Dear Political Graffiti Artist

On a wall, otherwise freshly painted, where someone sprayed: "Don't walk away in silence."

Vandal silenced by all-girls Catholic school - AM New York

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Comments

ecstatictyler says:

beautiful yet sad. optimally, this person coughs up some coin. i hope it works out.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Really interesting. There is the assumption that it was not a pupil in the school who wrote the message.
I have so much sympathy for educators; I was a teacher myself for 15 years. But in fact, given the choice, I would have used money for the school trip and painted the wall later - if really necessary.
Whilst a lovely rational calm message from the school (so polite and respectful), I think that there are issues to think about which the writer of the message has not considered.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

the mess says:

"don't walk away in silence" is a lyric from a joy division song called atmosphere. it's an incredibly melancholy song, penned by a man who went on to kill himself... not likely tagged by someone looking to send a positive message, let alone about standing up for your rights....
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

Yeah, it would be funny if it was a student. Thanks for your insights ecstatictyler, Doc and mess.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

findingyoko says:

it looks like this generation of L.E.S. parents are taking cues from the Park Slope crowd.

i agree with Dr. Joolz, painting the wall is not a necessary action that is as beneficial as a school trip or funding low-iincome students. And it wont soften the artist's heart to hear that.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Irene Roxanne (aka Irena Kittenclaw) says:

Oh Ian Curtis - - may he rest in peace...

Seems almost fitting that a tribute to his death would be misunderstood, and that it would spark so many other things...

This is around the block. I have to go back today. Thanks for the update Walter...
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sarilion says:

importantly not a word. too bad the educators don't know.

more important is an elliptical form of “What is more important” and that the adverb importantly can not occur in such a construction
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

Where is all the traffic this post is getting, coming from?
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

ragesoss says:

Reddit.com: reddit.com/info/6bku1/comments/
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

Thanks, ragesoss.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

jibegod says:

If they agree with the message, why are they painting over it ?_?
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Kilian Muster says:

Because it looks ugly? Not everything that is correct in content is necessarily suited to be puked on a wall of other people's buildings.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

NineFingers says:

I'm surprised I'm the only person here who's bothered to say this:
Why is it a forgone conclusion that the wall has to repainted in the first place?
Rather than pay to repaint it white, students should make a mural.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Mighty Mullet says:

Also coming from BoingBoing. www.boingboing.net/2008/03/10/interesting-ant igraf.html (comment 46)...
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

donkeymon says:

Damn, if you're going to paint something, at least paint it nice. That's such a half ass job. Ian deserves better...
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

Thanks, Mighty M. It's crazy how many people are viewing this.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

LeKriz says:

@NineFingers: If somebody painted huge black text on your house, would you not repaint it?
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

AhronZombi says:

fuck that school. they should keep the graffetti its beutiful art. they got it for free
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

klint davies says:

You're a real winner Ahron. Thanks for that comment.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Crunchy Pickle says:

I understand the feelings, but realistically -- how much of a school trip could a class have taken instead of $2.00 worth of paint?
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Wiretap Studios says:

Nice capture, and nice response from the school...at least it wasn't 'if we see you, you will be arrested.'
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

jshucart says:

I doubt the piece of crap that spray painted on the school can even read.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

heet_myser says:

Seems almost fitting that a tribute to his death would be misunderstood

Where's the misunderstanding, exactly? It seems like everyone understands pretty readily that this is vandalism.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

robotsound says:

im sure painting over a wall would not equal the cost of a trip. unless kbr has the contract to paint it.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

I'm with you robotsound. :)
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

kbzurk3 says:

gothamist.com/attachments/jen/2007_05_silence .jpg

Its not easy on the eyes.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Marc Johns says:

Wow. We have the exact same problem with the school across the street from our house, and it's a school for severely handicapped children. Thanks for sharing this.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

hbl says:

way to stick it to the man! offending middle class sensibilities the world over - at least he can stand tall and say, "I AM ALIVE!!!!"

or something
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

∙ELi∙ says:

How about leaving the artwork there, especially is you agree with its message?

