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Community Murals

Kansas City & Oakland: A Tale of Two Policies

On the surface, Kansas City’s new “graffiti” program is nothing new. But its simple initiatives are far more progressive than Oakland’s recent proposal, which is focussed almost entirely on increasing the financial burden on youth caught for vandalism and their families. Kansas City is passing out paint to community members who want to cover-up unwanted writing themselves. While there are some inherent issues with supporting vigilante buffing (see what just happened in Atlanta), and the potential for legitimate artwork to…

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When Communities Attach to Ads

The Community of Manitowoc has spoken. The Budweiser Beer Bottles will be saved. A massive advertisement somehow avoided any Manitowoc signage laws for over 30 years and when the ad came under threat of removal when the plant was bought by another company, the neighborhood rose up to protect the beer bottles. Advertising always seems to have an easier ride than murals. It can be mass produced. It is paid for by large corporations with deep pockets. They don’t seem…

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Proposed graffiti ordinance seeks harsher punishment for vandalism

This month, the city council’s Public Works Committee will consider a new graffiti ordinance, which aims to bolster Oakland’s current vandalism laws by inflicting harsher penalties on offenders and offering support for property owners frequently targeted by graffiti writers. The “Graffiti Enforcement Program” proposed by City Attorney Barbara Parker and District 3 representative Nancy Nadel, would enhance a section of the city’s municipal code which presently only addresses graffiti abatement procedures and prohibits the sale and possession of pressurized paint…

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Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Return to the Detroit Institute of Art

This is a powerful show for numerous reasons. First, the exhibit features two of the world most legendary artists. Second, the event will be held at Detroit Institute of Art, where Rivera created his masterpiece “Detroit Industry” murals. CRP has some close ties to Detroit, both because of its vast amount of public art and our connection to the legendary Techno group, Underground Resistance, who we have depicted in our mural on 28th and Telegraph in Oakland. They’re coming back.…

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Atlanta’s Living Walls and the Importance of Community Engagement

A consistent challenge that muralists, aerosol writers and “street artists” face if we are concerned with the impact and integrity of the work. On one hand, the bureaucracy, low-budgets of the projects, and city mandated approval processes significantly hinder our ability to significantly build in the communities that we are painting. Unless a community design process is funded to support the artist, we often have to take on these responsibilities on our own. It is extremely difficult for “local” muralists…

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The Other Side of the Atlanta Mural Controversy

CRP has already discussed the recent destruction of the mural in Atlanta’s Pittsburgh neighborhood from the perspective of community engagement.  Living Walls’ process for talking to the neighbors may been lacking to say the least. But the final point that may lead to the ultimate destruction of this wall is not their fault. Living Walls jumped through all sorts of hoops to get this mural approved. This articles shows that the mural was signed off on by three different agencies…

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Atlanta Update: The City Pressure Washes the Paint off of Illegal Buffing

The Drama in the Pittsburgh neighborhood in Atlanta continues. This report shows that the battle did not end with the community painting over Roti’s mural. Instead, mural supporters backed by the Georgia Department of Transportation came back and scrubbed the paint off of the mural in an attempt to restore it. This is a powerful statement for the art and the dialogue that this creates. We wish that the buffers would be this responsive when they destroy landmarks and other…

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When Murals Gentrify, the Community Strikes Back!

This mural in southwest Atlanta has caused a major controversy. On one hand, the local former councilperson, Doug Dean, got together with members of the local community and erased a mural without going through any of the proper channels. As activists for mural protections, we advocate for the protection of murals and invoke the federal VARA act that requires that the artist be notified and compensated for any damages done her/his artwork. Its a bold statement when a former legislator…

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Burbank: Graffiti removal worker arrested for tagging, then billing city for clean-up

Graffiti removal and traditional abatement strategies have already proven to ineffective and not cost efficient. The scandal in Burbank exposes how private abatement contractors have abused the system even further. A graffiti-removal worker was arrested for allegedly tagging various locations in Burbank and then fraudulently billing the city to remove the same tags, police said today. (Flickr) Enrique Medrano, 53, was arrested on Thursday and was booked on suspicion of vandalism, burglary, and forgery, Burbank police Sgt. Darin Ryburn said. “Medrano was employed by…

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An Innovative Project in Ruston LA.

This project combines two aspects of murals that CRP is consistently checking for: Innovation and Recycling. Stephan Wagner made a series of new artwork in Ruston, LA out of recycled Mardi Gras beads! The artwork is beautiful and intricate, ranging from symbolic pieces, like the one below, to photorealistic. We were wondering if Mardi Gras beads got recycled year to year, or if they were used throughout the year, or, if they were being thrown out. We thought that creating…

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