Political Graffitti

[liberationjunky]

Ive recently been thinking about tagging political messages with my friend.

I was wondering what RLers opinion on using graffiti as a form of actTivism is.

Also, I was planing to use stencils for my work, do you think this is the best way.

I'm new to graffitti so any basic info or newbie help would be appreciated.

Last, does anyone have any ideas for what to write?
I have a couple ideas such as:

People shouldn't have to die for the better of their system,
their system should die for the better of it's people.

advertising's enslavement with a catchphrase.

and something like The war against terrorism is terrorism.

Again any help or ideas would be appreciated.

[Enragé]

On a church;

We need a place to piss, not a place to pray

The only church that enlightens is a church that burns (-durruti)

On a police station (if you got the guts :P )

There's a cop inside all of us
kill it

--

They can have the streets!
Brick by brick, through their windows

Man is gentle when free, brutal when oppressed

Why is it not called terrorism when its committed by the USA?

Open your eyes

Bombing for freedom is like fucking for virginity

I'll support the troops when they shoot their officers

Bring the war home!

No war but the classwar!



:)

[liberationjunky]

wow thanks those are deff some sick ideas.

[Mcas]

I think stenciling and other forms of urban art are excellent.

If you are new to the scene, stencil art is the way to go. Untrained graffiti art looks like shit and will not be taken seriously by activists, artists or your target audience.

If you want your message to get across then you need a well designed campaign and visuals to accompany it. Stenciling is the easiest way to do this and is visually appealing. As well, it leaves a good impact.

As far as your safety is concerned, it is also very quick to apply which allows you to leave your message and take off unnoticed.

If you are looking to do stencil art I would advise you invest into a good art knife and what is known as oil board (or stencil board even). It is a sturdy cardboard which you can get at art shops, created especially for stenciling. It is coated in a thin oil layer (which doesn't come off, so don't worry about getting it on things), smells like a garage. This prevents the cardboard from warping when spraypaint is applied to it.

When I started, I used recycled cola boxes and cracker boxes. They are good for a few applications but get soggy and self-destruct after a while.

Another good thing to learn is how to properly use spray paint - be aware of the distance you are shooting at and the temperature outside. If you apply too much paint or in conditions which won't allow for proper drying, you may be left with a runny mess, which may in turn ruin your art and message.

It is great to see more people trying to take back the streets in this simple and easy way. If you haven't heard of Banksy or seen his art, I suggest you look it up. Good luck.

[ahab]

Originally posted by [email protected] 29 2006, 09:03 PM
Ive recently been thinking about tagging political messages with my friend.

I was wondering what RLers opinion on using graffiti as a form of actTivism is.

Also, I was planing to use stencils for my work, do you think this is the best way.

I'm new to graffitti so any basic info or newbie help would be appreciated.

Last, does anyone have any ideas for what to write?
I have a couple ideas such as:

People shouldn't have to die for the better of their system,
their system should die for the better of it's people.

advertising's enslavement with a catchphrase.

and something like The war against terrorism is terrorism.

Again any help or ideas would be appreciated.
try to hit some billboards if you have any arround you

schools

busses, city and school

mcdonalds and other fast food places

banks

cop shops (like said before)

gas stations

armories, that ones pretty hard lol

check out this site its pretty cool: Stencil Revolution (http://www.stencilrevolution.com/homepage.php)

there you go comrade

[Taevus]

Go for it. Don't get caught :P I think graffing is worthwhile.

[Ander]

I really want to do this but I have no idea how to begin, I don't even know how to make stencils. Freestyle would be wicke too, however I am not an artist.

[Organic Revolution]

Everyone thinking about getting into this, be very, very careful i just caught a case recently so exercise your security culture to the fullest, and good luck. my advice is to keep your writing realitivly simple, short and to the point, and always were a face cover.

[homeo_apathy]

i've just done a couple of stencils recently for the first time....
Nothing excitin, just a couple of clenched fists and slogans.

YA BASTA! is prety good one...except im not sure if many people know what it means or stands for.

and ive found that it's handy to have transport such as a skateboard or bike. I've had a couple of people chase after me..

[razboz]

This Thread (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=45488) i started i while ago might give some usefull pointers. On the later pages you might find a debate on the ethics of graffitti.

[PaulMarsh]

I think graffiti is one of the best ways of getting a basic message out there.

