Borf

Update: I've bolded certain sentences in my post and comments so that everyone will hopefully recognize that I am NOT against all street art.

I hate to give this guy/girl any more time than they've already gotten thus far, but I noticed while driving into the city tonight that Borf has tagged one of the green overhead signs on I-66 right after you cross the Potomac. I believe it's the Constitution Ave sign in the middle. The tag, a stencil (I think) of a guy's face, takes up about half of the sign.

This will likely stir the pot, but I'm going to go ahead and say it. I can't stand graffiti! Graffiti inspired art I can tolerate and even enjoy (like Kelly Towles) when it is done in the confines of a gallery. I can go for graffiti art when the artist gets permission. But tagging public or private property without permission is just ridiculous. It's irresponsible. I just don't understand how someone justifies defacing property that belongs to someone else. I just don't get it.

How much will it cost DC to clean or replace this sign? And for what?

Comments

[James W. Bailey]

J.T.,

If you hate graffiti, you'll need anger management classes to contain your rage over artist Mark McGowan's art project documentary photographs wherein he keyed cars - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/18/nart18.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/04/18/ixhome.html

He claims the owners of the automobiles he vandalized should be honored to have been singled out by him for his project.

I know, I know...you can hear it so loud and clear among so many: "Why didn't I think of that first?"

James

[wwc]

He should look out - some other artist could do a piece where he kicks the crap out of McGowan and documents it.

[J.T. Kirkland]

Yeah, if I caught him keying my car I'd only hope that someone had a camera with them. Man, I would be soooo mad.

I've always been curious what a graffiti artist would think if someone defaced their personal property. I can't believe they'd be fine with it.

[J.T. Irkland]

Before you get your panties in a bunch educate yourself about what graffiti is and then pray BORF doesn't come after this conservative piece of cyberturf.

www.woostercollective.com

PS "the confines of a gallery" -- that says it all.

The Crispiest

[Joseph Barbaccia]

I don't see this as graffiti. Graffiti is more "word" centric. This I would term street art. Semantics. And I for one would like to see this image stay and NOT be removed. I enjoy it much better than the words on the sign. Is it defacement if the visual is an improvement?

The fact the the exchange of money is not involved as it woulld be in a gallery intrigues me as well.

I always was a bit anarchistic.

If you want to talk about ugly and defacement, just take a long look at the visual pollution of commercial signs blighting any downtown street.

[J.T. Kirkland]

I imagine it's hard to believe that someone who is familiar with graffiti or street art still dislikes some of it. I've looked at woostercollective.com many, many times and I see lots of fascinating work that does not permanently deface property.

I guess I'm a sucker for legality. Does that make me conservative? Well, put it this way. This is the first time anyone has called me conservative. Interesting...

I just want someone to explain how they have the right to spray paint or somehow alter the property of someone else. What I like about the work I see on wooster is that it is done on poster or through impermanent sculpture. I think this is wonderful... seriously.

But I also think Borf's latest tag is potentially dangerous. I've seen numerous close calls for wrecks in that area and I imagine that could be even more of a problem with drivers gawking up to look at that face.

I must admit though, I have no clue how he was able to pull this one off. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it up there!

[James W. Bailey]

J.T.,

I want you to confess to shooting that photograph of Borf's work while driving. Now that would be potentially dangerous - although I'm the last one to complain about DWP (Driving While Photographing), as a public safety measure I would like remind all that only trained professionals should engage in such acts; and even then it's still illegal.

Of course, it's not illegal if you're driving in the state of Louisiana where DWP is perfectly acceptable while having sex without your seat belt fastened and sipping on an open container of your favorite 40oz malt liquor.

James

[J.T. Kirkland]

You got me!

[Joseph Barbaccia]

I want Borf to tag my white Chevy Astro van.

[Saint Arved]

Graffiti is a lot like blogging when you think about it. Myopic, opinionated, expression -- low barrier entry, etc. Also, some "bloggers" do it very, very poorly.

Your sentiment is more fuel to a fire than it is a critical "thought about art," unfortunately. It's OK to hate -- but your hate doesn't get anywhere close to the heart.