Graffiti as Art?
A Possible Solution for TAGGING
Being Located on Charleston Blvd between Decatur and Jones, Bubble Swim School used to get tagged CONSTANTLY on our building and on our sign. Here is how we solved the problem:
Background story:
I felt mixed emotions on this, since it was costing me a lot of time and money to continually remendy these unwanted symbols - yet personally I feel many taggers are artists (talented or not) - and Las Vegas society has failed to channel this artistic energy of youth into a more positive expression.
All too often it is a common mistake of government to take away money from youth development programs (closing programs or cutting hours of operation of community centers and pools), only to pay even more later for jail time and replacing property when youths then misdirect their energy......energy that could have easily been directed so that it is helpful to our society.
In August of 2010 young man called asking if he could do his Community Service at Bubble (apparently we are listed on the Department of Juvenile Justice Services without me knowing it) and I invited him to help me with some painting. He did a good job, and over a burger I told him I realized it was none of my business, but I was curious as to why a young high school kid had to do Community Serice. He didn't answer. "Did you get into a fight at school...or...?" He replied, "Nope, TAGGING."
My first thought was to ask him to spread the word around his tagging community to please stop tagging Bubble - as he could see I am a decent individual trying to save lives and help people learn to swim.....then divine intervention had me look at the laminated printed paper we had pinned up to label our bathroom doors.
"I may have a job for you...do you think you could put the word "RESTROOM" on my bathroom doors in sort of a 3-D, cartoonish font?" He looked at the door and said, "Can I get my crew over here tomorrow to take a look at it?"
Six young men came by the next day and studied the door for about 30 minutes. They studied the colors that were used for our entire interior, the colors used in our logo and brochures, as well as asked me all of the who, what, where, how, and why questions pertaining to how I wanted the word "RESTROOM".
I left them for a moment to handle some clients and when I returned they had four samples sketched out for me to choose from. After choosing the font, I was then given several other choices as to what depth I wanted the 3-D effect, what kind of 'movement' I wanted in the letters and so on....
They finished the work on the next day and I gave them $50 for each door.
Their work still adorns our bathroom/changing rooms to this day.
From this experience an idea was born:
How about the business community reach out to the taggers and give them a few "beautification" jobs on some of out ugly, grey, non-descript walls all over town. The kids get jobs and a little business experience dealing with the business community, and learn to present their art in a profession manner. Businesses can get a cheap mural or even advertisement on or near their property, and the taxpayer will save millions of dollars on clean up since kids will be creating images the community wants.
Their screams to be noticed will be reinforced in a POSITIVE way, having not only their peers see their work, but having their work being recognized the entire community.
The Tagging Experiment
I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is, and invite all businesses in Las Vegas to simply WATCH what happens when a business tackles crime in a different way. If it is successful, then we might have a model that can be used city-wide.
Here is a photo of our building at Bubble Swim School, and as you can see, we have had to paint over where we've been hit several times by taggers.
My experiment was for the past several months having a contest for all artists - taggers included - to design the word:
BUBBLE
that will be painted on the wall - the only parameters being to be consistant with the colors of our interior (pastels) as well as being cartoonish and 3-D.
The winner would get $500 to paint their design on our wall, and I'll of course pay for the paint.
The winner of the contest turned out to be Carlos De Armas, 
and what you see here is the design that we thought caught the spirit of what we wanted - cartoonish, 3D, and with just a hint of that 'tagging spirit'.
Now why did I want just a hint of it look like a "tagger-did-it"?
Well, first I want to show that there IS art in graffiti.
Second, it is my hope that working WITH a tagger to get Bubble Swim School's logo on our wall (in a legal, professional, and positive manner) can act as a model so that such events can be repeated.
Third, (and this is the true test) hopefully taggers will respect the fact that this project will benefit them in the long run, and in combination with the unwritten law that a tagger will not tag over another tagger's work....I just might not get tagged again.
Here's a picture taken on August 18th, 2011 showing Carlos setting up the basic pattern on the wall. All the shading and shadows will be filled in the next couple of days.
Actually, I thougt the wall looked a lot better at this point, and it wasn't even finished...!
I felt it necessary to write a "To whom it may concern" letter stating that I actually COMISSIONED Carlos to paint my wall like this, in case a policeman drove by and thought he was tagging the wall....which come to think of it, actually he WAS!
Here is a photo of the winning artist, Carlos, and his lovely daughter Ethiana.
Here's an nice addition to the story:
He told us this project inspired him to take his art off the street and go into a more commercial application and has now gone into painting custom designs on cars. He's working now!
Now, God DOES work in mysterious ways, doesn't he..?
Carlos began painting his design on the wall August 15th, 2011 and and to this date we have not been tagged....!
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Some other developments came from this: Mr. Barker across the street over at Wells Fargo saw the improvement and liked the art and concept, and is interested in having either students or street artists come up with design logo for his new business he will be starting.
Also, Mr. Tadd at the Glidden store next door (a PAINT store!) may do the same type of project to paint the Glidden logo on their wall as well!