Reacting to the Daily News story about "eurotrash" coming to New York City to tag subway cars, Transit Bureau Chief James Hall downplayed the role of the foreigners at the MTA committee meeting this morning.
"The most prolific taggers this year are homegrown," he said. So far, 31 people were busted for major hits of subway cars in "layup" tracks in the tunnels or yards. Of those, four were foreign -- Three Slovaks and an Aussie.
"I don't think its wise to put all your eggis in a European basket," he said.
But with vandalism on the rise, Hall said he assigned new "pitbull detectives" to get the offenders.
"Although you did a hit in June they may be knocking on your door in October," he said.
Hall did acknowledge that a new tagging culture encourages people to spray paint on cars and photograph it for the Internet -- even though the "art" will be promptly erased.
"It has a lot to do with bragging rights," he said.
Here's a list of Euro "tagger crews."
-- Chuck Bennett
Comments (1)
to me and most all people i have asked about graffiti said it should not be looked at as a negative. most people ive talked to say its cool and they have respect for the hard work and artistic ability that goes into graffiti. yes tagging and just plain writing is messy and not good. however how can u take away the artistic ability that it takes and the ability to get up their piece on a whole train car. think of how big a train is. maybe if more people would recognize its artistic form then people wouldnt have to go around doing there messy tags and throwups. i bet the majority of the people you could ask would say that they would rather see a colorful intersesting car rather than a sheet of silver metal. its a vicious cycle of hate. becasue its frowned upon by the select few high power people doesnt mean everyone dislikes it. because some "authorities" frown upon it means that graffiti writers need to be sneaky and sly about it, which entails that they do it quick and messy. i know if the graffiti as art had more respect from its viewers then the writers would have more respect for the property and what they chose to write or what they chose to graffiti on. back to the cycle. its messy because its they have to do it quickly and without getting busted. and becuase were doing it quickly they do not have time enough to fully express their artistic abilities. if it was a more publicly accepted art form then peolpe would not ahve to rush and make sure no ones watchin while they do it, rather just take their time and be creative.
honestly graffiti can be crap depending on where and what. but how can you deny colorful trains, walls, trucks bridges, etc., as being art. its just as much an art form as regular painting, the main difference is that it comes out of a can. did you ever think about that?
well anyway im not trying to legalize it but rather open your eyes to how much of an art it is, legal or non. Also i think many authorities cant stand graffiti because they cannot accept the fact that they have been beaten in some way. also people who do not accept it have not experienced nor will they experience the thrill, pride, and rush of doing such a fun , creative, expressive, colorful, art form.
besides tagging is completely different from bombing, throwups, pieces, top to bottoms, whole cars, and whole trains.
taggin is running around your area that you want to be known in and putting up your name, often messy and unreadable
bombing and throwups are the bubble letters you see done in mostly public places. they are a step up from tagging. it just ads the 3ds and colors
pieces are masterpieces that are often done in wild style burners. which is for you non graffiti artists, the stuff that you cant read.
they include more than 5 colors immense details in the letters and 3d , and also visual effects like glares and shine marks. also extensions are added like arrows and extensions of letters which is waht causes the letters to look all scrambled
top to bottoms is a train car, freight or subway that is covered from top to bottom and usually the width as well
whole cars are anything that takes up a whole car, it doesnt have to be one piece but it covers a whole car
and the germans are more famous for this but whole trains.
when a whole train of 8 or 9 cars are completely covered usually the same theme, for example each car takes up two letters and it spells the word out across the whole train.
well i hope i changed some of your thoughts on subway "vandalism"
the only thing that makes it vandalism is some high and mighty figure sying that. if it was not illegal it would be praised as an art more than it is now. alls people need is to give it respect and writers will respect you.
and i want to add that if graffiti artsists can accept most other peoples lifestyles and cultures, why cant you accept theirs?