Illegal Art in Hollywood

Went out a few nights ago with a few pretty well known urban artists from around LA. We left at 2 A.M. and when we were finally heading home, the early morning commuters were already on the streets drinking their coffee. We hit up Melrose Ave in Hollywood, one of the streets known for it's urban art, especially with Obey. I photographed them wheat pasting and tagging certain signs and buildings...I even climbed to the top of a building to get one of these shots...one of my cameras took a pretty nasty fall off of a railing while climbing but luckily it survived. It's amazing how much etiquette goes in to illegal art. As far as the photography only two rules I must follow: No complete faces, no identity
1

Anyone?

Jimmyhickey wrote in post #10609280
It's amazing how much etiquette goes in to illegal art. As far as the photography only two rules I must follow: No complete faces, no identity

I guess one man's art is another man's vandalism.

I like the pictures.

i like shot number 4 it kinda has a funny side what with the masked graf assailant walking up un-noticed to tag the board while the cop car's parked kerbside (probably gone for donut's)

Nice series, 1,6 & 9 catch my eye first. Mostly shot with the EF24 1.4 @ 12800iso, it looks like? Must have hurt when the 1D fell.. Look forward to seeing the full series.

- I'm sure you caught Banksy'srecent exploits in San Francisco? word of a film project> http://banksyfilm.com/ & here

also there's an interesting project done by an artist names Moose, working in negative on road soot & grime. Nicely filmed piece, as well.
http://www.reversegraf​fitiproject.com/

IMHO there is a huge difference between kids indiscriminately vandalizing neighborhoods with a spray can, and street artists.

tinrooster wrote in post #10612458
IMHO there is a huge difference between kids indiscriminately vandalizing neighborhoods with a spray can, and street artists.

Being in the real estate industry, I must disagree. People spend thousands (hundreds of thousands) of dollars on property not to have someone come over and apply their art to them. I agree that some of it is very nice looking, but it still is vandalism. Maybe where places are already rundown and nobody gives a damn, but in places where people do, it's simply vandalism.

I've often thought that if I caught one of these clowns I would tattoo "VANDAL" across their forehead. Just to see if the appreciate my art applied to them.

Im sorry but i live in Southern California and "Illegal Art" is out of control, it distroys our citys. I hate driving through the freeways and seeing EVERYTHING sprayed.

Sounds like most people think you wasted your time (and sleep) photographing others wasting their time and providing absolutely no value to society.

Definitely vandalism, definitely art and definitely water soluble. It's wheat paste, not spray paint.

Great photjournalism !

Thanks for the comments everyone

a521 wrote in post #10613633
That's funny..."urban artist".. I don't care how good they think they are, they are simply criminals. Maybe the property owners can track them down through your website...too bad one of these "urban artists" weren't attached to the camera that took a nasty fall off the rail!

They are also very successful nationally recognized artists selling their prints to a worldwide audience and have a greater following then any single photographer on this site has.

V-Wiz wrote in post #10613729
Im sorry but i live in Southern California and "Illegal Art" is out of control, it distroys our citys. I hate driving through the freeways and seeing EVERYTHING sprayed.

Wheat paste does not "distroy" anything. Its water soluble and can be pulled off with your hands.

digadv wrote in post #10615348
Sounds like most people think you wasted your time (and sleep) photographing others wasting their time and providing absolutely no value to society.

Now that just sounds all around ignorant...

granted, some of it can be really pretty to look at; but there's a place for it - and i don't feel the place should be on other people's property. if it wasn't wrong, you wouldn't have been given your two rules to follow. i like to follow the golden rule personally, "treat other people the way we wish to be treated."

i always wondered how the "artists" would feel if someone put "art" all over their house, car, etc (or their loved one's personal property)? would the "artist" be upset about it, clean it up, hunt down who did it; or would the "artist" simply shrug his/her shoulders and say, "man, that looks f-ing awesome...thanks to whoever did this."

i'll get off my soapbox now, one more thing...i hope that's not a real assault rifle hanging on the wall...

now i'll get off the box. really nice low-light shots

Real urban artists who follow the rules of their trade don't destroy personal property like houses...or cars. They wheat paste electrical boxes and sides of buildings that are blank. Personally I would rather see a painted portrait of bob dylan on the side of a building over a mismatched grey splotch of paint...