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  1. The only thing "crap" is that addled bigot Donovan's brain.

    Respect differences, people. Grow up a little. Why does everyone have to think and act like you, or it's wrong or bad?

    Nice article.
  2. Wow - you are a flat out liar. He never said murals were crap - he said the graffiti - style one painted at True Skool's event was crap because it glorifies graffiti. What's the difference? Murals represent a neighborhood's self-definition and pride. Graffiti (permission or not) uses a certain style of lettering used either write the tagger's name or his cryptic message. That is the EXACT definition of what the True Skool mural was, and the OPPOSITE of all the murals posted on your facebook page. Why don't you check out the "murals" in Riverwest painted recently - the owners of those businesses are furious You have continued to misrepresent the views of the south side Aldermen in your column, and your reasons are quite transparent. The funny part of all of this is that you and your articles will probably be the main cause of True Skool losing their financial support. Now that what they are doing has been brought out into the open, those Foundations will do all they can to disassociate themselves from True Skool - especially Target, who can't afford to take another hit for giving money to the wrong cause.
  3. Spray can graffiti is crap.

    It festers like a cancer and spreads through neighborhoods.

    Just because some practitioners exercise a level of skill doesn't make it any less of a crime or eyesore.
  4. What I wrote, Respect Everyone, is that Donovan takes issue with an entire style of mural making, which he does. I am sorry if that's not clear. He takes issue with graffiti-style murals, not all murals.

    I thought it was worth taking a wider view of murals in the city -- many of which can be celebrated by those of us who might disagree over the issue of graffiti-style murals.

    Thanks for the comments. I'd be grateful if we could keep it civil.
  5. As someone who not only was tagged but heavily fined by the city because it took me several days to remove the "crap" from my mother's home, I'd like to see this "street" art banned forever.

    In addition to the daily fines, thank you Alderman Murphy, the whole side of the home and garage had to be sand blasted. It's a historical heritage thing. The brick was cleared & resealed. Wood work stripped, cleaned and refinished. In all in the name of "art", it cost over $4500. Oh and $50/day. I was out of the country and mom's was in a care facility so the city fined me for about a week claiming we didn't respond fast enough. Yep, this certainly is "urban" art to me...

    I wish the lefties who like this would build some low income houses in River Hills, White Fish Bay, Shorewood and Mequon before they tell me how valuable this diversity is. Let them spray up your homes and see how long you still think it's art.

    Don't let it start. It is a cancer or blight. Get rid if it.
  6. Why don't these "artists" volunteer and repaint houses for elderly or sick people. Try improving a neighborhood instead of painting this graffiti on garages and buildings.

    There is a reason the suburbs have restrictions on colors and designs when building a house.
  7. Rather than spending time painting murals, lets see what they can do with gardens. They can express themselves in the design and at the same time provide something beautiful to look at and improve neighborhood feel.
  8. Huh...
    It appears that some people continue to fail to grasp the distinction between illegal graffiti, and public murals or art.

    I think it's safe to say that Mary, nor just about anyone else, is advocating for illegal graffiti.
  9. Why not teach them to use a canvas? Yes, many of these kids have
    talent, but this program encourages them to spray buildings. Normally I
    have a knee-jerk reaction against anything Donovan says, but here, in
    his clumsy way, he actually made a point.
  10. YES THE EXPRESS, let us all worship the beloved, perfect, regulated suburbs!


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