Downtown graffitti post-script 2010

Dear Everyone:

I have been reading books on graffitti-
here are some of the traditions and language.

One of the ways to gain fame as a
graffitti artist is to get your name
out in high volume called "bombing"
(quantity). The other route to
recognition is to have a very skilled
or artistic style called "burning"
(quality).

Simply writing one's name is called
a "tag". Names are adopted like
blade, and taki, and cope 2.

For a long period the New York
writers painted subway cars
but the transit authority introduced
counter measures so eventually
the artists moved to the streets to
surfaces like walls and bridges and vehicles.

A multi-artist mural is called
a "production".

As a sign of respect it is
considered unsuitable to write
over someone else's name or work.

It is customary for artists
to steal their spray paint
called "racking".

Well, I thought I'd share
some of the customs and
language.

Helen.