Graffiti as a Recognized Art Form
This article was published in the Eagle Tribune on April 11th, 2008. It's amazing to see Graffiti being recognized as a true form of art. Among all the articles we see about anti-graff goon squads being formed, when something like this comes up, it deserves to be more publicized. As I've said before, if there were more time and effort being put in to community programs, there would be less money wasted trying to put an end to this incredible urban art.
Graffiti 'artist' Draws a Crowd at Merrimack College
By Rosemary Ford
Staff writer
One man, 10 cans of spray paint and a blank wall usually means trouble (or at least a court date). Yesterday at Merrimack College it was a chance to learn.
Dozens of students watched Maine artist Mike Rich, aka Too Rich, create a graffiti-style mural just outside the school's McQuade Library. He was at the school demonstrating his art as part of a self-titled exhibit inside the library. "I don't do so much bombing," said the 34-year-old Rich, referring to the practice of "tagging" a building illegally.
Rich came to the school at the behest of junior Abbie Hinds-Aldrich, who thought the art form would appeal to students. "I was stoked," said the mellow artist.
Small crowds gathered behind Rich to watch his vision become a reality over two hours yesterday afternoon. "By far this is the biggest (turnout) I have seen for anything at the art department, I am so excited," Hinds-Aldrich said.
Sophomore Laura Kelley was among those who stopped to watch Rich work. She'd never been to an art show at the college before, but found this fascinating.
"I have never seen anyone do it. I have seen it in New York City, but I have never seen it done," she said.
"It's cool to watch it happen," agreed sophomore Elyse Lorenz sitting nearby. "If I picked up a spray can, I couldn't do it — all the work, all the layers."
The consensus among the onlookers: It was all very cool.
"It's hard to figure out sometimes, but it's cool," said sophomore Caitlin Meany. For Hinds-Aldrich, a fine arts major, it also was meaningful. She was amazed by Rich's skill, spontaneity and talent with a can.
"I wanted to bring it here to show people the art of it," she said. "Everything is spontaneous, which is really amazing. There aren't too many artists who can do an entire mural in two hours."
For her fine arts professor, David Raymond, this show was a chance to connect with students and explore this controversial art form. While some still look at graffiti as an act of vandalism, Raymond sees art — someone making an image meant to be looked at as a form of expression.
"The graffiti artist is a bandit," Raymond said. "But that is not a reason to not call it art."
Raymond also can see why this show drew a crowd and why graffiti, in general, resonates with youth. "It almost completely lacks pretense," he said. "It has a history of forbiddenness. I think that appeals to people. It's not like the art stuff they are studying in class."
This is the first art show outside of Maine for Rich, who began working in the graffiti style 23 years ago. Most of his public work is done on commission — he charges $75 to $100 an hour. Rich's show inside the library contains several pieces, from portraits on canvas to abstracts on skateboards. None of the work is labeled — as Rich intended."I leave all the interpretation up to the viewer. I think the work speaks for itself," he said.