Taryn Berry, a 31-year-old medical assistant from North Attleboro is planning on getting married next summer. She wants a fairy tale wedding with a big white dress, flowers everywhere, and a lavish cake.
But the invitations will be far from traditional. Berry wants a graffiti design.
“When I was in Los Angeles, they had graffiti on the side of the highway on the concrete,” said Berry. “It looked so cool. It inspired me to do something different.”
Graffiti is a hot these days whether its gang signs or high art. But it’s still illegal without permission. With artists like Shepard Fairey making headlines, graffiti seems to be acceptable to people if it’s good quality.
“Graffiti depends on the message,” said Christopher Kerr, a 38-year-old teacher from Easton. “It’s vandalism if it’s got a message of hate or discrimination. It’s art if it has permission or is there to uplift people.”
Like most people, Kerr thinks graffiti is only acceptable if the property owner gives permission. Without that, it’s breaking the law and underlines the fundamental principle of property rights. 35 percent of property vandalism is graffiti according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. It currently costs the United States over $1 billion per year in graffiti removal.
Avon Sgt John Buker, a police officer for 21 years said in a small town like Avon, there was graffiti.
“It was a big issue last year,” said Buker. “A small group of kids were caught tagging and had to pay and we haven’t seen anything since.”
Typically when someone is caught tagging, a report is taken for malicious damage. A first offense typically receives a fine. With a second offense, the consequences can be more severe.
Buker said Avon is a small enough so the presence of police cruisers is enough to deter graffiti.
A local graffiti artist who has made headlines is Shepard Fairey. Recently having been arrested in Boston, he has his own exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art. Fairey created the “HOPE” posters for President Barack Obama during elections. His work can be seen around such major cities as Boston and Providence and has helped make graffiti more mainstream and high art.
Patricia Hayes, a 55-year-old teacher from Mansfield, doesn’t consider most graffiti art. She sees graffiti as 90 percent vandalism and 10 percent art.
“I think there should be a place where graffiti artists can show their work,” said Hayes. “But I don’t think it should be shown anywhere or be legalized.”
Others don’t see it as a problem at all.
Eric Jacobson, a 29-year-old mariner from Norton, agrees that graffiti can be either art or vandalism depending on the artist. “I think there are bigger problems to worry about. It’s not a big problem at all,” said Jacobson.
If you’re a fan, you’re in luck because the Art Experience in Avon is offering a class about graffiti spray paint sometime soon. For more information visit http://www.artexperienceusa.com/.
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