First off, a piece that underscores the global spread of graffiti culture:
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| Photo by V.V. Krishnan / The Hindu |
The Hindu: Writing on the wall
Driving through Delhi roads in recent times, the splashes of colour are hard to miss. The writing seems to have sprung up in several places, almost overnight, providing a colourful respite from the grey and drab buildings.
The relatively new culture of graffiti is fast spreading not just in the city, but throughout the country. Is this just the new thing in vogue, or does graffiti hold promise as a form of expression to reach out to a mass audience?
Next, in the U.S. state of Virginia, a recognition of graffiti with historical value:
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| Photo by the Culpeper Star Exponent |
Culpeper Star Exponent: Civil War graffiti exposed
With the steady hands of a surgeon, architectural conservator Chris Mills slowly unveils history one painstaking step at a time. His end goals—reveal and protect the Civil War era signatures, drawings and scribbling strewn throughout the Brandy Station Graffiti House.
The circa 1858 structure is believed to have been used as a hospital by Confederate and Union forces during the war. For unknown reasons, patrons decided to mark up the walls with signatures, drawings and anything else that crossed their minds. Mills' challenge is to remove the post-historic paint and whitewash that subsequent owners' attempted to cover the markings with, as well as stabilize the fragile plaster.
And finally, back in Canada:
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| Images of the Rick Mercer Report/CBC courtesy of the National Post |
National Post: Rick Mercer's rants damaging anti-graffiti cause: Mississauga councillor
"Rick Mercer needs to know that he's not doing anybody any good with his rants down the graffiti-tagged alley," Ms. Mahoney fumed during a city council meeting Wednesday, suggesting the Mercer rants may have unintentionally encouraged the spread of graffiti throughout Canada.
"That's not helping the cause across the country," she said.
But wait, there's more...
Metro News: Councillor can't tag this on Mercer
"My rants are shot in an artist-friendly laneway. These are fabulous, vibrant, constantly-changing works of art," Mercer wrote in an email to the Star. "I would wager many of those artists will be remembered long after the good councillor, who's (sic) name escapes me."
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Mahoney added that she wasn't aware until after she made her comments that Graffiti Alley, located near Queen St. W. and Spadina Ave., is exempt from any graffiti bylaw and sanctioned as an area of "municipal significance" by Toronto city hall.
So it looks like Rick Mercer is helping the cause after all, just not the cause Katie Mahoney would like.
Booya!