Bombing Arizona

In Arizona, most people don't like graffiti taggers. But a growing number of artists choose graffiti to express themselves or tell a story. And each has a reason.

Bombing Arizona, a documentary now showing at the Arizona Film Festival.


Reel from Ricardo Bracamonte on Vimeo.

Wipe It Out Phoenix

Phoenix 20/20: Councilman Michael Nowakowski checks out the Wipe it Out Day presented by the Neighborhood Services Department.


Source: City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department

Artfully Engaging Taggers

Living in a neighborhood that gets graffiti tagged almost every night, I can honestly say that I don't understand the psyche of someone who would spend so much time, energy, and money, and risk the chance of civil and criminal penalties, all in the pursuit of ruining the beauty of their own neighborhood and having their neighbors hate their behavior?

I sometimes catch myself wondering what would happen if those taggers' artistic energies were redirected in a positive way, such as creating neighborhood murals that they would be proud of, and everyone in the neighborhood could enjoy. Who wouldn't want that instead?

Perhaps the problem of tagging in Phoenix needs to be addressed in different and positive way. While the Police Department and the city's Grafitti Busters program does it's best to fight tagging, it doesn't seem to be working. If anything, I've noticed more taggings in my neighborhood in this past year.

So, when I discovered the collaborative efforts of the Tucson Arts Brigade, I thought THIS is the way we should be addressing the problem of unwanted grafitti in Phoenix.

Inside The Overpass

Maybe keeping idle hands busy is the best answer to the increasing Graffiti problem in Arizona.

Juan Rocha thrived on the thrill of tagging and the recognition that came with it. Now, he has traded his spray paint for a brush and works with the Tucson Arts Brigade. The organization will unveil their latest mural, "Inside the Overpass" on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.


Hat Tip: Tucson Sentinel

Phoenix Graffiti Busters

Graffiti is costly and destructive, and sends a message that the community is not concerned about the appearance of its neighborhoods. You can take control of your neighborhood by quickly removing graffiti. Prompt removal reduces the chance of graffiti reappearing and helps maintain a safe, secure and attractive environment.

Graffiti is a crime – to report graffiti vandalism in progress, call 9-1-1.

To report graffiti that you want to see removed, call the Graffiti Busters 24-Hour Removal Hotline at 602-495-7014 or email graffitibusters.nsd@phoenix.gov. You also can report graffiti using a free application on your iPhone or Android smartphone (myPhxAZ).

The Phoenix Police Department also has a special graffiti hotline.

If you believe you can provide information leading to the arrest of a graffiti vandal, call 602-262-7327 to make a report. You don't have to give your name or any other identification, and you could receive an award up to $250. For more information on this program visit the Police Graffiti Hotline site.

Get Up Arizona | Graffiti

Every Arizonan has differing opinions about writers, bombers, or taggers, and you may view them as criminals and vandals instead of artists. But, no matter what you think of them, just like most other states in America, Arizona has it's share of so-called, graffiti "artists".

Also, like everywhere else in the United States, the larger the size of the city, the larger the volume of graffiti. As such, if you live in Phoenix, Arizona's most-populated metropolitan area, you can't travel anywhere without something being covered in graffiti.

So, I thought I would link to the following documentary film about graffiti in Arizona in order to possibly get a better understanding of why writers, bombers, taggers, or "graffiti artists" do what they do. I'll leave it to you to decide whether it should be considered crime, or be considered art.

According to the filmakers -

In the Valley of the Sun, two hip-hop heads set out on a mission to document some of the illest graffiti and street art in their state. Along with photo and film contributions from other artists, they put together a kaleidoscope of graffiti art footage and photos, live legal and illegal painting, interviews, hilarious run-ins with street-folk, a graffiti animation featuring real graff art from local writers, Arizona issues and culture, old PSA's and local news reports on the AZ graffiti scene, live local B-Boys, Poppers n Lockers, MCs and DJs, scraps, and all other types of insanity! Scouring all over the valley, the two captured some of the best images of graffiti art from pieces, throw-ups, and characters, to stickers and tags and even some stencil and wheat-paste art.

All of the graffiti art featured in GET UP ARIZONA is strictly from the Valley, Tucson, Yuma, San Luis and Northern Arizona. All of the incredible music featured in the film is from local MCs, DJs and bands as well... Phadeone and Sage are tremendous proponents of graffiti culture. They felt the need to make a film to represent that culture, not just for Arizona, but for graffiti artists and graffheads everywhere!

Here's a trailer for the film. The full version can be found on GraffMonger's Youtube playlist channel.