Tagging Is Not Art, But Graffiti Can Be by Dennis Halterman

[Sirk]

What I enjoy best about Art Alley is the amazing opportunities it provides for growth to anyone who is willing. Maybe that was what we inherently had in mind when we first began -- finding a unique and successful way to deal with challenges that have existed for generations, and which have routinely been dealt with in direct, lineal, unsuccessful ways. Since those early days, a lot of people have become involved to create the special place the Alley has become.

Part of that coterie are the artists who's style falls into the graffiti genre. I enjoy this style, but as I have watched it come into the Alley, it has become possible for me to draw a distinction between using the graffiti form as "tagging" versus utilizing it to create art. "Tagging" is marking a certain piece of property. Sometimes, but not always, the graffiti style is used. Sometimes it is done well - look at the work of C3 and Cezar, among others - but often it is not - look at "Lane," "zozozo," and "Gist." These tags, and others like them, have shown up in dozens of spots in the Alley. They make no attempt to be art and are often no more than generic script with a squirt of paint or a second or two with a Magnum Sharpie. Its repetitive, mundane nature lacks the grammatical necessity to be considered graffiti as art - a noun - but shows only the characteristics of tagging territory - a verb.

I understand that on first blush this idea seems subjective - it did to me as well - but on reflection I don't think it is. On two occasions I discussed this exact issue with individuals who fill the Alley with their tags. Wanting to understand, and meaning no disrespect at all, I inquired as to why they both made the same mark over and over in the Alley. The first time the individual simply walked away from me. The second time the individual began with the initial chip-on-the-shoulder attitude often displayed by youth. His not so convincing defensive response was "It's our art, man," to which I replied, "O.K., for purposes of this conversation, I'll give you that point. But this is `Art Alley' and so if that is really your art, tell me how it adds to the Alley." In an instant the facade melted away, the frivolous nature of his "It's our art, man" exposed. Thoughtfully he answered, "I get what you mean."

James, one of the Alley's chief proponents and promoters, and the individual who spends a great deal of time keeping this MySpace site up to date, always says, "If something doesn't add, it takes away." I would agree with that statement.

Let's split the distinction a bit further. True graffiti artists show respect to the Alley and the other artists with whom he or she shares that space. Taggers, on the other hand (and although are often the first to throw up the hypocritical given the nature of their actions, "Respect The Art or RTA" tag), rarely show respect. For instance, we have the wall for the little children, the "Kidz Wall" which has recently had the addition of a tag, right over some work little four and five year old kids proudly did last summer. The Muse - one of the early pieces in the Alley - was tagged over recently. The fantastic "Memories," a favorite of many and done by a very talented seventeen year old artist last spring, was likewise tagged over. "Alice in Reality" is gone by way of a tag. The work done by the Dahl's City Life Art Camp was tagged over last summer, even though it was clearly noted as done by these budding young artists. This last one gave rise to the fall "beef" the taggers had where they spent several weeks painting over each others tags, and writing little messages back and forth about each other's work. And all of the offending tags are, at best, uninspired.

People frequently ask me about whether or not there is still room for more art in the Alley. I respond the same way each time: there is a lot of room left in the Alley. Why, it is probably not even one quarter full, but the days of coming down with a predetermined notion of what one is going to do are now behind us. The Alley wants better, the bar has been raised, artists need to bring up their game. The standard tag simply doesn't have any place left to fit, but that doesn't mean a true creative artist can't find plenty of room to create art.

The Alley has been around for well over a hundred years. There is no one left alive among us who walked down it when it was brand new, and if we are the proper custodians, there will be people enjoying it long after we are all gone. The Alley is powerful, and it will get what it wants. The only question for us is what we are going to do for the Alley on our watch.

Dennis Halterman

What do you think?
Do you go for quantity or quality?
Is it about having your mark as many places as possible? Or leaving a few well done ones?

[clas-one]

i think any form of letters that you use or change is graffiti.There are however always toys who fuck shit up and copy your shit and call it there own. As long as you use your style and it flows and you keep the flow of your style going to exact. Gangbangers howver fucked the whole scene of graffiti by linking graff up with this gang representation of what they percieve as graffiti is wrong fuck that i throw up over that shit any time other pieces i show respect but i will go over you if i can burn you but in my eyes graffiti is art its as how you percieve it in your own recognition