Awesome post on grafiti in Missoula. I really like that you brought that into this as part of what makes the town what it is. Loved or hated, it is definately part of the chemistry that makes the town look and feel as it does.

@ el Jefe, Indeed, it is part of what makes the town what it is. I was talking to someone recently about the graffiti in this town, she is a downtown business owner and ( I believe) a native Missoulian, and she was saying how much she actually LIKES the creativity and wittiness of most graffiti artists. She also acknowledged that most graffiti artists in Missoula are respectful of private property and tend to shy away from direct “vandalism”. Hearing that from a business owner made me smile, for it is not just the kids on the street enjoying it and entertaining themselves, but others as well.

[...] writing about graffiti as public art, I wanted to do some cool sort of public art myself, but wanted to do it in such a way that many [...]

Graff is constantly struggling to hang on in Missoula.The misinformed and the ignorant have always had a relentless will to expunge Missoula street art.Im a native Missoulian and had the privaledge of knowing the famous Missoula graff writer “Dazed”who was mentioned over at Patias site(thanx marc for pointing the way).As for the Buff that paints gray over Missoula’s art,hes just someone with low self esteem,a bit insecure,probably bullied at one point in his life,and finds that painting over the evil graff gives him a feeling of power,the upper hand over some punk who has no reguard for the law.
The other day as my girlfriend and myself were taking a stroll along the river through Caras Park,I pointed to the abutments on the underside of the Higgins Bridge and told her about the massive amount of Graff which once dwelled there back in the 90’s.A location where anarchist,political,and just street tags all shared and repected the space which they stole from the City and made their own.A place which as I looked upon last week was marred by muliple gray patches covered in pigeon shit.The graff which once existed there brought life to an otherwise dull element of Missoula.
I thought to myself “why cant we just have this one fucking spot?”The underside of a fucking bridge painted gray,covered in bird shit,and home to about 5 dumpsters and a parking lot.
Anyway,thanks Marc for taking the time to contribute to the survival of local street art.Love graff or hate it, if an article such as the one you wrote here makes people think about the art,than that in itself is an advertisement,a promotional tool which may help encourage others to get up on a wall or at least notice the work the next time they walk along a downtown sidewalk.Peace

@Krylon After Dark,

If you have photos of the “Dazed” era, I’d love to see them.

As far as your comments about the people who paint over the art, they are actually city volunteers who work for the Anti-Graffiti Task Force. From the City’s website: The “Volunteers photograph and document reported graffiti and make contact with the business or homeowner victim.”

So, they have photographic record of the graffiti. How cool would it be if the city admitted that graffiti is art, and stopped the practice of painting over it?

Wait. Interestingly, the city already has admitted that the graffiti artists are indeed artists in a discussion requesting the public art that now hangs on the side of Allegra Printing: “Over the past few years the wall has been the canvas of many graffiti artists. [emphasis mine]“

There has been talk of the city purchasing a Hotsy pressure washer for the purpose of graffiti removal. I wooled on the Hotsy site, and was unable to determine what kind of cost such a purchase would entail, but it seems that any expenditure in this regard would be frivolous on the part of the city. From the cost/Benefit document: “Benefit
The pressure washer has diverse uses for the Parks and Recreation Department.
Addressing public health and community issues to remove graffiti from bridges, overpasses, pedestrian walks, sidewalks and trails by using mechanical methods for removing paint and other nuisance material.

This equipment meets a Department goal of removing graffiti and other vandalism within 48 hours of the incident. The pressure washer and attachments also have applications useful to the Parking Commission.”

Back in January, there was a discussion by the Missoula PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE about the graffiti “problem” in Missoula. The transcript of the entire meeting is available here. I have pasted the relevant discussion below.

