Saturday, October 2, 2010

Love Tag

I almost posted this photo for yesterday's "graffiti" theme day. I see this kid-sized blackboard on my walks in the neighborhood. I've even featured it before. The messages change, as you can imagine. This time I got permission from the homeowner to come onto the porch and get a close-up.

I resisted posting about graffiti yesterday--so much so, that when I did I used an old photo where the graffiti is off to the side in the picture. I don't want to encourage taggers. I don't want to spread gang messages.

As Margaret mentioned in yesterday's comments, "tagging and graffiti art are different things." As long as the owner of the "canvas" (i.e. wall, fence, or whatever's painted on) is fine with it, it's fine with me.

I do wish we, the City Daily Photo bloggers, would vote for more ambitious monthly themes. I'd like to see us challenge ourselves more.

27 comments:

Pascal Jim said...

Right Back Atcha, Sweetheart!

Late Zen Day Post..

Shell Sherree said...

That's a lovely message any day of the week. And every day of the week, come to think of it. Hope you're having a lovely weekend, Petrea!

Hannah and Maddy said...

Hi there,
I live in Perth, Western Australia and sell vintage clothing. Perth is the most isolated city in the world (literally!) and almost impossible to find vintage. I am offering a paid job to you (or anyone you think is qualified) to shop at markets around L.A (I have heard of the rose bowl markets, that the vintage is very good). My email is maddyfrodsham@gmail.com.
Please let me know!
Thank you,
Madalin

Jean Spitzer said...

Beautiful photo; lucky kid.

wv: messes

These kind of messes are good.

Latino Heritage said...

Lovely photo. I love the lines radiating out from part of the heart.
Oh, among the differences between tagging/grafitti; the former has to do with territory.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, all. Roberta: good point.

Hi Hannah and Maddy: I'm not your girl, but I'll leave your message here for the right person to see it. We do have the occasional smart shopper stopping by. ;)

Bellis said...

Dare I say it? Apologies to the fantastic Daily Photo community, but I find the theme days a bit of a bore. I like to see what you yourself come up with each day, that's part of the pleasure of clicking on PDP as soon as I wake up.

Mister Earl said...

Nice photo, P. Interesting idea that gangs and syndicates could be using blogs to relay secret messages. Maybe even rogue nations are involved. Speaking of more ambitious themes, one of my favorite sports is making up "more ambitious" Rose Parade themes. We should have a theme-writing session over a few bottles of wine sometime!

Susan Campisi said...

Lovely "graffiti" photo today and a great post title.

Petrea Burchard said...

Oh, well, Bellis, we try, but I know what you mean. I like to use the theme as a challenge to myself to try to think beyond my first thought (i.e., "graffiti = a picture of graffiti"), but I don't always manage it.

Hee hee, Mister Earl, you know me, a conduit for evil.

Thanks, Susan.

Greg Sweet said...

LED Throwies:

Developed by the Graffiti Research Lab a division of the Eyebeam R&D OpenLab, LED Throwies are an inexpensive way to add color to any ferromagnetic surface in your neighborhood. A Throwie consists of a lithium battery, a 10mm diffused LED and a rare-earth magnet taped together. Throw it up high and in quantity to impress your friends and city officials...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrnLF04qmsM

Eleonora Baldwin said...

I agree Petrea, let's get more challenging with the themes!! But can we suggest themes, because all I've seen so far is a multiple choice to pick from...

Ciao and... I love you too.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Now this is graffiti that I can get behind! What a sweet message: universal and transportable!

Bon weekend!
Genie

John Sandel said...

So, what—people are scattering batteries and magnets and plastic around like confetti? Do they clean it all up later, or get an EPA waiver? Whatever happened to carving your girlfriend's initials into a tree …?

Petrea Burchard said...

Great, Greg. Even more polluting than graffiti. I hope it doesn't catch on.

Yes, Eleonora, we can suggest themes. Many good ones have been suggested in the "Suggestions for future theme days" thread on the forum under Monthly Theme Days.

Bon weekend, Genie, merci!

Well, there. I agree with J, which makes it comfortable since we live together.

Greg Sweet said...

@J: the LED graffiti gives the suburban kids an opportunity to pretend that they can relate to the inner city kids without upsetting their lord & savior, Al Gore. Littering is cool if it somehow simultaneously saves The Planet.

The temporary clean-up workers get counted as "green jobs" growth. Tree carving, as quaint as it may be, is now punishable by hanging from said tree. Chalk art is fine, provided the message complies with The Agenda.

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't get how they're saving the planet by throwing lithium batteries all over it. Call me old-fashioned.

Greg Sweet said...

Me kettle, you black.

Greg Sweet said...

Oh, wait! I think I'm supposed to be a pot in that scenario...

Virginia said...

Now THIS is a tag that even I love. What a great photo, P. I think it's one of my new "P" favs.
It does my heart good.
V

Speedway said...

Tag! Your're IT! <3 (That's s'posed to be a little heart)Come to think about it, I don't think I've ever seen graffiti, as we now know it, that had a heart in it.

As for Rose Parade themes, perhaps you should have an "exchange day" with the DooDah organizers. Imagine -All those roses! All that idiocy!

Have you seen Mike Rowe's "Dirty Jobs" segment tearing down and recycling the Rose Parade floats? OMG! A most horrid mess of stench and mold. Maybe a Rose Re-Wind? Drag 'em out and run 'em through town after the bloom has faded. What would that theme be?

Bellis said...

Deconstructing dreams, friendships and memories while wearing gasmasks?

Petrea Burchard said...

Greg, I'm not following you. Are you calling me a litterbug? Or are you saying you're old fashioned?

I know, V. Kids these days.

Speedway, I haven't seen the teardown, but I love your idea of "Roses and Idiocy" for a theme! I find it absolutely charming. But having recently met a Tournament of Roses official I can tell you these guys take it very seriously.

Bellis, that's charming, too.

Greg Sweet said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDJ5i7DQWFE

Petrea Burchard said...

:)

Diana said...

Bellis and Petrea, do you have any control over/input to the themes for the daily photo? You can't be the only two daily photogs who find the themes less-than-challenging.

Petrea Burchard said...

Sorry to answer your question so late, Diana:
1) I should let you know that Bellis is not a blogger, and
2) I do have input and can make suggestions for themes. I can also vote on themes.
3) I'm just saying that we often have challenging themes in the running, but it seems the unchallenging themes always get the most votes.