User:Cab3840J/Graffiti:Ohio University

Graffiti can be seen all around the world in all different shapes,sizes,colors,styles,etc. but how about right here at the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio? The campus may be known for The Kennedy Museum of Art located at the Ridges but what about the art that is displayed among the college town? Graffiti exists among the campus on "The Wall",the sides of buildings, outside Siegfried Hall and inside the campus buildings.

"The Wall"
The Wall, also known as "The Graffiti Wall", has been a long lived part of the student tradition since the 1960's. The purpose of the wall is to have a designated spot on campus for such an occasion: graffiti. It is the one spot on campus where literally anyone can make their mark, worry free. The wall is located alongside Bentley Annex on Richland Avenue. This free zone is ten feet tall and eighty feet in length. It approximately takes two gallons of paint to completely cover what was previously on the wall for a new blank slate.

The tradition comes from the messages conveyed on the Wall. It began in the 60's when students transformed the wall to voice their opinions about the Vietnam War. From here it has continued to be a bonding experience to get the chance to tag the wall. There are several student organizations who take advantage of the wall to send out a message to the student body. The Wall has also been designated for events taking place such as sporting events, 5K runs, fundraisers, Recycle Mania, Fests, Breast Cancer awareness month, responses to historical moments/tragedies, campaigns etc., even the occasional marriage proposal, but of course for ART.

Here is a video of the Marching 110 painting The Wall

External Link

 * [File:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HiY8Rw1fsO0/link_1 Link 1]

The Wall has overall become a tool for expression. It is not just limited to those students in an organization but for the artists among the campus. It is about having that moment where one can leave a piece of their legacy behind.

Off The Wall
Throughout campus there are many sightings of graffiti. Provided is the Facebook link to Athens, Ohio Graffiti and Street Art:

External Link

 * [File:http://www.facebook.com/Pinbacker2/link_1 Link 1]

Within the photos provided on the Facebook page, several styles of graffiti are listed such as:

piece: A large and labor-intensive graffiti painting. Pieces often incorporate 3-D effects, arrows, and many colors and color-transitions, as well as various other effects. Originally shorthand for masterpiece, considered the full and most beautiful work of graffiti). A piece requires more time to paint than a throw-up. If placed in a difficult location and well executed it will earn the writer more respect. Piece can also be used as a verb that means: "to write".Glossary of graffiti

Tags:A stylized signature, normally done in one color. The simplest and most prevalent type of graffiti, a tag is often done in a color that contrasts sharply with its background. Tag can also be used as a verb meaning "to sign". Writers often tag on or beside their pieces, following the practice of traditional artists who sign their artwork. A less common type of tag is a "dust tag", done in dust by writers to practice. The verb tagging has even become a popular verb today in other types of occasions that are non-graffiti-related. Tagging first appeared in Philadelphia, with spraypainted messages of "Bobby Beck In '59" on freeways surrounding the city. The first "king" was also crowned in Philly: Cornbread (graffiti), a student who began marking his nickname around the city to attract the attentions of a girl. In New York City, TAKI 183 inspired a newspaper article about his exploits, leading to an explosion of tagging in the early seventies.Glossary of graffiti

Throw Ups: A throw-up or "throwie" sits between a tag and a piece in terms of complexity and time investment. It generally consists of a one-color outline and one layer of fill-color. Easy-to-paint bubble shapes often form the letters. A throw-up is designed for quick execution, to avoid attracting attention to the writer. Throw-ups are often utilized by writers who wish to achieve a large number of tags while competing with rival artists. Most artists have both a tag and a throw-up that are essentially fixed compared to pieces. It is mostly so because they need to have a recognizable logo for others to identify them and their own individual styles.Glossary of graffiti

Stencil Art: makes use of a paper, cardboard, or other media to create an image or text that is easily reproducible. The desired design is cut out of the selected medium and then the image is transferred to a surface through the use of spray paint or roll-on paint.Stencil graffiti

Sticker Art: Also referred to as "labels" or "slaps". A sticker (often obtained from shipping companies and name greeting labels) with the writer's tag on it. A sticker can be deployed more quickly than other forms of graffiti, making it a favorite in any public place such as newspaper dispensers, stop signs, phone booths etc. A popular sticker that was used originally was the "Hello my name is" red stickers in which a writer would write his or her graffiti name in the blank space.Glossary of graffiti

There are two groups on campus who are active in creating the graffiti found around campus. They are A.S.K. or Athens Scribble Krew. Real Detective, a local graffiti artist, also uses this space.

These groups set out to create, cover, and expose their art to the public. It is unknown as to who makes up these groups but again their work can be found on the Facebook page.

Siegfried Hall
Siegfried Hall: Fine Arts building within the College of School and Arts.

Aethelred Eldridge, who is an Associate Professor of Art at Ohio University, began the graffiti craze outside of Siegfried Hall. He is known for creating three murals along Siegfried hall. His most popular piece is his black and white mural, Neowes from Golgonooza, created by Aethelred in 1987.

"As an art professor at Ohio University since 1957, Eldridge has produced thousands of works that include both images and text. His output over the last decade has been primarily in the form of black-and-white self-published pamphlets that reflect influences of poet and artist William Blake and include images of naked bodies, dancing skulls, flying saucers and sweeping brooms interspersed with Bible-like quotes and questions."

Professor Eldridge draws a variety of individuals each quarter for he is known for his popular lectures and known as the easiest course on campus.

External Link

 * [File:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PGH_MH5qTc/link_1 Link 1]

Campus Buildings
Graffiti takes many forms through out campus, but it lies more discretely inside the campus buildings. It is typical to find scribbles of the night's themed shuffle among the bars lining Court Street. But the most known spot is in Ellis Hall, inside the women's bathroom stalls on the first floor. Here, the stalls are covered with statements, quotes, frustrations, questions, relationship problems, favorite works of art, etc. The great thing about this type of graffiti is the responses to the original marks. There is a flow about this form of graffiti that unfolds a conversation between several unknown authors.

Ellis Hall is the home of the English and Philosophy Departments. There are three stalls total within this designated area filled with toilet side art. If you have previously been in this building, take the time to go check it out. The type of graffiti in the stalls comes in the form of writing more than picture/visual art but it is graffiti none the less. It is marking on property, yet it is left up for observation.