Keep an eye out for "art" in the parks

[Trek420]

I'm not an expert (but I know of at least one TE'er who is), but that is in violation of NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act). Violating federal acts is a serious thing. And I guess each case of graffiti is a separate charge.

She'll be caught, eventually.

I am not a lawyer either but think there are separate laws that protect antiquities like the petroglyphs. She's going to have quite a different 15 minutes of fame then planned

[rebeccaC]

I love learning about and photographing urban graffiti and street art. For me it’s just a part of my urban visual art experience whether its art provocation, stencil or pasted work, mindless graffiti…etc. etc.

I’ve also seen some chalk work on hard stone in Glacier NP that was both creative and executed very well. That it would disappear in a couple of rains made it even better for me. Some don’t want even that in our National Parks and I’m okay with that. Due process will happen so there may be a price to pay for an artist doing it.

I don’t know anything about Norcket except what’s in the two links. That she used acrylics may mean she didn’t think it through very well or perhaps she just didn’t care. Referring to Banksy seemed a little absurd….but again I don’t know anything about her.

I do like ‘creepytings’ as a tag name though

[Eden]

For me this is just another sad example of the "me" generation…. a 20 something that has no concept of how her actions affect other people. Someone who only ever thinks of things in terms of themselves and what they want with no thought whatsoever to the wider implications. I think it's really quite sad and I'm glad that she's been identified and basically caught. Had it been chalk or something temporary I could see it, but that she was using acrylics and she seemed to be totally aware that she was doing something that would offend others, yet still did it, makes me disgusted and sad more than anything. Selfish little child, me, me, me, me, me me…...

[OakLeaf]

As long as we remember that the term "me generation" was coined 40 years ago to describe people who are now in their 60s. Coined by a man who helped lead a cultural movement that was derided as wastrels by the generation before him. And though we don't know how old the people were when they carved their initials and dates into the sandstone 120 years ago, it's a pretty safe guess that they were young adults or adolescents at the time, too.

[Crankin]

I hate graffiti anywhere. There was so much of it in Portugal, it obscured some really nice sites, both in the city and rural areas.
I know it's considered an art form, but it just seems like litter to me.

[Eden]

OK the current me generation… the one that's been so coddled and told they are wonderful, that everyone is a winner all their lives, that they haven't learned that their personal desires aren't the end all and be all to life. I can call it the "Everyone get's a trophy" generation if you'd like.

And I get equally annoyed at seeing people's initials carved into rocks/structures. I was no less ticked off at the quite large inscription proudly proclaiming that some midwest boy scout troop had stayed in the CCC shelter on the Wonderland trail in 1940 something…..

[Owlie]

OK the current me generation… the one that's been so coddled and told they are wonderful, that everyone is a winner all their lives, that they haven't learned that their personal desires aren't the end all and be all to life. I can call it the "Everyone get's a trophy" generation if you'd like.

Uh, thanks.

[shootingstar]

It's not just the defacement. Acrylic paint is a hazardous waste. There are specific steps to take, even in an urban setting, to avoid compromising the natural and human environments. Picture set-up and disposal. Wet paint. Brushes. I wonder how she cleaned them. In the stream, perhaps? Not likely nothing was emitted in that scenario. And if any spray paint was used, propellants are a consideration. I'm sure some paint has ended up in water-runoff and entered the water table. Affecting soil substrate, flora, insects and birds that feed on flora and drink water, etc. etc. So what we have are water quality, soil quality, green house gas emissions. Yes, these are small projects, but these are pristine environments she has entered. Not just sad and not just 'me.' It's damaging. Oh, and a lot of the areas she is in may have significant cultural resources (like religious significance for tribes). It's very common, actually. In one cultural resources class I took that was conducted by tribal archeologists, they pointed out that a religious monument may just be a simple hill, something that looks like nothing to an outsider. Any changes to those areas have to be agreed upon by tribal governments, state historic offices, etc. etc.

That hill face with the obvious strata bothers me the most. It can't really be cleaned without causing damage. And the acrylics will leach over time, eroding the area and adding toxins to the environment on a greater scale.

Thx for this reminder, Murienn.

I actually dislike graffiti in cities and out in the parks, rural area. Sorry. And I do my own art at home, so it's not as if I lack art appreciation. I photograph and my personal blog contains highlights of what I see for planned public outdoor public art, when I bike around.

I give no blog highlights to graffiti "artists". To me, it's defacement of someone else' property ...and even public property that has been paid by taxpayers. We have to spend dollars to clean it off. Worse, planned outdoor public art installations are defaced sometimes.

Some of the "style" for planned art, adopts a graffiti style.. no problems with that if the artists got permission to paint an abandoned house...which actually there was series of homes, slated for demolition. So the whole neighbourhood was turned into a funky public artsy area for a few months.

An artist for any medium, should respect the environment and property where they practice their art..