“Rusty Wickman spoke about the efforts of the Anti-Graffiti Task Force. He introduced Crime Prevention Officer Mark Woodward and Volunteer Coordinator Jane Stoll. Mark works with the volunteers and the anti-graffiti efforts in Missoula. Jane has done an outstanding job boosting the volunteer program to 23 volunteers. Since the inception of the anti-graffiti efforts, Volunteer Lane Reul has worked tirelessly to help clean up the graffiti.

Since October [2006], the officers have arrested 9 different people that have been charged with the tagging and 4 are being investigated. Rusty also pointed out there is no funding for the Graffiti Task Force. Most of the taggers are juveniles so restitution is dependent on the Youth Court. Mark Woodward indicated the program has received $300.00 from restitution. $500.00 to $800.00 would help a great deal to fund the program. Mark Woodward gave a presentation on Graffiti in Missoula and discussed a memo from Ken Wickman, Missoula Police Department Crime Analyst regarding the graffiti activity within the City of Missoula.”

I do actually have half a dozen or so Dazed pics though I have recently finished the process off moving so they are packed in a box in which I probably wont get to unpacking for some time.I’ll send em to ya for sure when that time comes.One of them is a picture of a piece he did in the parking area of the public libray on the east side of the building in what I believe must be a loading bay or something.It was the most famous piece of graff in town during the graff revolution of 94.It took serious balls to produce that piece,which was maybe 10 feet long by 5 feet tall.It had a highly detailed outline with a 3 color fill in and a 3D.It took at least an hour or so to do id heard.He topped it off by signing the lower right corner with “Another Dazed Knock Out!”
Another one which rivaled that piece (and even made the Missoulian) was on a wall at the top of the parking garage downtown.It erked the cops in town in a big way because he taunted them by writing “Missoula 50’s get ready!”basically warning them of the havoc and paint he was gonna unleash,which he did.There was alot of other writers too,one that was just as famous that went by “Soup”.But Dazed set the stage for all of them.Graffiti back then didn’t get covered up at all really(unless it was on private property) until a guy who I’ll just use his first name (Mike) moved into town and made front page news by getting out rollers and painting grey over what was virtually art galleries under the Higgins,Orange St.,and Madison bridges.A huge front page artical in the Missoulian details this Assholes crusade to save Missoula from this evil “gang graffiti”thats all over town.In the library’s news paper archives you would find that issue to be one from either the last week in August or first week of September 1994.He created a local awareness of graff to the point that The Anti Graffiti Task Force was formed and the cops encouraged others to quickly destroy the art so that taggers would feel their artistry and efforts were wasted.
Its coming back slowly but surely now though and more people are starting to recognize graff as an art form.The stencil art (which I happen to extremely appreciate) is something that was never here before and they seem to stay on a wall longer due to the fact that they’er more subtle and less noticeable to non-graff writers.Anyway dont mean told tie ya down here.Thanks for supportin Art!

@ Krylon,

Thanks for the history lesson. I’ll definitely visit the library and look up the archives for the articles you mention. Oh, and yeah, I’m loving the stencils too.

Which brings up the question: How does the Anti-Graffiti Task Force decide which art to cover up? The DICK CHENEY IS WATCHING YOU stencil in front of Liquid Planet on Higgins has been on that sidewalk for over a year with no gray, as an example. What gives?

good question,its ironic that until a couple of months back there were like 15 Cheneys that survived for over a year on the wall behind The Pizza Pipeline and The Bridge Market on Higgins.Stencils that were layed on the same wall during the same time period were buffed.I guess graff is ok to some of the task force as long as it suits their personal political opinions.Pure hypocrasy and discrimination!
Just a quick note if your interested in documenting local graff.You can usually locate and capture most pieces before their buffed if you read the weekly crime report on page A-2 of the Sunday Missoulian.It states the address of all the graff incidents that were reported the previous week.Theres way more work being produced than one would be aware of due to the fact that the Task Force moves so quick on graff.

@ Krylon,

Great resource on the A-2 listings in the Sunday paper. Thanks for the tip.

