Nothing tops a can of spray paint when it comes to the fragile self-esteem and sense of self-worth of a woebegone artist who feels that society has and is continuing to ignore them.
Want to be seen? Want to be experienced? Want folks to know you’re out there? Want them to know just how important you really are? And how gosh-darn talented?
Then, in the dead of night, while much of society sleeps, take your little can of spray paint and vandalize the front of an innocent business, in fact a business not yet open for business. Tag them before their grand opening, people are sure to notice that. Never mind the fact that the owner has dropped about $200,000 in start-up fees to get the place up and running. Never mind the fact that the business owner has taken a somewhat ragged little storefront on Renfrew’s main drag and transformed the corner location into one of the most eye-appealing presentations on the entire street, a street over-represented by cannabis shops, dollar stores, and tattoo parlours. It’s a restaurant, novel in its concept, someone’s dream and vision coming to reality. A labour of love.
And then some selfish little wagon of self-esteem rolls up and tags it.
Tagging, a form of graffiti, has been around for as long as grudge-bearing artists have been around. Meaning that, for as long as history wafts over the passage of time, there have been human beings that just can’t play nice. The only difference is that now there are more of them. The internet did that.
After viewing and recording various acts of graffiti around town, it seems apparent that all of it is not the work of a single person or group. The styles, while having some degree of similarity, are different. And you can rest assured that whoever didn’t tag the restaurant, or the other dozen or so recent acts of vandalism, there is another individual or group out there that’s taken notice and is probably planning their counter-stroke.
It’s like dogs pissing on poles to mark territory. Except dogs are cute, and they’re innocent of any intent to injure.
The motivation behind tagging or graffiti can vary greatly among individuals, and it’s important to note that while some people may consider it a form of art and self-expression, others may legitimately view it as vandalism.
From the perspective of the so-called artist, tagging can represent an avenue of self-expression and creativity, a way to express their creativity and artistic skills. It provides a fantastic outlet for individuals to showcase their unique style, ideas, and messages in a public space. Who cares about how a property owner may feel?
Maybe it has something to do with street culture and identity. Tagging has long been associated with street culture, particularly in urban environments. Some individuals may engage in tagging to establish a sense of identity, belonging, or to be recognized within their local communities or subcultures. Bully for them.
Maybe they’re social activists, and their “art” is a form of social commentary, addressing political, social, or cultural issues. Some artists use tagging to express their opinions, challenge norms, or provoke thought and discussion. Other, more responsible people, write letters to the editor.
How about simple and naked rebellion? For some individuals, tagging can be an act of rebellion against authority, mainstream society, or established norms. It can be seen as a way to claim public spaces, challenge rules, and make a statement against the status quo. I suppose when you’re not being heard elsewhere in your life, it probably feels good to mess up somebody’s fence.
Thrill-seekers can’t be ruled out. Some graffiti artists are motivated by the excitement of exploring urban environments and leaving their mark in unexpected or unconventional locations. Looking for an adrenaline rush? Just spray away on the side of some innocent person’s brick home. I mean, it’s all about the artist, right?
What about establishing yourself among the giants of the graffiti pantheon? Having other like-minded losers recognize your work must be deeply satisfying, just like having a bad-ass reputation within the graffiti community. Just like everywhere else, it seems, there’s a social stratification within the graffiti subculture. Social standing, perhaps one of the reasons for them to be bitter with society in the first place, has its place in the graffiti world as well.
Perhaps it’s all about aesthetics and beautification, an attempt to bring artistic life to an otherwise dull or neglected public space. Abandoned buildings, or those sitting vacant, can be an eye-sore, and Renfrew is certainly no stranger to this circumstance. Maybe the artist is driven by the desire to enhance or transform unsightly urban environments through their artistic interventions. That said, as mentioned before, the tagged restaurant has a new, fresh, and dynamic look. It didn’t need any outside intervention.
So, as for the rest of us, what to do?
Simple answer? Nothing.
Obviously it’s beyond the ability or interest of law enforcement. What about the Town of Renfrew? Does the town not have a stake in this? Do our elected representatives demand any kind of action on this kind of thing? Or is it just a case of people being people? What about our business community? Do they have a voice on this or are they just glad their businesses didn’t get hit. The old “just shut-up and keep your head down syndrome?”
Nope. It’s everyone for themselves. Maybe insurance will cover the cost of repairs and maybe it won’t. More than likely it’ll be the way it almost always has been, that being victims will be left responsible for repairs and their attending costs.
I’ve met the owner of a soon-to-be-opened restaurant in downtown Renfrew. She’s installing security cameras because, what else is there to do?
Maybe it’s time to have municipally-installed cameras along Raglan Street. It’s certainly not the ultimate solution, but at least it’s a step. If not an outright deterrent, such cameras are still a beneficial option of identifying those malcontents who are bent on damaging the property of others.
And civil libertarians can go blow in their Kleenex.
NEWSMAGRENFREW 