Pack Rat hates the word “photog”
Okay, so anyone who’s spent any amount of time whatsoever on this blog knows that I go absolutely ape shit for good graffiti. Especially stuff that’s kind of raw and hidden away, stuff that doesn’t necessarily look like there’s an ad campaign attached to it. But, I was standing on the subway the other day (because the subway has been packed with wall to wall meat puppets recently, with nary a seat in sight), and the new little unnecessary waste of tax payer’s money TV screen on the W train flashed that there was no graffiti or “scratchitti” allowed. “Scratchitti?” You mean to tell me there’s a whole other method of public displays of anonymous art? Fucking sweet.
I quickly looked into it, using the awesome power of Google, and was disapointed to find that my initial search didn’t turn up anything of note. Scratchitti, it seems, has only really reached the primative point of carving words into surfaces with clumsy block lettering. But I am still intrigued and hopeful for the potential of this new (yet centuries old) form of street art.
Now, something I know to be a relatively new phenomenon (and by relatively new, I mean in the last decade or so. What, you expect something more cutting edge? What do you people want? I have a life you know. Jeez.) is art ala USPS sticker. This is where the artist punks out because he/she doesn’t want to get caught doing real graffiti and instead doodles a little something on a USPS label and slaps it on some random public place. But I’m not hatin’. Some of the stuff out there is really fun, and probably a sticker is a bit more socially conscious than a massive painting or a forever scratched window. At least a sticker can be peeled off by people with sticks up their bum about that kind of thing.
Although sadly, because of the stickers’ impermanance, it means that some of these gems will disappear almost as soon as they are put up, either removed by a vigilant public works drone, or washed away by a good solid rain. So, keeping that in mind I am out to preserve as many of these little devils as I can, and because I’m such a giver, I’ll make sure to post the best ones here so we can all enjoy these little acts of creativity. Like the one below, which I found at the corner of 32nd St and 30th Ave in Astoria.
AND, as if you weren’t already sick of me enough, this segues nicely into the other photo project that I’m starting. From February 2nd onward, I’ll be taking a picture a day for a full year. I know, hardly a new concept, but what the hell? Just because it’s hackneyed doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Just don’t get your panties in a bunch about it. Take deep breaths and try to relax and everything will be fine. I promise.
