Mural Arts vs. Street Art

      The more time that passes --- the more time I have to process the "restorative justice" mural tour yesterday, the more problematic I find it... and the mural arts program in general (plus someof the comments made by our tour guide). The question I'm contemplating most now is about the difference between these murals and street art/graffiti. Especially if one (the mural) is combatting/silencing the other.

         Our tour guide mentioned that the mural arts program used to be called The Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti network, and he made some snarky comments whenever we passed (more authentic) street art and graffiti. So if the mural is designed to cover up neighborhood graffiti,  and replace it with something that this (middle class) (outside of the community) organization is planning, sponsoring, and executing, maybe they are silencing the actual artistic spirit and voice of a neighborhood. He vagueling described some "consensus" process that takes place in deciding what goes in the mural, but it sounds to me it works within the confines of what the mural arts project deems appropriate. That was evidenced too by the fact that most of the murals looked the same (except for the really arty one we saw early on in the tour). They had different larger themes, but the styles were pretty formulaic (that's not to say they aren't beautiful murals -- they are). But, thinking about other cities I've been to recently, like Atlanta, GA and Berlin, Germany -- the street are graffiti are incredible. Especially in Berlin. They aren't sponsored and decided by a unified non-profit -- they are made by neighborhood artists, and so the diversity of the artwork is stunning and really brings the city to life (especially because the architecture in Berlin is very dreary due to communist control after WWII).

            My sister was telling me about this new government sponsored project in Atlanta to combat street art and put up murals and how outraged she is about it -- because the art there is incredible, and this sort of power-culture interference will wash away the actual voices of local artists and replace them with "appropriate" art.

         So now, the mural arts projects seems to me like well-wishing liberal, middle class project which is censoring and controlling community expression with an "I know what's best" mentality. Our tour guide even mentioned the fact that their murals often start the process of gentrification in a neighborhood (that's a little problematic?!).

          Perhaps they could grant supplies to exciting, local artists within neighborhoods and see what sort of art is produced. I bet it would be more diverse, authentic, and interesting.