Forum Topic

Graffiti activity on the Grand Union Canal(M4 Bridge). Yours views?

Is it art?  Is it creativity to be admired?Depends what it looks like I suppose and what the messages say. Whilst Cllr Phil Andrews and others are at the other end of the Borough with teams removing graffiti in Feltham..the lads in TW8 are out on the canalside creating more. But you might like it!A visit to the Acton Forum reveals threads asking residents to join in Graffiti removing sessions. On the Chiswick Forum I recently posted pictures of unsightly graffiti on the 100 year old Duke of DevonshireRailway Bridge in Grove Park ... highlighting the tag artist's name..but to no avail perhaps.So: for those at the Civic Centre or at Brentford Police Station who are unaware of the current graffiti club on the banks of the Canal..see the next message.In a way I like some of it..but really it's an eyesore!

Jim Lawes ● 6895d33 Comments

The new evening class prospectus is out at the library - and I noticed on page 36 a course on "Graffiti as a positive art form".  Wonder if they do any field trips out to practise?  ...  :-)

Sarah Felstead ● 6197d

Hi Jim,Could you post on the site the pictures you took of the Bansky on on The New England pub again.  I can't open your previous thread.Cheers,Fran

Fran Naughton ● 6199d

Your photo is here

Edward Fitzgerald ● 6377d

It’s a lot more entertaining than 99% of tagger type graffiti

Philip Walsh ● 6871d

Fran,I see what you mean!oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jim Lawes ● 6874d

Well that should stop them!

Philip Walsh ● 6878d

Just to remind everybody people who paint graffiti on anyplace not agreed by a governing body are commiting a criminal offence.

Edward Fitzgerald ● 6878d

I have seen very little graffiti that I can call artistic in any way shape or form most are sad attempts at writing a name and are carried out by talent less dip sticks, what few murals that show artistic promise are quickly covered with tags. Unfortunately so much of the borough is unsightly and ugly without the graffiti vandals I won’t call them artists as they are not by any stretch of the imagination. The analogy of the dog peeing up a wall is the most suitable and one I have discussed with my children ages 12 & 15 they agree. However there are other forms of graffiti that are appearing all over the borough that seem to be ignored by the powers that be and far too many members of the public. I am talking of corporate graffiti otherwise known as advertising hoardings these are every bit a blight on the visual landscape and reminds me of a very large dog peeing up the wall. How can we criticize, the retarded spray painter while ignoring these rich corporate vandals plastering huge adds every where. Is it not time a halt was called to this blight, just wait till they finally get the go ahead for the  several story high advertising hoarding being pushed for at Brentford’s border with Chiswick (Gunnersbury Roundabout) to see just how far this corporate assault on the visual senses has gone let alone, what the graffiti scrotes are doing.

Philip Walsh ● 6878d

I'm sure Jim will be out and about with his camera after reading this post later today.Jim, on the side of The Duke of York Pub in Brook Lane North there is  an original 'Bansky graffiti' It is of a policeman weeing up against the wall.

Fran Naughton ● 6880d

Not exactly Banksy is it?

Click here to enter name ● 6880d

It is possible to paint what I consider to be beautiful murals,images,paintings and graffiti in suitable places..and I would have thought that those ugly grey pillars underneath the M4 in Boston Manor Park could be utilised as a supervised open air gallery and art place!Agreed painting on that footbridge is wrong..and on the bridge by the canalside too..but that long avenue under the M4 is classic..and at the base of each pillar could be a variety of pleasing images.This is on my front wall!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooand this is on a side wall in the back garden..on the patio..paintings by Nina Camplin.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooAgreed tagging residential walls etc is awful..but sometimes  art work can be attractive!  I'll give other illustrations soonest.

Jim Lawes ● 6880d

Edward,Lucky you!

Ann S. Allridge ● 6883d

AnnI haven't had a good slap for years now, had some tickle though

Edward Fitzgerald ● 6885d

""Given Jim's large back catalogue of pictures of Brentford's array of run down and unattractive buildings, that he calls 'historical', we can assume that he enjoys the urban decay on show in the town""Oliver: that's not so..your punchy observations on several threads this evening miss delicate points on every subject.. and I can't be bothered to tackle a detailed reply tonight!Welcome to the Forum none the less..and please stir the semi stagnant porridge....which is Brentford. By the way I don't even live in the place..but enjoy the jig-saw of possibilities.

Jim Lawes ● 6886d

Don't assume...it makes an ass of you and me...

Keith Iddon ● 6886d

It's not really a talent in my opinion.It only goes to prove how little talent they have really.How many of the countless examples of graffiti that you see can you remember or have inspired you to think'Yeah,that's original and thought provoking and more than competent in its conception and execution and that it tells a story...'or likewise?That's what'art'does for me anyway.It's 99.9% rubbish in my opinion and is a blight and mostly done by people with a 'gang territory' mentality just like a dog or fox p***es over an area to mark a territory.

