Graffiti on Rodeo Drive? Well, sort of…
A group of taggers assembled wall on Rodeo Drive, painting with gusto. But not gang symbols or graffiti. The group, ICU, In Creative Unity, paints murals on construction sites to raise money for charity. Interesting, huh? ICU paints murals, with their traditional “tagger’s” equipment, for businesses in the community, and paints murals on construction sites’ barricades to raise money for charitable causes.
These artists have never been to a conservatory; they got their education on the streets painting graffiti, and are now using those skills for something more socially acceptable.
Personally, I’ve always thought it a waste of talent for “taggers” to have to paint gang symbols and graffiti. I once rode through Chicago by commuter train and saw some of the most beautiful work, done by taggers. I was amazed, and my Chicago-born friend was amazed I thought it was art. Some of it wasn’t, of course, but some of it was bloody brilliant.
Nice to see ICU at work, and I hope they spread the message to others with talent for spray painting.