There are stacks of examples of political graffiti here:

http://www.londonclasswar.org/photos_graf2.htm

and here

http://www.londonclasswar.org/photos_grafitti1.htm

[Black Dagger]

Speaking of graffitti, have people seen this thread?

http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php...entry1292153452 (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=55112&st=0&#entry1292153452)

I can't believe rapidshare would host a file like that, it's horrible.

[liberationjunky]

I know this is a very begginnerish stencil question but how do you make "O"s or any figure that connects back to itself without it being one big dot? Should I layer it or change the shape alittle so it doesn't connect????

[Black Dagger]

Just slice a thin gap in the top and bottom of the 'O', it's the same for any letter that has enclosed spaces, like 'p' or 'a' etc.

[An archist]

Slogans:

"No freedom without peace, no peace without freedom"

"Democracy is the freedom to elect your opressor"

"People are like books: the higher they are placed, the less they are needed"

A list of some managers of well known companies in the area and their paychecks

"Will we allways be the consenting prisoners of the system?"

(in Dutch)
"Geen hakenkruizen, maar huizen kraken"

"Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely"

"Don't vote, think for yourself"

I'd allways keep a marker with you, so you can write down anything at any time, I usually hit public bathrooms or billboards, when you go for a billboard, try to be creative and work with what they've given you.

[homeo_apathy]

ohyeh..wear a dust mask, spray paints realy bad for your lungs i hear..

[razboz]

Originally posted by [email protected] 31 2006, 05:51 AM
ohyeh..wear a dust mask, spray paints realy bad for your lungs i hear..
Dust masks arent all that effective and paint is seriously bad for you. Little particles of acrylic go into your lungs, and that cannot be good for you. If that werent enough the propelant goes to your head and you have to stop working or fall over. Thats why spraying indoor areas is so difficult and annoying. To avoid all this shit spray with a proper gas mask on, trust me its worth the investment if your thinking of spraying on a regular basis. They dont cost you that much and save your lungs beeing covered in paint on the inside. Also you can work longer and without seeing little black dots infront of you. As an added bonus no one can see your face.

[Scout Lemar]

I think tagging churches is a good idea. Religion is just a method of pursuasion used by the ruling class to get people to obey and/or think they actually are fighting for a cause.

[Fawkes]

"Fuck the race war, Fight the Class War"

[ezlncomandante_pablo]

Originally posted by razboz+August 31, 2006 01:25 am--> (razboz @ August 31, 2006 01:25 am)
[email protected] 31 2006, 05:51 AM
ohyeh..wear a dust mask, spray paints realy bad for your lungs i hear..
Dust masks arent all that effective and paint is seriously bad for you. Little particles of acrylic go into your lungs, and that cannot be good for you. If that werent enough the propelant goes to your head and you have to stop working or fall over. Thats why spraying indoor areas is so difficult and annoying. To avoid all this shit spray with a proper gas mask on, trust me its worth the investment if your thinking of spraying on a regular basis. They dont cost you that much and save your lungs beeing covered in paint on the inside. Also you can work longer and without seeing little black dots infront of you. As an added bonus no one can see your face. [/b]
why not use a bandana? or those disposable masks garbage men and doctors use to cover their lower face.

[UndergroundConnexion]

spray offices of right wigns parties!
do not spray churches
spray rich neighbourhoods

[Dante666]

Bring a partner someone you trust or maybe 2 people to watch your ass while u spray I use to do that its easy and safe and takes alot of the stress off of you also do it in places where there are limitid entry points so u only have to look in a limited amount of directions. If your stenciling u can find some cool stuff at http://stencil.redapollo.org/

[liberationjunky]

I just finished a stencil a couple minutes ago thats says "salus populi suprema lex esto" because i wanted to try something different. Its latin for The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law. Im thinking about tagging it on a cop car. What do you all think?

[Chocobo]

I just finished a stencil a couple minutes ago thats says "salus populi suprema lex esto" because i wanted to try something different. Its latin for The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law. Im thinking about tagging it on a cop car. What do you all think?
Bad idea. Every cop car has a camera in the front desk, but some of them have 360 degree worth of cameras, where they have a monitor to check each thing. Now, if your wearing the face mask, and hoody, and have just enough room for your eyes to pop over the face mask, then you might be fine, but I wouldn't advise it, honestly. Plus, your not gonna make a pig aware, straight up, and hes gonna pull his 5-0car right around the side and their gonna wash it right off. I'd suggest if your gonna hit the "authority" figure cars that you throw up a nice message on a security truck. You can find those anywhere, and the people who drive those things are hardly a threat (Most of the time). Plus, they don't have as much writing on them, so you can throw up a nice, big, sweet graphic too as well.

