JOLTONE

Just came across this little bit Rime "Jersey Joe" put together and I happen to COMPLETELY agree with what he is saying.

“Will Work For Fame”

Graffiti has come a long way in the past 30 years. Like Rap’s early struggle to be accepted as a legitimate form of music, In a similar way, modern Graffiti has gone through so much to be considered a credible art form. Graffiti art has made it’s way into museums, college text books, and has had a strong influence in marketing and fashion. But with all that there is still a disrespect that goes on when working professionally as an artist who specializes in Graffiti.

As a Graffiti writer, It seems that companies like to lowball you when it comes to hiring you for art based projects. I feel that you are discriminated against and often discounted because your medium of choice is spray paint, or that you work is tied in to what you do on the street (for free). Companies want that gutter look and think that they can get it for next to nothing. They often assume that Graffiti artists don’t have their shit together and can be taken advantage of.

What’s even more shocking is after all of the professional work I have done, I still get approached to provide work for projects, and told that there is no budget to pay for the art work. I can’t help but assume that they think because I am a graffiti writer, I would want to work for the credit or for “fame”. What a fucking insult! Why would I work hard on something or lend credibility to a project, just so someone else can make a profit off of it?

I feel that the days of cheating Graffiti artists are over. Fuck offering $500 bucks to a writer on something that you would usually offer $15,000 to an artist with a different specialization. I must say that graffiti artists are partially to blame. From desperation and a lack of business sense comes the continued abuse and cheapening of this type of art.

Get your shit together-

Joe