This Week in the Mercury
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Neighborhoods / Artsy / Crime Graffiti Crew Stuck Up at Sticker Art
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 3:17 PM
A street art show happening at Eclectica this Friday is raising some ire at the city as it toes the line for legal art. The show, called Slaptown, is organized by Portland street sticker artist New Colony, who's been slapping up home-made stickers on newspaper boxes and street signs for three years now. He's solicited submissions for the show since last April and will stick up every entry on a nine-foot-high wall in the Hawthorne store Friday night.
But some sticker ads put up around town caught the eye of the graffiti abatement crew at the city. Marcia Dennis, graffiti abatement coordinator for the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, sent out an to neighborhood groups with the offending sticker attached.
Dennis mentioned how volunteers in one of the eight city-wide graffiti-removal volunteer days had spent a Saturday morning scraping 500 stickers off Hawthorne street signs and apparently requested help curbing sticker proliferation in Portland, writing:
I recently sent a letter to the Portland postmaster, requesting help in limiting access to free self-adhesive labels and stickers that are used by graffiti vandals to create "slap tags". The attached photo illustrates the slap tag in all its glory.
New Colony sounded a little hurt at being described as a "graffiti vandal." "The sticker art scene isn't about vandalism. Sure, it's about getting up and being seen," he said, "I don't think stickers on the back of a sign hurts anyone. It's not the same as defacing or vandalizing a building." The National Crime Prevention Council (aka Scruff McGruff) argue that graffiti ruins neighborhoods and is correlated to larger crime, that's why the city has budgeted thousands for its removal.
TOTALLY ILLEGAL AND DANGEROUS. via flickr
New Colony doesn't permanently wheatpaste his art up, it's just drawn on sticker paper. He says he only flyered in legal places, too, and didn't know about the stickers the city called out. "Some kid mighta got happy and went to town," he suggests.
So are post offices the new frontier for the city determined to crack down on street art? The public can't handle mailing labels? Really? Last year, the city council passed an ordinance requiring all businesses that sell spray paint and paint pens to keep a log on site for two years recording the name of the buyer and their driver's license number or date of birth. When I went to buy spray paint (for totally legal flag-painting purposes) at the beginning of the summer, my paranoid, conspiracy-theorist housemate showed me the way to get around the logbook: Pay with cash. Use self-checkout.
Commenting was not available when this article was originally published.
1
I guess one of the appeals of using stickers, rather than markers on walls, is that you don't have to feel all rushed when drawing on them? If so, why do so many of them look crappy and ugly and hasty? If I were writing my name on stickers and then slapping them around, I would definitely spend a lot more time on each one. Draw some borders, use a few colors, etc.
2
Great idea for an art show, but New Colony may want to be a cautious. If he truly has been "slapping up home-made stickers on newspaper boxes and street signs for three years now," then Dennis absolutely has pictures of the stickers in her database.
If they figure out who New Colony is, they can charge him for every documented picture they have where he placed his sticker in an illegal spot (and believe me, their database has a lot of pictures in it, I’m willing to be they took a picture of every sticker they cleaned up). And if I’m not mistaken, street signs are considered a public utility… and any graffiti on a public utility is considered a felony.
Ask Mr. Davis, he wrote something on Blogtown about that guy that owns an art gallery in the Pearl who got busted after painting a water tower and hanging the same style “art” in his gallery. Never heard what happened with the case, but at first they were charging him with a shit load of felonies because he posted his signs on utility poles.
If they figure out who New Colony is, they can charge him for every documented picture they have where he placed his sticker in an illegal spot (and believe me, their database has a lot of pictures in it, I’m willing to be they took a picture of every sticker they cleaned up). And if I’m not mistaken, street signs are considered a public utility… and any graffiti on a public utility is considered a felony.
Ask Mr. Davis, he wrote something on Blogtown about that guy that owns an art gallery in the Pearl who got busted after painting a water tower and hanging the same style “art” in his gallery. Never heard what happened with the case, but at first they were charging him with a shit load of felonies because he posted his signs on utility poles.
3
A) You failed to mention that Marcia Dennis has a pretty good sense of humor. The full quote is as follows:
As you probably know, at the August 9th cleanup on Hawthorne we had
volunteers who removed stickers from all sorts of locations, probably
scraped off more than 500 in that morning event. We figure that left only
500,000 or so in the area.
B) I believe the city budgets millions--not thousands--in graffiti removal annually (your link is from 1998?): http://graffitihurts.org/learn_more/how_does_graffiti_hurt.cfm
C) Graffiti is illegal, right? The fact that you bolded that one part of your post with the "Really?" makes it seem like you don't understand that. Maybe I'm wrong. The tags are both "artsy" and "crime" up at the top there. If graffiti is art, then please show me where the line is between art and vandalism.
