Hello all.

So, the blog has set off like the big bang. We have posted blogs on just about everything to the economy crisis to HIV to cancer causing food additives.

Now its time to think a little closer to home. Can we agree in a chorus of "YES!" Right, much appriciated.

To commence- I don't take art, not even photography (NO WAY!) but this blog is going to be about art and the right to personal expression. I will not outline the coterversial topic: graffiti.
When I say graffiti you may think about those ugly markings which are inconviently backed by a suburban garage, teen gangs and the word "vandalism". When some idiot with a spray can attacks our propety its yeah...annoying and costly. So graffiti has a really bad reputation here in New Zealand. At the other extreme (yum my mum just gave me an ice cream) we have those huge works by (space for drum roll/ the silence of antisepation) BANKSY. His works selling for millions. These two things contrast each other greatly but where is the line?

Where does vandalism become artwork?

This raises more questions in my head such as when do we know if it's art if its out of a gallery. Thats an easy answer. When an image expresses ideas or emotions. But heres the tricky part: graffiti is ILLEGAL. There are now strict bans on spray cans (you have to be eighteen to buy spray cans). My point is: should people be allowed to express themselves thorough grafftti?

Me and my dude...guy (ugh I not a fan of the word boyfriend) have come to release an entire underground network of graffiti artists making a name for themselves on our streets.

For furthur investagation look for "graffiti alley" just off left bank where the likes of satay kingdom are located. The alley way is finishes opposite emo park on ghuznee street.

Also an interesting website: http://streetarse.co.nz/archives/category/uncategorized

Goodo. For first hand information you can email my dude-guy at: Andrew91@windowslive.com. He has choosen to do a photography portfolio on graffiti and he is pretty much an expert (he is not a tagger though). Also send him jokes, funny stories or just say hi. He doesn't know I'm doing this but I'm sure that he will be ok with it...

see ya-bye.
Ellen

P.S. Nurul I did my blog in green for you and also to fit in with the subject matter.
P.S.S I may not take art but I do take ART HISTORY!