West Seattle graffiti, and what can be done about it

We had a spirited discussion here a month ago when that cat (above left) turned up on a utility structure along Admiral Way, along the lines of “is graffiti EVER a good thing?” John pointed out the cat’s been painted over but its sibling under the Schmitz Park bridge was still there this weekend (above right). As of our drive-by an hour or so ago, the cat paintover already has been painted over by some entirely non-ornate white tagging. All this coincides with a note we received from Mark, who thinks it’s high time for a reminder about what to do when graffiti hits. Here’s what he writes:

Now that warm weather is returning, so is graffiti already. The Key Bank building right there at Alaska and California, the heart of the Junction, is a perfect example. Also, nearby 1st Ave. has become a prime target — I drive it daily and it’s getting worse every day there. The nature of the graffiti “culture” is that graffiti attracts more graffiti. It’s not just a hobby with these kids — it’s a lifestyle that’s a big part of their identities as they “stay up” to acquire “fame” within the graf scene. I know some kids (teens to twentysomethings) who live in West Seattle and are big into the Seattle graf scene. If they see their home turf as welcoming, they will keep on tagging it up like dogs marking their territory.

Anyway, Seattle city government has a Graffiti Prevention & Removal website (click here). You can report graffiti there, and there are tips for removing and preventing it. My experience has been that the city crews do respond to this input pretty quickly.

I’d hate to see our beautiful Junction and Alki areas — and the rest of West Seattle — be seen as even more of a ripe “canvas” for these spray can punks.

(Photo credits: Admiral cat, from last month, courtesy of Jerry at JetCityOrange; bridge cat, from this weekend, sent by John.)

Aidan Hadley February 25, 2008 (11:06 am)

In the late 90’s in NYC, mayor Guiliani’s administration made a pretty good case that small things like trash, broken windows and graffiti in a neighborhood could be “gateway drugs” to increases in more serious crimes and that when the city stayed on top of those seemingly minor things it had a surprising effect on neighborhood pride and stability. NYC’s “Crimestat” computer system, which helped the city track and respond to incidents of crime in a more dynamic way, is credited with the crime reductions that NYC is still enjoying the benefits of today. The Seattle Police Department is in the process of rolling out a similar computer system (I believe it is called Spider) this year. I wonder if they track graffiti. PS: I think certain graffiti artists (like Britain’s Banksy) can add brilliant public art to otherwise forgotten spaces.

Nancy February 25, 2008 (11:40 am)

I have not yet driven by the Admiral cat today. I am sad to hear that the cat has been painted over and there is tagging in place of it. I agree with Aidan that some graffiti art can serve as public art – making our built environment a better place to be. It is important to distinguish between graffiti art and tagging. Sanctioned graffiti art can be terrific and also a good outlet for these youth. I worked for a non-profit in LA that promoted murals on these vacant sites that were the target of gang tagging. This created a source of neighborhood pride and the taggers left it alone out of respect. It is a shame it is not a simple process to create sanctioned public art.

OP February 25, 2008 (11:55 am)

PS: I think certain graffiti artists (like Britainâ€™s Banksy) can add brilliant public art to otherwise forgotten spaces.

Much to some folks’ surprise, I’m going to second Aidan’s opinion here. This is more art than it is “tagging” graffiti.

old timer February 25, 2008 (12:03 pm)

Art or tags is not the question to be asked.
What needs to be asked is, was the paint applied with the owner’s permission?
In the case of public property, IMO, no ‘permission’ can be granted, as permission for one is permission for all.
Unless the painting comes from some community based and sponsored project, I think all the stuff should be covered up ASAP.

Aim February 25, 2008 (12:08 pm)

Many folks don’t seem to understand the respect level of one artist for another in the graffiti culture (I am not talking about gang tags here, though the taggers will generally follow the “code of the streets” and respect an actual artist’s work)

Generally speaking, art like the cats above will be respected and not tagged over, even by the gang bangers, as it’s truly great graffiti art. The moment it’s painted over, as seen in the above example, it becomes fair game for tagging.

I’d much rather see that lovely cat on the fence than a bunch of tags, anyday.

And no, I’m not just any Joe Schmoe who thinks she knows something. I hung with the gangs as a teenager, and have grown up to be an (gasp!) upstanding professional and good citizen. While I no longer live in that world in any way shape or form, I know the culture intimately.

My2cents February 25, 2008 (12:34 pm)

Re: Graffiti as art
Think of the traditional graffiti monoliths along the old Oregon Trail. People could go for miles and days without being moved to carve their initials into the nearest rock. But once some sites became THE PLACE to leave your mark, many travelers had to join in. Other taggers simply see graffiti left for all to see as an irresistible invitation/taunt.

No matter how much artistic merit an individual pice may have, graffiti costs everyone money: taxpayers, property owners, business owners and landlords (who, make no mistake, pass the costs for cleanup along to their customers and renters). Plus, anyone who spends time in a business or residential area where graffiti begins to spread usually sees a corresponding decline in-general: empty businesses, closed shops, neglected properties.

“Unless the painting comes from some community based and sponsored project:” Too often, a group does a wonderful project, moves on, but no one “adopts” it to make sure it will be maintained. Many public projects incorporating community art need a civic group to continue with long-term stewardship. This is because various city departments may have a policy of not cleaning or removing the graffiti if it may also remove the artwork!