D) When you say, "It's just drawn on sticker paper," are you belittling the community's efforts to eradicate graffiti?
As you probably know, at the August 9th cleanup on Hawthorne we had
volunteers who removed stickers from all sorts of locations, probably
scraped off more than 500 in that morning event. We figure that left only
500,000 or so in the area.
B) I believe the city budgets millions--not thousands--in graffiti removal annually (your link is from 1998?): http://graffitihurts.org/learn_more/how_does_graffiti_hurt.cfm
C) Graffiti is illegal, right? The fact that you bolded that one part of your post with the "Really?" makes it seem like you don't understand that. Maybe I'm wrong. The tags are both "artsy" and "crime" up at the top there. If graffiti is art, then please show me where the line is between art and vandalism.
D) When you say, "It's just drawn on sticker paper," are you belittling the community's efforts to eradicate graffiti?
4
The slapper has no balls. Stand up tall and spray with a can like a real graffiti artist. At least make a nice little drawing on the stickers instead of this stupid name BS. I never even look at the ones with names unless it has a nice drawing to go with.
5
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA so WHAT???!?!?!
Slaptown is the name of the art show, correct? People are getting their panties in a wad about an ART SHOW?
Everyone does the 1st Thursday type stuff and I think it's awesome a place is letting street artists show off their work.
To the moron above who stated: "If graffiti is art, then please show me where the line is between art and vandalism. "
Ever hear of BANKSY?
Graffiti art at it's finest.
People need to find something else to worry about. No one gets in a huff about any of the other art shows thrown around town.
Slaptown is the name of the art show, correct? People are getting their panties in a wad about an ART SHOW?
Everyone does the 1st Thursday type stuff and I think it's awesome a place is letting street artists show off their work.
To the moron above who stated: "If graffiti is art, then please show me where the line is between art and vandalism. "
Ever hear of BANKSY?
Graffiti art at it's finest.
People need to find something else to worry about. No one gets in a huff about any of the other art shows thrown around town.
6
Why is it that whenever someone questions why some people--local media included--seem to think that vandalism is tolerable and acceptable, some anonymous poster brings up Bansky?
Insertnamehere, are you implying by your answer to my question that the line between art and vandalism is Bansky? Please elaborate. And bonus points if you include a picture of your MFA from the Columbia University School of Fine Arts.
Insertnamehere, are you implying by your answer to my question that the line between art and vandalism is Bansky? Please elaborate. And bonus points if you include a picture of your MFA from the Columbia University School of Fine Arts.
7
What I am saying is that he was a "graffiti artist." Yes, there is graffiti, but then there is also graffiti-style art, which is what I am assuming this art show will be about, considering the brands this store carries. Alot of the designs by these brands were almost completely copied from art Banksy did.
I did not go to an art school, just a fan of art of a certain style of art.
No one is saying graffiti is tolerable. Just the amount of concern surrounding this art show is insane. I doubt their going to have people "graffiti" the town. I'm surprised no one's in a huff about how they painted their store front. Go look at their myspace.
I did not go to an art school, just a fan of art of a certain style of art.
No one is saying graffiti is tolerable. Just the amount of concern surrounding this art show is insane. I doubt their going to have people "graffiti" the town. I'm surprised no one's in a huff about how they painted their store front. Go look at their myspace.
8
This is interesting to see...
No one every expected this to get so big.
It's been advertised since April so it's funny that two days before the show all the commotion starts.
We do not condone vandalism in any way, shape, or form.
We are simply having an art show called 'Slaptown'
Artists have sent in either art, sticker packs, etc...
They're will be art up...
a live painting by an artist outside...
a 9ft sticker wall...
and the infamous 'sticker trading table' that is causing all the drama around this show....you know...so people can collect stickers...
i should also add there will be free drinks...OH NO!!!
Let the debauchary begin!!!
No one every expected this to get so big.
It's been advertised since April so it's funny that two days before the show all the commotion starts.
We do not condone vandalism in any way, shape, or form.
We are simply having an art show called 'Slaptown'
Artists have sent in either art, sticker packs, etc...
They're will be art up...
a live painting by an artist outside...
a 9ft sticker wall...
and the infamous 'sticker trading table' that is causing all the drama around this show....you know...so people can collect stickers...
i should also add there will be free drinks...OH NO!!!
Let the debauchary begin!!!
9
I find this whole thing pretty dang humerous... Graffiti style painting, not on buildings, IS ART! I congratulate the individual who thought far enough outside the box to put his graffiti on something the public can still see but doesn't have to spend thousands on paint to remove it... instead a little adhesive remover, if it's in a spot that is illegal to begin with.