Keith Iddon ● 6886d

Hiya Helen anyway!We have roamed off the graffiti thread and no doubt will be receiving a severe slap very soon from someone or other.

Ann S. Allridge ● 6886d

Back in 1843 and we still had a better football team back then, I am not that old by the way just a mere slip of 19 for the third time now!!!!

Helen Fogarth ● 6886d

Helen," (Galway) when the potatoes were there..."Wha'??????  Help me out here...as far as I know they're still growing spuds in Galway (not as good - of course - as those grown in Ballinacourty, Co. Waterford!

Ann S. Allridge ● 6886d

AnnI was not knocking anyone just trying to bring a little humour to the post, it's the Irish in me (Galway) when the potatoes were there.

Helen Fogarth ● 6886d

Helen and Oliver,For pete's sake cop on to yourselves......You should know by now that Jim Lawes loves the environs of our parts of West London and regrets the decay that is allowed to continue.  If he doesn't highlight it, nobody else is going to bother.As for me condoning graffiti, of course I don't, but I still think those yobs wield a mean can of paint.  Pity is they have nowhere legally to go to show off this 'weird talent'.To use an Irish expression:  you two are 'losing the run of yourselves' in your desire to knock someone/anyone.

Ann S. Allridge ● 6886d

Keith,I think it is bl...y awful for such artwork to be seen on public buildings, etc., but if someone handed me a can of spray paint and told me to have a go, I'd eat the can and the paint first because I don't have a clue as to how these shapes are drawn.That is what I meant.  It is a talent although a weird one.

Ann S. Allridge ● 6886d

Is the urban decay caused by urban gorillas? if so I don't want them painting my house!

Helen Fogarth ● 6886d

HelenGiven Jim's large back catalogue of pictures of Brentford's array of run down and unattractive buildings, that he calls 'historical', we can assume that he enjoys the urban decay on show in the town.

Click here to enter name ● 6887d

PS.Went down to the flyover,via the nature trail that starts in the park,after the Festival and it is quite pleasant,especially the part where ther is the river on one side of you and the canal on t'other.

Keith Iddon ● 6887d

Would like to agree Jim but one person's art is another's rubbish(Tracy Emin,Damien Hirst etc)Maybe if the concrete was different colours instead of boring grey or had some kind of intrinsic design incorporating colours or features into it.Don't suppose under the flyover matters that much though saying that is the thin end of a thick wedge.I wonder if graffiti vandals,as they like their'art'so much,decorate their own homes with it.We are all forced to see graffiti that is in a public place and some,I would wager the vast majority,would prefer not to have to see it.It's like that other infuriating intrusion,the playing of very very loud music from a car so that everyone has to listen to it,like it or not.

Keith Iddon ● 6887d

Are you saying you condone this anti-social behaviour?

Helen Fogarth ● 6887d

Just when you think that you know most of the nooks and crannies in Brentford..or along the Canalside...you discover somewhere new ..and different.Having visited a small part of Boston Manor Park..the cafe and immediate area..I decided to wander off towards the M4 and the Canal..and was flabergasted to see this long covered avenue!!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe graffiti on the pillars looked creative,decorative and some of it was ok!  I'm wondering if graffiti is certain places is fine..to compensate for the concrete wilderness!I spoke to a chap busy painting another pillar. He was smartly dressed,smartly spoken..and proud of his design!He was not 400 metres away from Boston House..and other walkers were engaged in friendly conversation with him...his stray can in hand!

Jim Lawes ● 6887d

Ann...you must be joking!How is this a 'unique talent'?

Keith Iddon ● 6891d

Talking of eye-sores - Isleworth Library is beginning to rival the Space Waye tip, the rubbish in the bushes and littered around the car park is appalling.

Vanessa Smith ● 6893d

Now if somebody came along and graffited all over their work..they wouldn't be too pleased would they!Perhaps a co-ordinated and supervised activity should be organised...graffiti restricted a "framed" patch.  Outside the framed patch would then be illegal!Helen: I've tried to "blow up" the faces for identity purposes..but the quality is poor..so no joy there.

Jim Lawes ● 6894d

Jim,We all know it is vandalism, but it is also a unique talent...what a shame it can't be put to better use?

Ann S. Allridge ● 6894d

Oh Yuk! It makes the place look like a real tip - the Police I believe keep records of tags for indentification purposes, but how can anyone keep up with the volume of incidents? An impossible task I would think.

Vanessa Smith ● 6894d

JimCan you blow the photo up it would be good to see their faces then SNT could catch them, with the photos as good evidence.Hope you can will wait with baited breath.

Helen Fogarth ● 6894d

"Yes I've got some more cans..when shall we meet?"Sunday afternoon when all the cyclists and runners are passing by will be fine!"oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"Who's that fat bloke with the digital camera?"ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOh dear, that canalboat's coming back again..maybe it's to look at our masterly work!"ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOver to you!

Jim Lawes ● 6894d