On 2nd thought if this is the graffiti:

gothamist.com/attachments/jen/2007_05_silen ce.jpg

then that artist needs to stop.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

goxkok1 says:

seen on digg

Awesome picture...do you have the picture of the actually graffiti?
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

I didn't take a shot of the actual graffiti, but you can see it here: www.flickr.com/photos/waynes-new-york/5210395 99
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Irene Roxanne (aka Irena Kittenclaw) says:

Um, uh, Heat Miser, when you say "everyone" that means everyone....And I'm not everyone.

And I saw this picture almost a year ago, when Gamma first posted it, and am not in the mood to debate it now.

That said, I like what Robotsound said too...
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

heet_myser says:

Um, uh, Heat Miser, when you say "everyone" that means everyone....And I'm not everyone.

I'm certainly in no mood to debate either, particularly when it's clear that, regardless of whether you consider this a political statement or admire the "artist's" message, spray painting a wall on private property is still vandalism. Any debate would need to start with a concession to that fact.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

psalcido says:

This tagger broke one of the key rules of tagging. You do not tag public buildings having social use, or any comparable building. This kind of activity makes them all look bad. Most cities have places where this kind of art can be showcased without breaking the law - there is a reason for that, and I would strongly recommend any would-be's to look for these locations.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

seth_stamm says:

sarilion says:

"importantly not a word. too bad the educators don't know."

Well you are not too bright my friend, importantly most certainly is a word, you should get your facts straight before you try and act smart.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

english breakfast says:

I'm so glad that they wrote back to the artist. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

pennylane3434 says:

I absolutely love this.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

zoniazonia says:

:))) awsome!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

talbot_family says:

saw this at Little Star Pizza in SF
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

This must have gotten linked somewhere again. It just got 10 faves in the past five hours.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

heet_myser says:

Does anything show up in your Flickr stats, gamma?
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

I think they are not up to the minute, they only had yesterday's stats when I looked three hours ago.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Irene Roxanne (aka Irena Kittenclaw) says:

Oh, hot damn, G - - over 132,239 views...and rising.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

Here's where they are coming from, I.
ffffound.com/image/b71a18f4f632f1055ac166e1f4 1a43d6667e2854
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Dr Joolz says:

And also of course, as more comments get added, previous commenters get notified by Flickr and we look again. Loving this whole drama.
Importantly.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

This silly thing has gotten 22 times as many views as anything else on my Flickr stream.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Booalready says:

I found it on friendfeed. Nice! I doubt the artist will read it for fear of coming too close again. I hope somehow they do see it though.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

GammaBlog says:

The notice is long gone, Booalready. I don't think it was up for more than a day.
It's interesting, friendfeed hasn't sent that many people to this, but a large percentage of them have faved it, not sure why.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Dr Joolz says:

Think yourself lucky Gamma. My most viewed image is of teacups I bought on eBay.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

Geoff Chisholm says:

"fuck that school. they should keep the graffetti its beutiful art. they got it for free"

Did they ask for it?

Can I 'beautify' your house with GW Bush quotes? Because maybe I might consider THAT beautiful?

It's easy to criticize aesthetics when you don't have a stake in it, isn't it?
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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Dear Political Graffiti Artist

Comments

GammaBlog says:

ecstatictyler says:

Dr Joolz says:

the mess says:

GammaBlog says:

findingyoko says:

Irene Roxanne (aka Irena Kittenclaw) says:

sarilion says:

GammaBlog says:

ragesoss says:

GammaBlog says:

jibegod says:

Kilian Muster says:

NineFingers says:

Mighty Mullet says:

donkeymon says:

GammaBlog says:

LeKriz says:

AhronZombi says:

klint davies says:

Crunchy Pickle says:

Wiretap Studios says:

jshucart says:

heet_myser says:

robotsound says:

GammaBlog says:

kbzurk3 says:

Marc Johns says:

hbl says:

∙ELi∙ says:

goxkok1 says:

GammaBlog says:

Irene Roxanne (aka Irena Kittenclaw) says:

heet_myser says:

psalcido says:

seth_stamm says:

english breakfast says:

pennylane3434 says:

zoniazonia says:

talbot_family says:

GammaBlog says:

heet_myser says:

GammaBlog says:

Irene Roxanne (aka Irena Kittenclaw) says:

GammaBlog says:

Dr Joolz says:

GammaBlog says:

Booalready says:

GammaBlog says:

Dr Joolz says:

Geoff Chisholm says:

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