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2/6/11

Graffiti vs Street Art, and the Lack Thereof in Idaho

I recently watched an amazing documentary called Exit Through the Gift Shop.  It is about the street art revolution of the past 10-15 years, and how one obsessive man observes (and duplicates) the best taggers of this generation.



It is a *MUST SEE* movie, and if you have Netflix like I do, is currently streaming.  It is nominated for an academy award and I hope it wins.

Now, good movies make you think, and see things from different perspectives.  After watching this flick, I looked around my fine town, and noticed there was absolutely no graffiti anywhere.

Being raised in an unsavory part of California, I'm used to seeing it everywhere.  So much so, I have probably become jaded from overexposure.  But wow, really?  No graffiti at all?  Anywhere?

So it got me thinking.... what WOULD Idaho 'street art' look like?

Here are a few pics I found on the intertubes, that I think would represent Idaho tagger-culture.





Well, potatoes, first of all.  Idaho is the land of spuds after all...


Also, Idaho has more Mormons-per-capita than even Utah, so I think a little religious tagging would be in order.

If anyone had driven up the I-15 from Utah into Idaho, there is a large abandoned barn on the side of the road, that is constantly tagged up by LDS members, welcoming brothers home form their missions.  It's a must-see if you're going on a road trip, just because the words "Mormon" and "taggers" aren't usually synonymous.   A fellow blogger, Wounded Mosquito, has taken some amazing pictures of the building, and deserves major props for it.

Well there you go, my rant for the day.  If I ever decide to liven this town up and make some 'art' I will let you know.  Cheers!

33 comments:

  1. I might check it out; look very interesting! :)

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  2. Interesting stuff for sure, and I can agree with graffiti vs street art being a good description sticking point

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  3. lol'd at the potatoes.

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  4. i'd definitely be interested in seeing some more art, great stuff!

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  5. What I hate is when they write stupid shit like 'zob is a fag' or 'I am awesome'. Why the fuck do they think this is cool?

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  6. I loved exit through the gift shop. Cant wait to see how it fairs at the oscars

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  7. Great documentary. I think I'd go insane living in Idaho though xD

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  8. I've been meaning to watch this for some time now, but other documentaries seemed to take my attention away. I'm definitely going to give this one a shot next time I have time.

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  9. Well, you posted some really nice pics. In germany we also have some nice taggers and we also have special places for them. Does the government in Idaho also give you special places like big grey walls at train stations or something like that?

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  10. I've heard nothing but good things about this movie. Been meaning to check it out.

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  11. I'd personally be sick of seing all those religious stuff...

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  12. No, in the US (at least where I have been) it is called Defamation of Property and is illegal no matter where you do it, unless it's your own home. It isn't always strictly enforced, but it is illegal.

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  13. It's illegal in my country, nevertheless there is much of it in my town.

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  14. Cool. I just got Netflix (it's friggin awesome) I'll be sure to check it out.

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  15. Better street art than ugly walls

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  16. Hahaha I like how you assume anyone who would tag in Idaho would only be thinking potatoes. May french fries, or chips or even vodka? or too Polish? haha or maybe that's what I'm just thinking of right now hahaha. oh dear.
    Anyway I loved the movie and hope it wins the academy award too!

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  17. Michelle, Idaho has so many potatoes they make "Idaho Silver" vodka, tequila, etc out of potatoes. And it's HORRIBLE.

    And I saw a graffiti'd picture of a Pringles can and almost included it, but wasn't sure if they were true potato chips or not.

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  18. I like graffitti as a form of art.

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  19. DUDE.!

    the potato graffiti is in frakfurt/germany, i know for shure.
    a friend of mine did it, haha!

    but keep up, i'd love to see more graffiti, maybe from idaho..

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  20. Been a while since i've had a spray can in my hands. I'll check out the documentary =o

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  21. I'd love to show some actual Idaho street art, onegin, but I can't find any.

    Maybe I should make my own.

    Stencil thread tiem??

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  22. Some of those are really cool!

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  23. cool stuff. i'll have to check it out.

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  24. Making your own street art is the only way! Aren't there any punks in Idaho?

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  25. Sorry I dont know who you are but I live in Rexburg, do you? I know where all the street art can be found in the Burg... there is a graffiti wall by the rexburg rapids waterpark, just on the other side of the trains. Also head out to the old teton dam and oh mama that thing is plastered.

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