it's interesting that our nation's capital is caught in an oxymoronic decree, and yet i'm not surprised. Law abiding graffiti is not graffiti.

Thats true this is the way to go. They do this is Europe and it solved most of the problems with graffidi in Europe.

Where I live there isnt much graffiti where I live.
I would much rather walk around tow to see murals and artwork than blank brick walls

This is absolutely absurd. This does not look classy, but tacky.

Awesome pod. I think it would be great to see the walls of condemned or just ruined buildings covered in graffiti artwork. So long as it doesn't foster any kind of animosities within the community, this seems to be an incredibly positive thing.

the DC government finally does something right!
im excited to see these new murals around!

It's good, but also kind of scary...graffiti is beautiful at times and rebellious, and has potential to display true free speech. But with the government paying for it, it loses that freedom.

I've been a graffiti artist for the past 8 years now and I can tell you that making graffiti legal will take away its art. The core of graffiti is the fact that it is illegal. Also, as a side not "tagging" is an art just as much as making a "master peice" is an art. For any of you guys who don't know there is about 25 different styles to tagging, each style different depending on where it originated.

How about you interview some real graffiti artists and not a bunch of pompous muralists.

i dont know if this would take away from the art of graffiti or not but i believe its still beautiful either way. i think its a good idea, trying to fund all the up and coming artists. i dont know if the funded artists have to create a specified thing or not but if they did it would take away from the social commentaries and un censored art that illegal graffiti artists create. good idea if they arent censored!

I think the beauty is in the details.....where else are the people with the ANGST gonna BE ABLE TO DO ART,if it's art.I love the detailds. Thank you....GREAT STORY
Pebe

If i were to show you two graffiti murals, would you be able to tell me which one was funded by the government and which one wasn't?

How the hell is government funding "taking away" from art? Institutions like Museums, and galleries PRESERVE art and bring it to the public for them to enjoy. If the government or any business is offering to pay you to produce a piece of art, are you saying that it would be less artistic to get paid doing what you love?