Pete February 25, 2008 (12:46 pm)

It is the “broken window” theory at play here. Graffiti is graffiti and if not dealt with promptly leads to more graffiti. We have been dealing with this issue in my neighborhood over the years and have discovered that if you paint it out as soon as it appears, and you are consisitent about this, the problem goes away. We have not had a serious graffiti problem in our neighborhood for the past year or so since we began attacking the problem on a daily basis. You have to have a zero tolerance policy or it will quickly become a huge problem.

liws February 25, 2008 (1:25 pm)

Maybe we can build a small wall for them to target and let them know that that’s their wall. They can get their graffiti fix by abusing that one wall and leave everything else alone.

Peter February 25, 2008 (1:36 pm)

Guiliani, gang-banging, and former professional snowboarders seems like a recipe for disaster; or, fantastic subject matter for a graffiti artist! And check out Andrew Schoultz’s murals, they are neat.

seaweedtoasted February 25, 2008 (2:07 pm)

A friend painted our front walkway wall for a school project and months later we received a note from the city to remove it within 10 days or pay fines for each day it remains. We weren’t super attached to it, so we did paint over it. One day soon, we’ll paint another mural and do whatever it takes to keep it so. I like the fact that art (graffiti) slows down the traffic and adds some life to the usually boring tan and grey palette of Seattle. More legal graffiti walls would be great!

Stephen February 25, 2008 (2:23 pm)

Art or tags is not the question to be asked.
What needs to be asked is, was the paint applied with the ownerâ€™s permission?

This about nails it. If it wasn’t requested, it’s vandalism. If it was requested, it’s another story.

If I had a wall that was just sitting there, and a kid came by, showed me a few pictures of past work, and asked permission to do a mural, I’d probably be one of the ones who’d say “Yes”. But if that same kid came by and just started spraying, I’d be dialing 9-1-1.

The two situations are completely different regardless of the final work. It’s about respect. You want me to show you respect, but think it’s ok to just paint anywhere you please? ‘Scuse me? How’d that go again?

Many folks donâ€™t seem to understand the respect level of one artist for another in the graffiti culture

Sorry, Aim, but what about respect for the rest of us? Our property isn’t just their playground.

Nancy February 25, 2008 (2:40 pm)

It is not a perfect world and our built environment is subject to many whims, be it a private developer with a taste in architecture that all might not agree on or the corporation that subjects its advertising on us (but has the luxury of paying for it) via billboards, ads on buses, etc. We live in a complex urban society and community building is necessary. Do we really want to live somewhere sterile? I much rather see the melting pot of life. And again, I only agree with sanctioned graffiti art be it by a formal process or from a individual property owner.

JayDee February 25, 2008 (7:11 pm)

Within my small sphere of influence (several blocks around Alki that I typically patrol), I will wipe out graffiti whenever I find it, though typically that on government or institutional property. I generally let the property owner deal with tags on private property–which is relatively rare in upper Alki.

Fortunately, spray paint is easy to remove compared to the original paint. Lacquer thinner works best — use decent nitrile/butyl/vinyl gloves to keep it away from your skin. If you are chemically sensitive, don’t try this at home. Basically the thinner transfers the spray paint to a sacrificial rag or towel. I also have a couple of cans of spray paint for simply covering over the more recalcitrant tags. Lacquer thinner evaporates fast, so you only have a minute or two before it goes away, posing less of a “oily rag” fire hazard.

Yes, the costs for graffiti removal are out of my own pocket, and more importantly, my own time.

Metro will come out quickly to remove graffiti on bus shelters and signs — Just let them know the nearest intersection/shelter number and they will wipe it out.

Now the “kitty” on Admiral or on the Schmitz Park bridge do keep down the rather more unsightly and less artistic tags–I’d prefer that no graffiti occupy those spots, but would rather have something more pleasant looking than illiterate lettering. For that matter, maybe on Admiral the cell company could spray paint the dead bushes green next time they are out…

If it wasn’t posted with permission of the property owner, it’s vandalism, not art.

JayDee

Jackie Winter February 26, 2008 (6:13 am)

That cute cat is not what I would call graffiti. In fact, I thought it had been put there by the home owner. I enjoyed seeing it as I drove up and down Admiral way.

Bernicki February 26, 2008 (11:28 am)

Jackie Winter: me too

barmargia February 27, 2008 (3:45 pm)

So I just drove past where the cat used to be, and I totally understand that it is illegal to do this, and I know that it is technically vandalizing property, but now that the cat is painted over with the basic blah brown, there is more graffiti up on it, and not the nice “arty” type, but basic graffiti/tagging.

Jackie February 28, 2008 (6:49 am)

I too saw the proper graffiti and I say BRING BACK THE CAT !!!!!!!!!

Jackie Winter February 28, 2008 (6:49 am)

BRING BACK THE CAT !!!!!!!!!

Be free February 29, 2008 (8:08 am)

Bring back the cat!

That painting was much more of a mural than anything else so I feel the â€œbroken windowâ€ theory does not apply to this situation. Did half of you even see that painting? It was great! Don’t we all get enough of muted browns and beige at work all day?

Joseph July 18, 2008 (7:59 pm)

I wish more paint onto it all . Is this place, this city, so out of touch with it’s own existence that it sees itself above the temporary palette for a bit of graffiti? Property owner??? No one in this country really owns any property. Who are we to demand that it be patrolled and enforced to the letter of the law?
I think Nancy said it best: “It is not a perfect world and our built environment is subject to many whims, be it a private developer with a taste in architecture that all might not agree on or the corporation that subjects its advertising on us (but has the luxury of paying for it) via billboards, ads on buses, etc. We live in a complex urban society and community building is necessary. Do we really want to live somewhere sterile? I much rather see the melting pot of life. And again, I only agree with sanctioned graffiti art be it by a formal process or from a individual property owner.”

I myself welcome a little color and nonconformity in the daily landscape. Welcome to gritty if not slightly artistic CULTURE Seattle! BOOM!

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