Thanks to a reader for the tip on this “interesting graffiti”. Shari may be the only declared challenger for Fenty next year…
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
“Dear PoP,
I just walked past the gorgeous mural on Irving in between 11th and 13th and noticed that some jerkwad spray painted my favorite part! I’m so pissed!
Here’s wishing that 2010 is better than 2009.”
Very upsetting. It also appears that the mural at Bloombars on nearby 11th Street was also tagged, though already fixed.
From a Bloombars Facebook message:
“Some of you may have heard the unfortunate news that the mural on the side of our space was defaced by gang tags. It is sad bit of news that everyone does not share the same appreciation for something that brought so much joy to the neighborhood.
Your gut reaction might be anger and disappointment. But we ask that you set aside those feelings and see this as an opportunity to focus attention on one of the greatest challenges facing our community—young people choosing unproductive and destructive ways to spend their time.
It begs the question: Do you believe there are enough creative and productive alternatives for young people that support their growth and development?
If your answer was no, we ask that you explore ways that you can help lend some of your time to address this challenge—A challenge that will not go away with letters to elected officials or complaints to the police.
As you know, BloomBars has been working to be a part of the solution. Our most recent efforts include programming like Guitars not Guns and Poetry in the Morning. And with your support, ideas, and resources, we hope to offer many more opportunities for youth in 2010. In addition, we would love for our space to serve as a meeting place where you can engage your neighbors in a dialog about this and other challenges facing our community, so be on the lookout for an invitation to our first organized community forum.
It’s important to note that there are also several other organizations here in Columbia Heights whose footsteps we follow, like the Latin American Youth Center, and the Emergence Community Arts Collective. We hope you will also look for ways to support these fantastic organizations.
Back to the issue of the gang tags. I’ve spoken to Joel Bergner, the muralist, who has offered to fix the damage. We’re also bouncing around ideas to create a program to introduce the youth who have been doing the tagging to art of murals. But again, these efforts can only be successful with your support.”
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
“Dear PoP,
Here is a picture of the new Eleanor Holmes Norton electrical box graffiti art on 14th and Florida NW. There is another one at 14th and P, too. How awesome is this?
Also attached is a Barack Obama/Joker graffiti that is about a year old, on the redline near Rhode Island Ave. It’s done by a sick artist named JU who’s paintings extend from Union Station to Glenmont. I haven’t been out that way in about 6 months, but I’m sure the graffiti art is still flourishing along the red line route. Just figured your readers would appreciate!”
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
IMG_0453, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
Back in 2007 I saw some pear taggings that really bothered me. This one is a bit different because it looks to be on an abandoned building (on 9th St. in Shaw) and it’s obviously more artistic. What do you think of this one – art or graffiti?
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
I’ve been getting a number of emails (and a tweet, see photo above) about this disgrace. Sadly, I suspected it was going to happen. This is from the great mosaic on Irving between 11th and 13th that was done by a group of students from the Latin American Youth Center. Hopefully the graffiti can be removed without too much damage to the mural.
One reader sums up the situation perfectly:
“Why must people be such assholes?!”
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
DSCN0767, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
Normally I like graffiti like this. But I’m gonna call this a tragedy. This mural used to be one of the coolest in DC. It’s located across the parking lot, on 11th Street, from the one we looked at called Endless Bummer. Truly a sad day. Before the mural was cut in half it should’ve been granted historic landmark status or something like that.
Original photo by flickr user CarrieA
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
In discussing the Raven renovation a reader commented that they hope the bathroom graffiti would be preserved. So when I went to Wonderland I thought I’d see if any of their bathroom graffiti was interesting. Sure enough this one jumps right out at you. It gave me a good chuckle.
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
DSCN0105, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
“Dear PoP,
As you meander through town, have you seen a particular type of tag or graffiti that almost looks like contour drawings often done in art school? I have seen a few around town by the same artist (i think), but there is one that sticks out in my mind–it is outside of Cork on 14th st, but went up when that used to be Sparky’s. It is of two figures embracing, with a line that reads “over time things change”. By any chance, do you:
a. know what i am talking about?
b. have a decent quality picture lying around that you never posted (i checked the archives and it is not there)?
c. this is a stretch–know who the artist is or how i could do some amateur detective work to find out?”
I have definitely seen this artist. Above is the photo you mention. I’ve seen some of their work further south on 14th Street and actually all around town. Sadly I don’t know who the artist is. So I’ll consider this a post for stump PoP readers – will the artist identify themselves or does anyone know who this particular artist is?
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
DSCN9620, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
I think this one looks great. Do you consider this graffiti or art?
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
DSCN8916, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
Many folks didn’t like yesterday’s garage graffiti. Is this one better?
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
DSCN9111, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
It’s all in the hairdo, yeah?
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
DSCN8393, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
This is beyond ridiculous. Isn’t everyone on twitter and facebook now…
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
DSCN6827, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
A reader tipped me off to some graffiti on the back of the new Park Place apartment building. I went by last Friday around 4 pm. I take a series of photos and when I turn around there are two thugs probably around 16-17 years old. They are looking at me with eyes of pure hate. If you’ve seen those eyes before you know what I’m talking about. One of them, looking at me with very hard eyes, says “what you doing taking pictures of that?” I’m caught totally off guard. Even though the area is close to New Hampshire Ave., as I was in the back I was completely cut off from an escape route. Despite the fact that I was 126 pound all campus wrestling champion, Miami Ohio, 1996 in these situations my first instinct is always flight. That was not an option. So in my most casual manner I say, I just like taking photos of art around town. The thugs do not respond. So with my heart pounding I walk very quickly past them so that if necessary I could run. This is wrong on so many levels. I have no doubt that the two thugs were affiliated with one of the crews that tagged the building. But what is this? Are we living in the wild west where I have to fear for my safety at 4pm on a Friday afternoon simply for taking a few photos. Who owns the streets, regular citizens or the thugs? I know MPD has a lot on its plate with the shootings at 13th and Columbia but this behavior is also totally unacceptable.
Anyway, you’ll see a reader’s comments below. So do you think this type of graffiti deters new businesses from opening up? Personally, I don’t think it does. It’s certainly not pleasant but there has been lots of graffiti on 14th Street in the Logan Circle area and that didn’t seem to effect new businesses moving in.
A reader writes:
“so as you know graffiti is our hood is an issue. teenage hoodlums in our hood is an issue too, but i digress. anyway, walking to the metro today i noticed that on the back side of the new park place the building is completely graffitied. i cannot tell you how disappointed and upset by this i was, seriously i almost cried. on your post most people have expressed how excited they are to have new retail choices and how hopeful they are that these developments will become an anchor for more development in the community. well that’s not going to happen if before the thing is even finished it’s completely tagged with gang/hoodlum graffiti. what can we do about it? everytime i walk by the metro i get excited for the place to open. after seeing that nasty graffiti today, all i feel is sadness.”
More photos after the jump. Read Full Post
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
DSCN6641, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
I saw this team removing graffiti from street signs on 11th Street. It looked like absolutely miserable work. They basically spray some god awful chemical on the graffiti and scrub like hell. I’m going to give props to the folks who perform what could be one of the most thankless jobs in the city.
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
DSCN6603, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.
Thanks to a reader for the heads up. It’s located in the alley across the street from Tryst.
Digg it!
Stumble it!
reddit
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Just a block from the Metro at 3634 Georgia Ave. 
Follow PoP on twitter
Join the PoPville Flickr pool
