Public Street Art

     By my apartment on Mission Hill there is a an auto repair shop next to a large parking lot that has been covered in graffiti since i moved here two years ago.When i first moved in I would not pay any attention to the sides of the building, partly because i never walked that way and partly because i never really bothered to pay attention to what actually went on the side of the building. Even when i did notice graffiti there for the first time i did not think much about it because it's a city and there is graffiti everywhere, so what would make this spot so special? One day after living in the area for almost a year, i happened to be walking past the garage and saw that there was a group of around five people with ladders and spray paint painting the side of the building. I again, did not think much of it and kept walking past it. The next day i walked past it again, except this time the entire side of the building had been repainted with an awesome design that made it look like like you were looking up from the bottom of the ocean, complete with sharks and everything. This made me stop and actually look at the graffiti for the first time, and realize that it was not just random vandalism but an actual work of art, free for the public to see.

     The location of the street art is one of the most interesting aspects to me. It is painted on the side of the building that is privately owned, so the owner must give his permission to the artists to tag the side of his business, but it is clearly visible to everyone walking or driving past it on the street, making it a public work of art. Where before there had been a drab, ugly side of a building, there was now a pretty impressive mural that brought color and character to the neighborhood. Where before i had not had a ridiculous amount in common with the other non-student residents of my neighborhood, i noticed that just about everyone walking past the mural at least turned their head and looked at for a few moments, giving us all that one mere connection and solidifying our position as a public audience. The mural is public because it is available for anybody and everybody to see and discuss if we felt so inclined, and can help give the community a sense of pride. Ever since that one day i noticed the artists painting, I always observe and appreciate the work and time they put in to make my corner of the world a little more beautiful. The artwork has changed several times, and while i may not always understand the significance and exact of the tagging, it always gives me a sense of pride that i can call this hood home.