Jan 4, 2007 6:55 pm US/Central
Neighborhood Controversy: Graffiti Or Art?
by Darcy Pohland
(WCCO)
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Just weeks after the mural's completion, illegal tags started popping up on it.
CBS
Art or eyesore?
That's the controversy stirring up one Minneapolis neighborhood. Spray painted images cover every inch of the out-of-business Riverview Market.
"This building was being illegally tagged repeatedly and it was a blighted building," said Lori Stone of the Seward Neighborhood Group.
So the Seward Neighborhood Group asked a group of young people to cover the building with an urban art mural.
"What we're trying to do with this project is establish that it's an art form," said spray artist, Jordan Hamilton, "so that people won't confuse it with vandalism and need to cover up the building.
What they're doing is doing their art and being passionate about it ... and beautifying this community," said Stone.
However, many neighbors think it has the opposite effect.
"Here we are trying to combat graffiti on our own buildings; meanwhile they just let it happen here," said one resident. "It's not going to stop anything -- it's just encouraging it."
Just weeks after the mural's completion, illegal tags started popping up on it.
"There has been some illegal tagging on that portion but these guys have agreed to remove that as well," said Stone.
"We should either have it painted over or tear the building down," said another resident.
The city first ordered the Riverside Market owner to remove these images after dozens of complaints.
The owner then filed a mural approval form explaining this is an art project, so now the city is prevented from taking any further action despite complaints from neighbors.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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