Raise the Hammer

To me, tagging is merely a sign of the times. It is a regrettably selfish, uninspired cry for attention and change. It's taking, granted dull and lacking wall-space and replacing it with an arrogant proclamation of "Look what I did boring society! Har Har, you can't stop me, you don't even really know who I am." Sadly it does nothing to actually liven the grey space that was once present as there is barely any uniqueness. It all either lame and poorly scrawled notes or cliche over inflated lettering.

I don't have a problem with graffiti if it's done right, but sadly it rarely is. Scrawled notes of "Ed was here" isn't art, it's lame pathetic idiocy, and sadly this makes up the overwhelming majority of graffiti. The more complicated tags, I would call art but have become cliched to the point where it has the artistic appeal of polka dotted wallpaper.

The few examples of worthwhile wall art such as the back of the Hamilton Builder's supply (although once again suffers from the cliche inflated lettering), the mural of the Fergusson train derailment or the housing murals along James St next to the GO station. Sadly, I believe these examples were commissioned, so I don't believe qualify as Graffiti, but they at least provoke emotional and intellectual response.

Actually imagery, of something related to the area or something worthwhile, which maybe a small tag in the corner if you want credit is something I could get behind. In the City of Waterfalls, Tigertown, Steeltown, The Hammer and the home of the bulldogs, the warplane heritage museum and the historic location of the battle of Stoney Creek the best these "So called artists" can offer is "I love u bunny" and selfish overinflated lettering. If you are going to do graffiti, be selfless and innovative not just another regurgitated tagger. If you are one of those few, you have my unwavering support because there is a lot of lame grey in our city.

However, if you're ability to express yourself is limited to scrawling some letters, even if it is in a somewhat difficult to draw font, do us all of a favor and don't bother. That's just my two cents.