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34 The Link Magazine November 1997
Have you seen 4 Graffiti pros and cons get TV airing
Last month The Link published a page on behalf of Swindon Borough Council describ-
the writing on ing the problems the council faces in clearing up the graffiti and spray paint scribbling
which deface many surfaces in public places. Reprinted on the left is the survey form
the wall? which also appeared and more readers are invited to send in their views.
By coincidence the HTV Take 3 programme by Richard Wyatt, council officers who have to
were also preparing a documentary on graffiti deal with complaints were asked to comment
What are your views which was shown on 21 October. Young peo- and workers cleaning graffiti from an under-
ple who use legal graffiti sites were interviewed pass spoke about their work.
on graffiti?
HTV presenter Richard Wyatt and his crew are pictured interviewing graffiti artists Tim, Lee, Simon and
Please return this survey which Geoff at the Toothill Farm youth building which is sanctioned by Swindon Council as a legal graffiti site
has been compiled with help from
young people in West Swindon
YES NO
Do you see graffiti as an
opportunity to display art?
Do you see graffiti as a
problem? L
Would you attend a meeting
in order to discuss this issue?
Do you see a difference
between graffiti art and
vandalism?
Do you think that the same
people do both?
Graffiti views
Do you like the dull grey walls
on the underpasses? Survey returns so far show a generally negative reaction to graffiti with only a few people
agreeing that it can be considered as art. Most respondents see graffiti as vandalism and want
the people who do it apprehended and punished. Many people want a public meeting to
Would you like to see the dull
grey wall brightly patterned? 1 express their views.
The views of 'graffiti artists' are mixed. Tim, a way of taking out your frustrations with life.
Do you think that it would be a sixth form student at Ridgeway School, con- We're not criminals. Young artists should be
siders himself a serious artist producing eye recognised."
constructive to offer a specific
catching, interesting 'pieces.' In the last year,
The two painters use Toothill Farm on
space for artists to complete he has spray painted 200 works and spent Bodiam Drive as one of the few legal sites in
their 'pieces'? P about £1,000 on paint. "Graffiti is a way of Swindon. However one survey respondent
expressing your art. It's a way of becoming wrote at some length that the Farm has become
Do you think that this would known amongst other artists. But it's a prob- unsightly and degraded. Younger children are
stop some of the vandalism? lem controlling tagging or scribbling in public being encouraged to start graffiti, especially
places. It looks a mess." when they pick up cans thrown away by the
Has any part of your home But fellow spray painter Lee, who attends 'artists' and use the last drops of paint in them
been damaged by graffiti Swindon Art College disagrees. "You should on lamp posts and fences.
not touch private homes, but tagging or bomb- Please continue to send in your views.
vandals?
ing is OK in other places, it's a way of develop- Do you feel passionately?
ing your style and letting other people know The HTV Take 3 programme welcomes ideas for
you're around. More legal sites should be viewer led items. If you have a point to get across
If you have any other views on this
provided to give people a chance to tryout. It's about, call Jago Smith on 0117 -955 -7788.
controversial issue or have an idea
on how the problem could be addressed,
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Please drop this survey into a box at: and most useful
West Swindon Library, Link Centre 4,z &ntte paper in Swindon
or the Haydon Centre, Thames Avenue, Swindon & Chippenham ,-,
To advertise, call
or post to: The Link, 13 Castle Dore, 233 Ferndale Road, Swindon (01793) 872282
Freshbrook, Swindon SN5 8PQ Tel: (0 1793) 536657
