AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[hookem]

Originally Posted by crewer

Wow, that is really an attractive bridge! Is that real or faux wood? (I don't live in Austin, so I've not seen it close up.)

I hope it can remain in this attractive state. It looks like a graffiti vandal's dream canvas.

Interestingly, there is a railroad bridge only 100 ft away that is a total graffiti magnet (you see it in photos all the time, said "Ron Paul" for the longest time), yet other potential canvases nearby remain untouched.

[BevoLJ]

I like the graffiti on that railroad bridge! =) I think it is great and am glad they don't clean it. I don't really consider it art, although many do, but I still like it. Something like that on this bridge would be horrible and I would hate to see that.

[mars-man]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

I like the graffiti on that railroad bridge! =) I think it is great and am glad they don't clean it.

Yikes. With all due respect (okay, none), people like you are part of the graffiti problem.

[Syndic]

Nah, I agree with him. On the railroad bridge I don't see anything wrong with it. It's just ugly brown metal and no one really looks at it unless they're on the lake. Lots of that graffiti is really old. Gives a sense of history, IMO. Anywhere else, I don't like it.

[photoLith]

Yeah, I love the graffiti on that old bridge, it gives it character.


photo by me.

[AusHou]

I hate the graffiti on the railroad bridge. I wonder why a city whose citizens and leadership tout Austin as such a wonderful place tolerates such a disgusting display right downtown.

[gardensoul]

ummm... I suggest public caning for all graffiti vandals. Oh, and spray paint them too.

[KevinFromTexas]

Yeah, I believe that sign is referring to either the Gables Park Condos (left) or for the new office building being planned. I remember them first proposing the tower as a 15-story "195 foot" tall apartment tower. Now it'll be a multi-tenant office building. I actually really like the design of it, and the fact that it's at an angle. It should be an interesting area once it's finished. The sunset reflections on that tower will probably be nice. There's also a nice view from the bridge extension over Cessar Chavez Street. Man, once the new Seaholm and Green districts get going, that is going to be a hell of a view.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by mars-man

Yikes. With all due respect (okay, none), people like you are part of the graffiti problem.

Well, to be fair, there is a difference between graffiti and tagging. One is typically associated with gangs and bored suburban kids, while the other is more of an art form with some actual talent behind it. I've even heard of businesses commissioning people to do graffiti murals on the outside of their business. Tagging usually uses symbols (referring to the person doing it) or just letters. Graffiti can be letters, too, but more often than not also enlists images or scenes, even portraits of people. Tagging is also usually just thin lines using one color, while graffiti is multiple colors and might be many feet across.

Just Google tagging and then Google graffiti. I agree that neither of them belong on every surface, but I would definitely take graffiti over tagging any day.

Here are some examples of graffiti that has shown up on the rail bridge. To me, this stuff isn't offensive at all. I wouldn't want to see it everywhere, but this isn't all that bad, really. For someone like me who loves photographing the city, to me, this is something that makes the city more interesting.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/justintarthur/5237371964/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amicitas/5298700119/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amicitas/5299302244/in/photostream/

Tagging is horrible, though, it is ugly and totally pointless. A few years ago someone tagged on our trash can, and I just remember thinking, wow, somewhere down the line this guy was regulated to writing his name on trash cans.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by NewTex

I hate the graffiti on the railroad bridge. I wonder why a city whose citizens and leadership tout Austin as such a wonderful place tolerates such a disgusting display right downtown.

For those of us who live downtown and appreciate public art, we enjoy something different and not plain/boring. I can see that bridge from my window and have NO PROBLEM with it. Step off.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

BUT.. yeah, I had the same thought: It is graffiti bait. Too bad. Not only via the surface...but also because you can easily hide from traffic and take yo time!

But for now.... beautiful!

maybe a security to check every few hours or so???

[migol24]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Well, to be fair, there is a difference between graffiti and tagging. One is typically associated with gangs and bored suburban kids, while the other is more of an art form with some actual talent behind it. I've even heard of businesses commissioning people to do graffiti murals on the outside of their business. Tagging usually uses symbols (referring to the person doing it) or just letters. Graffiti can be letters, too, but more often than not also enlists images or scenes, even portraits of people. Tagging is also usually just thin lines using one color, while graffiti is multiple colors and might be many feet across.

Just Google tagging and then Google graffiti. I agree that neither of them belong on every surface, but I would definitely take graffiti over tagging any day.

Here are some examples of graffiti that has shown up on the rail bridge. To me, this stuff isn't offensive at all. I wouldn't want to see it everywhere, but this isn't all that bad, really. For someone like me who loves photographing the city, to me, this is something that makes the city more interesting.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/justintarthur/5237371964/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amicitas/5298700119/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amicitas/5299302244/in/photostream/

Tagging is horrible, though, it is ugly and totally pointless. A few years ago someone tagged on our trash can, and I just remember thinking, wow, somewhere down the line this guy was regulated to writing his name on trash cans.

Amen. Amen. This is something that most older folks don't seem to understand. My parents don't, at least. They always look at graffiti and say there is a gang problem and I always have to explain to them the difference between that and tagging. I too side with the rest of you about the graffiti on that bridge. I think it's about one of the coolest things decorating downtown. It's like a part of its skyline almost.

