“Graffiti is always about being slightly naughty…It’s a different mindset from painting legally.”
- Glynn Judd, a former train writer.
I grew up in a tiny town where "bad boys" spray painted on the sides of railroad cars and the walls of the grain elevator that sat next to the train tracks. They left scribbles, streaks, and carelessly written words in black and white paint. Defacing public property with graffiti was vandalism, a petty crime, and the graffiti was promptly painted over. I don't know if the boys were ever caught.
In many cities, graffiti artists are fined and jailed. But some communities have developed an "enlightened" viewpoint: they embrace urban art as a form of cultural expression, a tourist attraction, or a tool of political communication.
There's a distinction between "graffiti," which defaces property and contributes nothing, and "urban art," which encourages the viewer to engage positively with the artwork.
Valencia has provided an urban canvas for talented street artists from around the world who have left their beautiful work on its walls. The El Carmen area is particularly rich in urban art, and one of my favorite places to wander with camera in hand. Here are some of my favorite works.
- Glynn Judd, a former train writer.
I grew up in a tiny town where "bad boys" spray painted on the sides of railroad cars and the walls of the grain elevator that sat next to the train tracks. They left scribbles, streaks, and carelessly written words in black and white paint. Defacing public property with graffiti was vandalism, a petty crime, and the graffiti was promptly painted over. I don't know if the boys were ever caught.
In many cities, graffiti artists are fined and jailed. But some communities have developed an "enlightened" viewpoint: they embrace urban art as a form of cultural expression, a tourist attraction, or a tool of political communication.
There's a distinction between "graffiti," which defaces property and contributes nothing, and "urban art," which encourages the viewer to engage positively with the artwork.
Valencia has provided an urban canvas for talented street artists from around the world who have left their beautiful work on its walls. The El Carmen area is particularly rich in urban art, and one of my favorite places to wander with camera in hand. Here are some of my favorite works.
This richly-detailed work was created on the wall of an obscure parking area that I found by accident. Valencia is filled with urban art in hidden corners that was made by talented artists.
Note the dog piddle in the lower left corner. Perhaps a canine comment?
More fist fighting.
Think about the scale. This highly-detailed mural covers two large walls. Exquisite!
Lots of symbolism here. I just don't know how to interpret it.
Urban art is a tool of political communication.
Blanquita (white lady).
Love the humor and retro style of this urban art. There's a woman vacuuming up men, and a man wearing jailhouse stripes hanging out of an upstairs window. This one made me stop, think about the concepts, and smile.
Door of an auto repair shop. Perfect!
Botox anyone?
Notice how just a few areas have been painted, yet you see the dog's head clearly. Brilliant!
In my ad agency days, we would pay big bucks for this style of art.
This one makes me laugh!
What's not to love about an opera singer performing in a paella pan?
Street art in Valencia is imaginative, colorful, thought-provoking and beautifully executed. It's nothing like the graffiti scribbled on the sides of trains from my youth. These works enhance the vibrancy of the city, enriching the experience of locals and visitors alike. Come here and see for yourself!
Click to read My Love Affair with Valencia
Click here to read Even More To Love About Valencia
Click to read My Love Affair with Valencia
Click here to read Even More To Love About Valencia
Here's an excellent article "Is Graffiti a Force for Good or Evil?:
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jan/07/urban-graffiti-force-good-evil
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jan/07/urban-graffiti-force-good-evil
