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Most big cities that one might visit have a plethora of public art displays. A quick visit to Missoula’s city webpage reveals a list of almost fifty examples of known sanctioned public art. Some of my favorite art in cities that I’ve visited has been public art, from Oldenburg and van Bruggen’sFree Stamp in Cleveland to Anish Kapoor’s CLOUD GATE in Chicago’s Millenium Park. Another form of art that is more controversial and less recognized that can be found in all big cities across the world is graffiti. Some argue that graffiti is not art at all, but vandalism — a crime.
I actually had an argument with a good friend of mine about this. She was born and raised in Missoula and says that she does not want outsiders coming into “her town” to “ugly it up” with their graffiti. I argued that it’s likely many of the graffiti artists (”they aren’t artists”, she says) were also born and raised Missoulians. And I pointed out that most people who do graffiti try to do so in a responsible way because they want their work to remain up as long as possible. So they avoid painting or writing on obvious private property, they do not write obscenities or hateful things, they try to express themselves honestly in a public forum that might cause a discussion, might cause someone to think. They are exercising their First Amendment right to free speech. In the end, she became upset and we had to agree to disagree. I personally think that Missoula has some beautiful graffiti and that it needs to be documented before the horrid Gray Cancer overtakes it, one stencil and tag at a time.
There are others who would disagree, and there is a very interesting (though slightly outdated) discussion about this over at Patia Stevens’ site. The folks who spread the Gray Cancer in Missoula are volunteers, and I wonder what motivates them. I wonder how they feel when they paint over a piece of graffiti that they personally enjoy. I wonder if there is a person like Fahrenheit 451’s Montag among them, who before he “burns the book”, or in this case, paints over the art, secretly takes a digital photo of it. If there is no Montag, and we have to assume that there isn’t, we need to be documenting this fast fading art form in Missoula. And we need to be contributing to it. If you are visiting Missoula, please, enjoy all of the natural beauty it and its surrounding areas have to offer. As you return to your hotel at the end of the day, leave the car in the parkinglot. Walk downtown if that’s possible. Notice some of the street art that’s available to you. ADD TO IT IF YOU WANT. Hell, you won’t be here to deal with any consequences later, right? But definitely take it in, photograph it, share it with those folks at home when you get back there, so that they know Missoula is not just beautiful rivers and mountains, but also alive with underground art out on the streets. Finally, if you are going to be around this Friday, June 1st, a friend of mine, Marlo Crosifisso, who I’ve never known to paint in the streets of Missoula, will be presenting a collection of stencil artwork entitled “Legs, Stags, and Things that Fly.” Local music sensation Freewood will be serving up a scrumptious acoustic set. And… There will be two screenings (6:30 & 7:30) of Montana Canvas, a three part PBS series that profiles independent female artists throughout Montana: figurative narrative painter Stephanie Frostad, singer-songwriter Sonya Lacava, and clothing designer Emily Kurth. Each short film outlines the roots, challenges and processes of the artist, combining to give voice to Montana’s emerging collective of female artists. Directed by Valerie Krex, Emily Craword, David Macasaet and Toni Matlock. Total Running time: 22 minutes. As per usual, there will be cookies, and vino. Betty’s Divine is located @ 521 S Higgins in Missoula. See also Street Art In Missoula, a photoset on Flickr. Tags: art in missoula, graffiti, missoula, public art exhibitions, streetart, travel guide to montana
Comments:
20 Comments posted on "Missoula Art — Taking it to the Streets"
el jefe on May 31st, 2007 at 11:01 am #
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.
Marc on May 31st, 2007 at 9:39 pm #
@ 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.
Appropriating Missoula's Public Spaces | Marc Makes Art on June 5th, 2007 at 11:42 am #
[...] 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 [...]
Krylon After Dark on June 6th, 2007 at 12:10 pm #
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.
Marc Moss on June 10th, 2007 at 9:03 pm #
@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 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.”
krylon after dark on June 11th, 2007 at 1:58 pm #
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!”
Marc Moss on June 14th, 2007 at 7:34 am #
@ 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?
krylon after dark on June 16th, 2007 at 1:53 pm #
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!
Marc Moss on June 19th, 2007 at 5:43 pm #
@ Krylon, Great resource on the A-2 listings in the Sunday paper. Thanks for the tip.
Free Art! on January 11th, 2008 at 3:12 pm #
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!
Free Art! on January 11th, 2008 at 3:20 pm #
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!
Marc on January 11th, 2008 at 3:24 pm #
@Free Art! Thanks for the info on recent graff in town. I’ll BOLO. And yeah, definitely stop by and give us more updates.
Krylonafterdark on January 14th, 2008 at 10:39 pm #
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.
Marc on January 15th, 2008 at 9:35 am #
@KrylonAfterDark Thanks for the words of support. Looking FWD to the pics.
Free art! on January 16th, 2008 at 10:29 pm #
“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
Free art! on January 16th, 2008 at 10:40 pm #
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.
Marc Moss on January 16th, 2008 at 11:01 pm #
@FreeArt! Linkage for the site where you viewed the photo? Interesting article on Greyman here [link]
Bungsnatch on January 17th, 2008 at 11:09 pm #
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!
Marc on January 17th, 2008 at 11:19 pm #
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. NetRange: 216.239.32.0 - 216.239.63.255 RTechHandle: ZG39-ARIN OrgTechHandle: ZG39-ARIN
When graffiti hits MOMA, does that make it art? | Marc Makes Art on March 26th, 2008 at 8:32 am #
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