Features

Graffitirazzi – Keep on Truckin'

By Gar Smith
Friday March 01, 2013 - 01:11:00 PM
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Trucks are perfect rolling stock for urban artists.
Gar Smith
Trucks are perfect rolling stock for urban artists.
Painting your personal vehicle is an act of "cartistry." Some artists are called upon to dress up commercial vehicles….
Gar Smith
Painting your personal vehicle is an act of "cartistry." Some artists are called upon to dress up commercial vehicles….
Some acts of cartistry are more successful than others.
Gar Smith
Some acts of cartistry are more successful than others.
There clearly is a deep and intriguing story wrapped into the design that surrounds this truck. Who was Ray? Why a war bonnet? And (on the flip side of this van)….
Gar Smith
There clearly is a deep and intriguing story wrapped into the design that surrounds this truck. Who was Ray? Why a war bonnet? And (on the flip side of this van)….
…why is a black-booted 8-ball flashing the V-sign? And why is the artist inviting the world to "Recycle Picasso"? Of course, not every spray-job sends a whirlwind of color bouncing down the highway. Some cartists favor a Grateful-Dead-meets-Goth approach…
Gar Smith
…why is a black-booted 8-ball flashing the V-sign? And why is the artist inviting the world to "Recycle Picasso"? Of course, not every spray-job sends a whirlwind of color bouncing down the highway. Some cartists favor a Grateful-Dead-meets-Goth approach…
But come rain or shine, it's all about having your say and making your way. And there's always the hope that fortune and fame may follow close behind…
Gar Smith
But come rain or shine, it's all about having your say and making your way. And there's always the hope that fortune and fame may follow close behind…
…or, failing that, maybe a little bit of "lute."
Gar Smith
…or, failing that, maybe a little bit of "lute."

What's the best canvas for a graffiti artist — better even than a wall? Answer: A wall that's on the move. That's why graffiti taggers target railroad cars and New York subway trains. But, while those kinds of artistic expropriations can get a tagger a ticket, there's nothing illegal about grabbing some spray cans and dressing up your own set of wheels.