To Tag Or Not To Tag

Ever since the graffitti group presented on Wednesday I have been thinking about my take on graffiti. I have never really stopped to think whether I love it or find it annoying or beautiful or disgraceful..so I decided to stop and ponder my opinion on it.

For me, as a resident of the Capitol Hill neighborhood, I am constantly seeing art..in the way people dress, in the houses, in the posters, etc. It is a colorful and wonderful place to live. I got to thinking about if I mind graffiti being in my neighborhood or even on the side of my house. I came to the conclusion that no matter where it is, graffiti is welcome, as far as I'm concerned. It adds color and design to our streets, buildings, and bus stops. We live in a city..what do you expect? Even if it is just a simple tag, it is still the trace of a person..it signifies risk through a signature. To some people graffiti is distasteful, gross, and annoying. I feel that cookie-cutter houses in cookie-cutter neighborhoods are annoying..so we all have our preferences. The more that people decorate our world, the better.

I took some photos of beautiful graffiti by the train track in South Seattle to document some graffiti I really liked. The murals are gorgeous to me, and the others are just as significant because they made me stop and think.."I miss you child"? That made me really sad and curious when I read it. Hope and despair are mounted on the wall side by side for everyone to see.
Thank you graffiti group..your presentation has changed how I see the art form and the culture of graffiti that is alive in our city and in our world. I know I will appreciate it more in the future.