[hookem]

They do paint over that graffiti on the bridge every so often. It's not all that old, if you look at it in pictures you'll see it does change.

I don't mind it either. It's obviously not gang-tagging type graffiti; it's done by artists who seem to respect that it's an "accepted" canvas.

This link Kevin posted is pretty neat:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amicitas/5298700119/in/photostream/

It's got both graffiti and tagging. The bridge is graffiti and the train car is tagged!

[BevoLJ]

Originally Posted by hookem

It's got both graffiti and tagging. The bridge is graffiti and the train car is tagged!

Hah, I didn't notice that at first.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by Syndic

Nah, I agree with him. On the railroad bridge I don't see anything wrong with it. It's just ugly brown metal and no one really looks at it unless they're on the lake. Lots of that graffiti is really old. Gives a sense of history, IMO. Anywhere else, I don't like it.

I agree. I actually think that more should be added to the rail bridge.

[P3FE]

This forum is really showing its diversity. The issue of graffiti and tagging has brought out some strong opinions. I thought I would throw in as well. I live downtown and loathe graffiti particularly that on the railroad bridge. I consider it the worst form of urban blight more so than an empty treeless parking lot. It's also a criminal act. If it wasn't a sponsored piece by the property owner, then it is vandalism and shouldn't be celebrated. I've actually dreamed about running along the trail one day and happening upon a tagger so I could heave them into the river. That's strong language I know and I would never do that of course, but I passionately hate seeing that paint and few other things boil me over than having to see that trash litter a city I take so much pleasure in.

[the Genral]

If and when graffiti shows up on the new ped bridge, that won't be ok but its ok on the train bridge? Lady Bird Lake and the trails are beautiful, the bridge and the graffiti is not. Do you think visitors think it looks "cool" or uniquely Austin? I would think they would look at it and sadly realize no city is safe from it. If you walked out of your house and saw that overnight your neighborhood was hit by spray painting vandals would that make you feel comfortable or safe? No matter the canvas, its just plain wrong and illegal, otherwise it wouldn't be done when no one is looking. My solution, unless the sides of that bridge are rigid for structural reasons, cut them off and put up a railing instead. Vandals that run under cover to mess with Austin's landmarks are not the kind of people I would want in my neighborhood. What type of person does this? Do they work an 8 hour day, raise a family, go to church, volunteer in their community, sit down to a nice dinner downtown, maybe take in a show, return to their car, grab a few cans of spray paint, sneak up to the bridge and help "add character" to DT, then return to their lovely homes? Oh, they probably just threw the empty cans in the lake. And do you really think they limit their activities to just the bridge? Would these contributers to the Austin 'scene' actually not share their talents anywhere else in Austin? Is the train bridge where they draw the line? Are they offended by graffiti and tagging in other parts of town? How many of you in this forum would go out of your way to do something like this?? Then why condone it? These people are 'pissing' on your front yard, or building. I haven't liked it for the almost 30 years I lived here. It didn't look good when there wasn't much DT, and contrasting with the new and future towers, it looks worse today.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by the Genral

If and when graffiti shows up on the new ped bridge, that won't be ok but its ok on the train bridge? Lady Bird Lake and the trails are beautiful, the bridge and the graffiti is not. Unless the sides of that bridge are rigid for structural reasons, then cut them off and put up a railing instead. Vandals that run under cover to mess with Austin's landmarks are not the kind of people I would want in my neighborhood. How many of you in this forum would go out of your way to do something like this?? Then why condone it?

I would never go out of my way to do it... but, truth be told, the graffiti on the bridge is akin to public art. Graffiti is usually ugly as sin and should be removed, but - somehow - it works here. How can you Keep Austin Weird without the occasional unconventional jewel?

[migol24]

Originally Posted by P3FE

This forum is really showing its diversity. The issue of graffiti and tagging has brought out some strong opinions. I thought I would throw in as well. I live downtown and loathe graffiti particularly that on the railroad bridge. I consider it the worst form of urban blight more so than an empty treeless parking lot. It's also a criminal act. If it wasn't a sponsored piece by the property owner, then it is vandalism and shouldn't be celebrated. I've actually dreamed about running along the trail one day and happening upon a tagger so I could heave them into the river. That's strong language I know and I would never do that of course, but I passionately hate seeing that paint and few other things boil me over than having to see that trash litter a city I take so much pleasure in.

Everyone agrees that tagging isn't cool. But graffiti on the other hand is something completely different.

But yes if it wasn't sponsored then it is vandalism. Otherwise, if its graffiti then it should be respected as an art form and not trash, like tagging.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I would never go out of my way to do it... but, truth be told, the graffiti on the bridge is akin to public art. Graffiti is usually ugly as sin and should be removed, but - somehow - it works here. How can you Keep Austin Weird without the occasional unconventional jewel?

SOCO, 6th Street, the guy in the thong, Leslie?, food trailers in empty lots, the Oasis (the cheering when the sun hits the horizon, to name a few ways to keep it weird. I personally think the control tower at the old airport restored, along with the restored moonlight towers to be better examples of unconventional jewels more than that ugly train bridge. How is it that the bridge graffiti is even considered part of the keeping it weird theme or public art anyway? I've never been to any other big city and seen a city landmark with graffiti on it and thought anything more than what a shame.