Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Framed and Un-named

photos by Love Squalor

Graffiti is usually removed (or "buffed") from walls and buildings within one or two days of being put up. Many graffitit artists pride themselves in "staying up" or not being "buffed". In many cases artists combat buffers by shear volume, they drown the city with "throwies" which are quick representations of their artwork. These less detailed versions are much more plane but the number of them ensures the artists some recognition. This plan of attack leaves the streets, walls, light poles, post boxes, and windows pocked with hundreds of rolled over "buff" spots. The city or property owner tries, in vain, to match the original wall paint, always leaving a patch of wall that is discolored.

One creative and persistant artist in Albuquerque has decided to capitalize on this sea of patchwork paintings. One un-named artist has taken to outlining these patches of utilitarian anti-art with a can of spray-paint. In the most ironic form of graffiti he has managed to cover the city of Albuquerque with simple outlines of off-color graffiti removal attempts. every where I go, I see another one of his outlines, sometimes with spraypaint, six feet across, or on a bench with a marker, two inches across. This legend of Albuquerque stays up for ever, no one thinks to buff the "buff-outliner" his art is under the radar, he art is non-threatening and humorous. I enjoy the constant hunt for his outlines. He adds character to the walls that were supposedly graffiti free, when infact the patches left behind are like ugly markers, reminding us that not all art is appreciated.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

this is hot..

Anonymous said...

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