New Haven Independent

posted by: Ben on June 30, 2008  11:14am

All graffiti should be reported on seeclickfix.com
LCI has been cleaning up graffiti very quickly in response to the clickets.

posted by: Deuce on June 30, 2008  11:30am

What the hell are these things supposed to say? Bad enough we have graffiti, but does it have to be illegible too?

posted by: MattUva on June 30, 2008  1:48pm

The first one reads, “Slug”. The second, “Snot”. Third, “Lark”. Fourth is “Net” defacing a “Lark” tag.
“Tags” are basically “handles” that Graffiti writers use to gain “fame” amongst other writers. When one writer defaces another writer’s handiwork, it is seen as a “dis”. Back in the day, arguments were settled either on a legal wall or someplace out of the way where a writer could spend a fair amount of time without being noticed. The two writers would each do a mural, or “piece”, and the graffiti community would decide upon a winner—beef over.
These days beefs are settled differently (read: violently) and most writers avoid them at all costs.
“Net” and “Lark” appear to be “toys” (writers with little skill) and the defacing of one another’s tags would make one fear they are gang members or street rivals—either way it’s not a good sign.
“Slug” and “snot” both show potential, and would benefit from the use of a legal wall—some are in place around town, but not nearly enough of them are available for these kids to practice their “art”.
Most true “writers” keep to the legal walls or along the train line, out of view of most civilians—they only need fame in their own circles, and those circles know where to look. Some will “hit up” public spots when the opportunity is too inviting, or in small sticker or wheat-paste formats—easily cleaned. The advent of the internet has allowed most writers to gain fame from pictures of their works on websites. These works are usually part of a legal wall that is then painted over by the next writer, sometimes as quickly as the next day.
The city could actually benefit from the use of more legal walls, as quite a few nationally recognized artists (aerosol, canvas, installation, sculpture, etc.) got their start as graffiti artists in New Haven.

Sorry if all this sounds remedial, but the majority of the community (law enforcement included) seems to have no real understanding of this and often jump to “gang signs” as their only explanation.

posted by: Deuce on June 30, 2008  8:50pm

Maybe we’d “understand” graffiti culture if the graffiti was legible and didn’t deface private property.

posted by: A. Nony on July 1, 2008  1:12pm

Maybe we’d understand, but it’s kind of tough for graffiti (assume it will always exist) to not deface private property if it doesn’t have a legal place to go.  Just a thought.  I’ve seen some really great graffiti when it was given a place to flourish, legally.

posted by: MattUva on July 1, 2008  5:05pm

Please don’t “misunderstand” me, I wasn’t condoning or advocating illegal graffiti. The article asked for “clues or guesses” and I was merely offering insight into the meanings of the above images.

posted by: eddiehaskel on July 1, 2008  10:23pm

I thought “slug” might be a comment on old L.Ron.