where i'm from in new jersey, there isn't much graffiti to be seen. i can't even say that there is an occasional scribble on a building, it just simply doesn't exist. of course i've seen graffiti before--having spent some time in new york over the years, i've seen quite a few doodles. i never thought about graffiti in general because it's not part of my daily surroundings in new jersey or in rhode island where i go to school. but when i came to florence to study abroad, a project in my italian class was to comment on the graffiti found around the city. she asked if we liked the graffiti, how it's different from graffiti in america, etc. it was a composition i didn't know how to write because i never thought much on the subject. everyone in my class didn't seem to have a problem with describing the differences in italian graffiti and american graffiti. i was at a loss, so i set out on a mission when i walked to school; instead of just drowning myself out with my ipod and shelieding my eyes with my shades, i was going to see florence from a graffiti point of view.
at first it wasn't cute. i didn't like most of the markings i saw. actually i was really bothered by most of the scribbles; stupid gang signs? meaningless thick and thin lines? made-up italian words? what made me the most pissed was that in florence, the buildings are old and hold so much history, so why would someone write on all these buildings with ugly symbols? then i started to really look, trying to find some beauty in the markings. i found none, but what i did find was actual graffiti that was pretty. what a feeling! the more and more i searched inbetween the other random lines and colors, i found ones that i would go as far as to say demanded some artistic credit.
i snapped a few pictures and i hope to post more as i see others that i like.
"imagine"
"paradise waits for us"
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