Does anybody know if Portland has a wall that graffiti artists can paint on, specifically for their art? Corvallis used to have one and it was great! I loved walking down to the end of the waterfront each weekend and there would be something new up. It was very cool and the artist all collaberated... left the stuff up for a week, whitewashed it, and started over again :)
I hope it's a bomb show and I wish I could attend!
Does anybody know if Portland has a wall that graffiti artists can paint on, specifically for their art? Corvallis used to have one and it was great! I loved walking down to the end of the waterfront each weekend and there would be something new up. It was very cool and the artist all collaberated... left the stuff up for a week, whitewashed it, and started over again :)
I hope it's a bomb show and I wish I could attend!
10
I find this whole thing pretty dang humerous... Graffiti style painting, not on buildings, IS ART! I congratulate the individual who thought far enough outside the box to put his graffiti on something the public can still see but doesn't have to spend thousands on paint to remove it... instead a little adhesive remover, if it's in a spot that is illegal to begin with.
Does anybody know if Portland has a wall that graffiti artists can paint on, specifically for their art? Corvallis used to have one and it was great! I loved walking down to the end of the waterfront each weekend and there would be something new up. It was very cool and the artist all collaberated... left the stuff up for a week, whitewashed it, and started over again :)
I hope it's a bomb show and I wish I could attend!
Does anybody know if Portland has a wall that graffiti artists can paint on, specifically for their art? Corvallis used to have one and it was great! I loved walking down to the end of the waterfront each weekend and there would be something new up. It was very cool and the artist all collaberated... left the stuff up for a week, whitewashed it, and started over again :)
I hope it's a bomb show and I wish I could attend!
11
The population growth of Portland, along with the migration of transplants, will inevitably cause an eventual surge of __________ (place name here: "street art", "graffiti art","slap art", "paste art", "vandalism", etc..) beyond present comprehension, and beyond control. Portland should look to larger cities whose businesses, federal governments and residents meld with street art in a more or less respectable manner, and gain some ideas for law-making and peacemaking as far as sharing the city with one another.
Street art will never be able to be "controlled". I feel it is ridiculous to continue to exaggerate the punishment for these "crimes" in a city where other crimes which are truly harmful to the health of the community are lesser punished or overlooked.
Portland needs some more outlets for street artists and tolerance for its inevitable diverse cultural commentators.
Get used to this controversy as Portland attracts more and more people.
Street art will never be able to be "controlled". I feel it is ridiculous to continue to exaggerate the punishment for these "crimes" in a city where other crimes which are truly harmful to the health of the community are lesser punished or overlooked.
Portland needs some more outlets for street artists and tolerance for its inevitable diverse cultural commentators.
Get used to this controversy as Portland attracts more and more people.
12
Vandalism is vandalism. If the property does not belong to you, you do not have the right to deface it without permission of the owner.
It doesn't matter if it is art or not. It's still vandalism. If Picasso spent his time running around town spray painting or 'sticking' his art on buildings, it would still be vandalism.
It doesn't matter if it is art or not. It's still vandalism. If Picasso spent his time running around town spray painting or 'sticking' his art on buildings, it would still be vandalism.
13
Vandalism is vandalism. If the property does not belong to you, you do not have the right to deface it without permission of the owner.
It doesn't matter if it is art or not. It's still vandalism. If Picasso spent his time running around town spray painting or 'sticking' his art on buildings, it would still be vandalism.
It doesn't matter if it is art or not. It's still vandalism. If Picasso spent his time running around town spray painting or 'sticking' his art on buildings, it would still be vandalism.
14
You Mercury goofballs are queer for all things graffiti. You know NOTHING about what you are talking about. I am going to come blow out your building "WW"s all over it, and then we can all sit back and discuss it's artistic merits.
15
You Mercury goofballs are queer for all things graffiti. You know NOTHING about what you are talking about. I am going to blow out your building with a bunch of giant "WW"s and then you can host a reception for me and discuss my artistic merits and how horribly misunderstood I am.
16
houses, cars, and places of worship,fronts of buildings everything else is fair game., america is a democracy, weel fuck it should be a visual democracy too. yeah, some shit shouldnt ever be painted on but people who are bothered by having art on public property without the anyones blessing but the artist should expand their comfort zone and be more accepting, it doesnt ruin natural beauty, just shows the pride and creativity of the youth of the nation.
p.s. toy is toy, arts art theres a fucking big difference but people who are toy willl eventually become artists
p.s. toy is toy, arts art theres a fucking big difference but people who are toy willl eventually become artists
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