And yes, everyone saying don't spray churches, your correct. Also, don't spray anything that can be seen as a form of prejudice or biasness towards something, which is mainly religious places. If you get caught and put up for that your instantaneously getting jail time. The max time for first offense is FIVE years in jail, though it normally gets placed at one year, but thats bad enough! So don't be dumb, keep the graff off of those places, despite the hardcore desire to write, "Jesus was black, the church loves money, and god and Barney are one and the same". It sucks to censor yourself, especially if ya really wanna tag it, but come on, use some common sense. Keep it off!


(Also, if you get caught, the pigs are gonna question you on all graffiti resembling yours. Don't give in! I decided to be "noble" once when I was caught and just admit I did the majority of them (I felt terrible, I tagged a small buisness which was a really cool store and nice owners, but the roof on it was so perfect! :P ). I got pinned with all the money. I'm a junior in highschool, and I owe 13grand by the time I turn 21. That shits not gonna happen unless I rob rich people, so yah, don't get F-D like me!)

[liberationjunky]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14, 2006 08:26 am

I just finished a stencil a couple minutes ago thats says "salus populi suprema lex esto" because i wanted to try something different. Its latin for The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law. Im thinking about tagging it on a cop car. What do you all think?
Bad idea. Every cop car has a camera in the front desk, but some of them have 360 degree worth of cameras, where they have a monitor to check each thing. Now, if your wearing the face mask, and hoody, and have just enough room for your eyes to pop over the face mask, then you might be fine, but I wouldn't advise it, honestly. Plus, your not gonna make a pig aware, straight up, and hes gonna pull his 5-0car right around the side and their gonna wash it right off. I'd suggest if your gonna hit the "authority" figure cars that you throw up a nice message on a security truck. You can find those anywhere, and the people who drive those things are hardly a threat (Most of the time). Plus, they don't have as much writing on them, so you can throw up a nice, big, sweet graphic too as well.

And yes, everyone saying don't spray churches, your correct. Also, don't spray anything that can be seen as a form of prejudice or biasness towards something, which is mainly religious places. If you get caught and put up for that your instantaneously getting jail time. The max time for first offense is FIVE years in jail, though it normally gets placed at one year, but thats bad enough! So don't be dumb, keep the graff off of those places, despite the hardcore desire to write, "Jesus was black, the church loves money, and god and Barney are one and the same". It sucks to censor yourself, especially if ya really wanna tag it, but come on, use some common sense. Keep it off!


(Also, if you get caught, the pigs are gonna question you on all graffiti resembling yours. Don't give in! I decided to be "noble" once when I was caught and just admit I did the majority of them (I felt terrible, I tagged a small buisness which was a really cool store and nice owners, but the roof on it was so perfect! :P ). I got pinned with all the money. I'm a junior in highschool, and I owe 13grand by the time I turn 21. That shits not gonna happen unless I rob rich people, so yah, don't get F-D like me!)
I do have a mask i was planning to wear but your probably right Ive gotten really lucky with the cops so far (2 marijuana pocession charges with drug rehab as an alternate to a conviction so my records still clean). I wouldnt wanna fuck things up. Thanks for the advice.

[Miscreant]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30, 2006 02:02 am
I really want to do this but I have no idea how to begin, I don't even know how to make stencils. Freestyle would be wicke too, however I am not an artist.
Stencil Revolution (http://www.stencilrevolution.com/homepage.php) has some nice tutorials for beginners.

[redcannon]

i keep a sharpie hidden in my doc martins at all times, in case the opportunity arises. (as it usually does in school restrooms. i'm making a whole stall of pure commie graffiti.)

[Dante666]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24, 2007 03:28 am
i keep a sharpie hidden in my doc martins at all times, in case the opportunity arises. (as it usually does in school restrooms. i'm making a whole stall of pure commie graffiti.)
I use to have a huge red marker but it washed off sharpy is great but you should learn how to tag too its not that hard really and fun (= I miss tagging I don't know why I don't do it anymore.