Art in the Alleys

There's something patronizing about this project. How can we simultaneously endorse and encourage street art of this type without also acknowledging that the origins of "street art" are in illegal graffiti?

There's something about the process by which gang tags and territory markers have become first poseur immitations then artistic statements for middle class kids, and now organized neighborhood endorsed projects of revitalization and beautification, that makes me very uncomfortable.

It becomes exceedingly clear that the laws exist not because we don't want writing or painting on walls, but because we don't want a particular class of people engaging in these or possibly any other activities.

Not a fan.