Unbelievable!Dazed is still being talked about whenever the Missoula graffiti scene is brought up!He left town in like 1995 and died in a few years ago but through his art he is in some ways still alive.A cultural icon to the fullest,he would be proud that his art is still remembered and that local graff is still kickin in 2008!Fuck the grey man!

P.S. Theres a massive amount of stencil graff around the area of 3rd and orange st.also a veteran artist tagged up a billboard above the desperado bar on south russell st.the same writer hit up a few buildings along russell in the fair grounds and the ice rink where the Maulers play within the fair grounds.Ill update other recent art crimes when they are spotted.peace!

@Free Art!

Thanks for the info on recent graff in town. I’ll BOLO. And yeah, definitely stop by and give us more updates.

Hey sorry for the long delay.i will send those dazed pics to your contact email addy unless you state otherwise over the next couple of days.id also just like to give props to ya for the fact you have involved yourself with multiple facets of creating a local awareness of graffiti.your also single handedly bridging the gap between graffiti and mainstream art(although graff has always been art to the writers themselves)through your involvment online and in the local contemporary art community.with how many artcrimes are occuring through this winter i think as spring and warm weather arrive we may see a turnout of writers similar to the years of the 90s which i spoke of earlier.

@KrylonAfterDark

Thanks for the words of support. Looking FWD to the pics.

“soon”is getting up all over town.on a brief mission to locate new graff i counted 22 throw ups from downtown to orange st. Underpass.also behind bridge market on higgins and grizzly grocery found stencils of primate faces.different artist created each i believe.very interesting.”sac”has made has made his/her presence known downtown,just hit the allys.more art crimes will be posted.peace

Viewed a photo of lane reul aka “the grey man” on a site 4 volunteer services.very disturbing.article is about the fact that he was commended by the city 4 his efforts.hes one sick fucker!has the eyes of a serial killer.

@FreeArt! Linkage for the site where you viewed the photo?

Interesting article on Greyman here [link]

What the fuck?who can actually sit here and talk about the kind of material thats scrawled in a walmart toilet?graffiti?loser….go hillary in 08!

Oh, look. Blog graffiti, AKA SPAM. Bungsnatch’s errant and ignorant post left up in the interest of freedom of expression. I’m no eGreyman. Hillary. Pshaw.

The beauty of annonymous posts vs. annon. graff is Whois:

Bungsnatch: KNOWN INFO

OrgName: Google Inc.
OrgID: GOGL
Address: 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
City: Mountain View
StateProv: CA
PostalCode: 94043
Country: US

NetRange: 216.239.32.0 – 216.239.63.255
CIDR: 216.239.32.0/19
NetName: GOOGLE
NetHandle: NET-216-239-32-0-1
Parent: NET-216-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Allocation
NameServer: NS1.GOOGLE.COM
NameServer: NS2.GOOGLE.COM
NameServer: NS3.GOOGLE.COM
NameServer: NS4.GOOGLE.COM
Comment:
RegDate: 2000-11-22
Updated: 2001-05-11

RTechHandle: ZG39-ARIN
RTechName: Google Inc.
RTechPhone: +1-650-318-0200
RTechEmail: arin-contact@google.com

OrgTechHandle: ZG39-ARIN
OrgTechName: Google Inc.
OrgTechPhone: +1-650-318-0200
OrgTechEmail: arin-contact@google.com

[...] Taking it to the streets [...]

everybodys gettin up but me.I wish I had the balls to be a real graffiti artist and paint somewhere that it would actually be an illegal act.

@ echo ones, yeah, well until you grow a pair, keep painting legally. Your work is great. You might be interested to know about this [link].

