Bonjour George!

Regarding the Graffiti controversy, I suppose I am somewhere in the middle of Al Weed and Valerie L'Herrou.

Obviously, one man's art is another's graffiti. It is unfair to the City, as well as property owners and workers, to suffer the consequences and be responsible for clean up. I think Ms. L'Herrou makes good points regarding the emotional, psychological, and artistic motives for this kind of behaviour.

We have at least two state-funded, non-profit arts institutions in this city - The University of Virginia Museum and 2nd Street Gallery. So why are not we collaborating as artists and institutions to get some of these very talented artists off the street and working in a sanctioned environment towards a show perhaps. One of the tools used in the New York City clean-up was just that.

I remember one spectacular show of graffiti on canvas housed in a large, industrial space. Jean Michael Basquiat was originally a graffiti artist who was mentored by Andy Warhol. Basquiat created powerful images within the art form and became internationally acclaimed. There are budding Basquiats all throughout the land. Let's redirect their social, political and artistic energy positively.

Recently in London a group of homeless artists, Hungry and Homeless, received corporate grants which have enabled them to establish a web site and sell their work and as a result their lives have been enriched substantially. My point is why not find ways to change the behaviour without killing the instinct which is positive.

In case you haven't guessed, I love graffiti art!

Virginia Valentine Coles (electronic mail, May 15, 2002)