Urban Drawing Board: Images of Free Expression

"The People's Prose"

Graffiti, public marches and other free expression on the streets are captured in my photography in this blog. Each “expression” represents a raw energy, a need to speak out—what I call “the people’s prose”—whether by word, illustration or voice.

It comes from folks who felt compelled to say something about their own conditions, the political mood of the time, or the cultural climate they live in. Others just wanted to leave their mark—an “I was here” affirmation. Could have been a teenager who took chalk or a can of spray paint in hand to speak his/her mind, in his own language. Or protestors and parade walkers brave enough to say “This is who I am, this is my liberation.”

“Urban drawing boards”—my term for alternative means of expression—capture the feelings of helplessness and anger when no reform seems likely. They set the record straight. They poke fun. They encourage empowerment.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Atlanta's Anti-Graffiti Task Force

Atlanta revived its defunct anti-graffiti task force to eradicate what it views as vandalism and visual pollution. City employees and certain community groups are on the rampage to scrub off, plaster over or white-wash this "blight." Writer Thomas Wheatley, in his excellent article published in CL, interviewed Mozley Park Commissioner George Dusenbury, who revived the task force. His unbelievable quote, "Graffiti can lead to situations where people feel unsafe," among other spoutings not even worth citing, reveals complete ignorance and disregard for the cultural expression of Atlanta neighborhoods. If you care at all about local art, protest their actions. At the very least, fight for "free walls" in every neighborhood. Look at my photos. Three of these art pieces are already gone. If these weren't worth saving, I don't know what it.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Winter Play

In late August, I shot these playful winter scenes on the Wylie St. side of Krog Tunnel in Cabbagetown. Cold and snow can be fun, yes? As I sit here shivering, I'm wondering if they were predicting our early winter in Atlanta. As of last month, these scenes were mostly obliterated. C'mon, somebody else draw something fun.

Monday, October 4, 2010

YNOT: Atlanta graffiti

Here's a "drawing board" I found two weeks ago, across the street from the Edgewood Retail District. "YNOT" is gone now, not just painted over but plastered over. "1,000,000+ Iraq Citizens Killed" was painted on brick in Little Five Points, along with "Cut From a Different Cloth," appearing in the front window of Stratosphere Skateboards. Finally, "I sold all my BP stock ages ago," in Cabbagetown, is part of a short series of frowning and tearful animals that reads "Beautiful fishes...all gone."