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‘Art is everywhere’ — Miriama talks about graffiti art

Morrison Avenue Bowling ClubThe Pulse talked to Project Legit manager Miriama McDonald about graffiti art and a mural on the way for Linwood Library.

Project Legit is going to be doing some work on Linwood Library, can you tell us about what the design will be?
Yes we are indeed, and very much looking forward to it. The design is yet to be approved. It is a small mural for the young adults section of the library, in an effort to encourage and support young people’s use of the facility.
Do you keep in touch with teenagers who’ve been through Project Legit? Can you tell us about some of the success stories?

What is Project Legit?

Project Legit deliver the legal community art scheme that Christchurch City Council has contracted to Floyds Creative Arts Trust.

The project employs a manager, graffiti artist/tutor and youth worker and aims to help people find legal ways to use graffiti art.

Graffiti: vandalism or art?

Graffiti vandalism — intentional, unlawful defacing of property — is a crime. The main difference between graffiti vandalism and graffiti art is very simple — permission. Just like cigarettes and alcohol it is illegal for people under the age of 18 to purchase spray paint.

Yes we keep in touch with a number of young people that we have had go through our programme. Currently there are two pursuing tertiary arts courses, one at the Design and Arts college and the other at CPIT, doing visual communications. Another of our clients is now interning at the Strategy agency and another we have employed as our in house artist/tutor, two more have recently opened a tattoo studio.

We also have regular visits to our open space from young folk who have been on our courses and who want to further explore their creative talents, and move away from tagging into working in other, more positive ways.

What are some of your favourite graffiti spots in Christchurch?
Although I am not a graffiti artist myself (in fact I would categorically state that I do not have an artistic bone in my body) it goes without saying that having spent the past six years immersed in graffiti, something is going to rub off.

So as a mere spectator of this often misunderstood, yet extremely skilful art form, my personal favourite spot to view graffiti would be Waltham Park.

Art is everywhere, but not everyone sees it as such.

What inspires you? Can you tell us a bit about the art, books and music that you like?
Again on a personal level, hip hop culture has a great deal to do with graffiti art. It is seen as one of the four core elements to the culture, the other three being MCing, DJing and break dancing.

With the birth of modern graffiti art in New York City during the 1980s, the art form itself has progressed in leaps and bounds, to a point where it is slowly becoming part of mainstream popular culture.

Graffiti artists, I have observed over the past few years, are inspired by many elements of society. Whether it be politics, advertising, nationalism, love (a friend proposed to his girlfriend by painting the question on a wall, while holidaying in NYC) life, death, poverty, racism, or merely just for the fame of having your name out there for all to see.

Find out more about graffiti and street art

Graffiti art is non-conformist, thought-provoking, exciting and stands up for the little guy. Inspiration comes from both inside the writer and usually as a direct result of what is going on around them.

Hip hop and graffiti art sites

* Art Crimes: The Writing on the Wall
This has to be THE graffiti site. From the Bronx Museum of the Arts and Art Crimes, you can paint, comment or simply view what other people are doing around the world.
* Banksy
A look at the art of the world famous British street artist.
* CLOUT
CLOUT is an American graffiti lifestyle magazine featuring street influenced art, fashion and music and the creative individuals behind those putting in work.
* Graphotism
Graphotism magazine has interviews and news about the world's best graffiti artists.
* Hip hop music
Find hip hop music CDs and books at Christchurch City Libraries.
* Hip Hop Poetry
HipHop is a culture - it is an emotion that is felt - a way of life that defines more than just a musical expression. Have a good look round this site. We think you'll agree it's got a lot goin' for it.
* Montana-cans
MONTANA is a company that has been influencing the artist scene right from the word go.
* Project Legit
Project Legit is a Christchurch City Council initiative contracted to Floyds Creative Arts that works with taggers towards new and legal ways of expressing their art form; to reduce the incidence of graffiti vandalism in Christchurch; and to promote legal graffiti as an art form through murals and other displays.
* Stylefile
Graffiti magazine and streetwear. Some of the site is in German, but there are lots of pix of graffiti sessions.

May 2010