Dub dot dash

Graffiti art is on the out
Graffiti art has been a key part of the annual Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit, now in its fourth year (coming up on October 10th & 11th). Held for the last two years in Auckland at The Edge (Town hall, Aotea Centre and Square), its a huge event, attracting DJs, MCs, breakers and graffiti artists from around the country and overseas. One of the most exciting parts of the three day event is the outdoor graffiti art jam in the Square, organised by local artist Askew. Temporary plywood walls are erected around the edge of the Square, and graffiti artists spend a day going hard, painting the walls, while the public wander past checking out their skills. You think its easy painting with a spray can? Give it a try sometime, its bloody tricky.
It now seems that the Auckland City Council wants graffiti out of the equation. Hip hop fans talk of the four realms of hiphop, being djing, mcing, breaking and graffiti art. Now the Council want to change 25 years of musical history, and make it three realms. Scuse the language, but WTF?

Check out this recent newspaper article...

"The Auckland City Council wants applicants for publicly funded hip-hop events to denounce graffiti.
The move is being described by one leading urban artist as an absurdity.
Graffiti art is one of the integral parts of the global youth movement, one of "four realms" of hip-hop culture that also include DJing, rapping and breakdance.
In a report to the council's law and order committee, its dedicated graffiti prevention officer, former policeman Rob Shields, recommends a zero tolerance policy on graffiti.
Mr Shields says many hip-hop artists get council funding and support for major events and they should formally denounce graffiti vandalism in writing, and also publicly during the events.
In the latest of his regular updated reports to the committee, Mr Shields writes, "The hip-hop culture has a sinister side and that side's most common form of expression is graffiti vandalism. In this light, it is suggested that all funding associated with the hip-hop culture all be linked to a requirement for the applicants to denounce graffiti vandalism in writing."
Established Auckland hip-hop icon Otis Frizzell thinks forcing hip-hop artists to condemn graffiti is absurd...."
Read more about it here.