Thanks for being honest bro.Im impressed,the world definately needs more.You got crazy artistic ability for days.No doubt about it.But yeah,you represent the graff scene horribly.All these older,liberal,artsy fartsy,watch movies at the Wilma,transplant wannabe Missoulians probably think your great!But they have no idea,nor do they care about the origin or history of street art!Which as you obviously know consists of illegally puting paint on shit that wasnt supposed to have it!Graff bombers developed from the neglection of being raised in the streets,coming from broken homes,and being abused by the SYSTEM!Fundamently your a disgrace. S.orry plus you advertise your I identity?!like some fuckin commercial?!you only paint on a designed wall?Without the true nature and thrill of writing graff.Which comes from the fact that you could get in serious trouble doing it.The right way.Without the property owners permission!Ahh.I have to go.Im gettin pissed off …

hey marcus maximus,what up with the kgba site?Only dj’s can now leave comments?No wonder nothing has been wrote since like 2 years ago.Someone should fix that shite.Thats almost censorship.

@HellsA, thanks for dropping by and expressing an opinion. I’ve never claimed to be a graff artist, only to admire well done graff.

@TPC, I deleted your comment because of its hateful namecalling, but I’ve reproduced the essence of it here: Whoever that is up there,I bet you didnt even know who dazed was.Your [sic] a wannabe. Also, please learn to spell properly.

@Seth, no idea, I have very little involvement @KBGA these days.

Hi marc. All that up there that I wrote was directed at Echo.Im sorry you misinterpreted my delivery.I have nothing but respect for you and all your involvement in local art.I have followed you from “seen”to as far back as flickr before it went in the shitter.I have a small problem with Echo due to his unethical behavior,but that might be my opinion.I noticed a chance to take a shot at him and took full advantage.Have a great night.

It’s art and it’s a crime.Why is that so hard to figure out?

[...] evening was about gifting, about appropriating public space, about making art accessible to everyone, exciting and affordable. I won’t give away all of [...]

Hi Marcus,The infamous “Grey Man” here.http://www.pointsoflight.org/awards/dpol/winner_print.cfm?ID=3812

His face would make for an interesting stencil now that I think of it.I wonder how he would react to see his face being the subject of the graffiti he despises so much.What do you think?I’m going to dedicate my summer to displaying the Grey Man all over town!Look for me!Peace..

A different kind of character.Seems to think hes some kinda modern day Wyatt Earp.Explains his vigilance when combating the street art.http://www.classmates.com/profile/user/view?registrationId=8677008711#profileMain

Free Art!

Thanks for the links to Greyman. The one @ classmates.com isn’t as helpful because users need an account to view the content.

I would *love* to see a Greyman stencil all over town. How awesome would THAT be? Beginning to sound like a David Lynch movie, with the Greyman erasing himself. The psychological implications are amazing….

Funny that you mention David Lynch since he is also a Missoula native.This is kind of interesting here-http://www.grupthink.com/topic/5817/What_do_you_think_about_the_person_who_paints_gray_on_graffiti_and_Missoulas_bridge_murals

Yes, I know Lynch is a native, which is why I think it’s doubly interesting.

The discussion @ GT is a good one. Especially the question holotone asks – who gets to decide if it’s “good art”?

Im bored..what can I say?http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=482285558

That is a good question Marc.On the same note,who gets to decide that the gray patches are better than the graffiti?Maybe I’ll get a survey from people that frequent the downtown area and address this at a city council meeting.If nothing else it would garner some perspective eh?Whats your take?

That is a good question Marc.On the same note,who gets to decide that the gray cancer is better that the graffiti?I should survey some towns folk and address this to the city council.How about that?

The cat that paints The Skulls – I dig your tags, BTW.

If you decide to do the survey, I’d love to hear the results, as well as the result of any meeting you may have w/ city council.

The fact is, graf is vandalism & a crime in the eyes of “civilized” society, so you’re fighting a losing battle on that front. The only way to win is to keep tagging & keep learning. Do it bigger, do it better & do it bolder.

Good stuff…I wish there were more people in town that could actually accept graffiti as a viable art form…bummer.