Is graffiti just a blot on the cityscape or is it art?
The following is a combined letter from members of Nebula Class (Year 5) at Widcombe Junior School, Bath
Year 5 in Widcombe Junior School has been studying graffiti in art and literacy and we are writing to you to open the debate and explore public opinion on the subject.
On Wednesday, February 6, we visited the Widcombe Social Club to get a taste of street art (it is not graffiti because permission has been given for it) in the local environment.
We met the artist, Tomo, responsible for the artwork. We learnt how skilful street art can be and that it took years of dedication and practise to become such an accomplished artist.
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He did an improvised piece of art for us (Bob the Cat) on the wall of the social club car park while we called out suggestions.
We also discovered that local residents have been very positive about the decoration of the building.
A local architect visited us in school on Monday to share his views on tagging and unsightly graffiti in the area. Although he disliked the scribbles which ruin property, he was of the opinion that some graffiti could sometimes be considered an artistic expression.
After half term, we are fortunate enough to have a representative from B&NES cleansing team to explain to us how the council deals with the damage which is caused by taggers and the resulting cost to taxpayers.
By the end of our project, we will be doing a piece of writing discussing the question of whether graffiti should be considered vandalism or art.
We hope to include as broad a range as possible of opinions about graffiti.
We would be really grateful if readers could share their opinions of graffiti by writing to the Chronicle in response to this letter (which was written collaboratively by the whole class).
Nebula Class (Year 5) Widcombe Junior School Widcombe Bath
2 Comments
by jonquil
Sunday, February 24 2013, 8:36PM
“I do not agree Banksy is overrated, he has amazing style. I am sure not many would object to his art on street walls.”
by AbandonShip
Friday, February 22 2013, 1:42PM
“This is an interesting and worthy project for the school to undertake.
However I can't wait for the street art in Widcombe to disappear. It is exceedingly ugly and I'm not really sure why I have to be subjected to it on a daily basis. The only thing as ugly is the building on which it is painted/sprayed.
"We also discovered that local residents have been very positive about the decoration of the building." I'd like to see the evidence for that.
Graffiti artists invariably produce dull, ugly images more suited to the comics and magazines that teenage nerds read.
Those who spray walls (and often on the Bath stone of buildings of historic significance) should be made to wear yellow luminous jackets and hats in order to scrub the surfaces in full view of the general public. I have seen newly cleaned walls on historic buildings in Bath and Bristol subjected to fresh graffiti abuse by the end of the next weekend.
...and finally, Banksy is much overrated and the sound of Guardian readers agreeing smugly amongst themselves as to how clever, edgy and "speaking truth to power" the images are, frankly makes me vomit.
I hope my opinions are clear.”