Interview May 2011
Q. Could you give a little background information on how your workshops started within Graffiti Workshop?
A. Graffiti Workshop was born out of sessional youth work practice, where as workers employed by the local authority, particularly for our artistic capabilities, we realised young people were keen to learn the skills of aerosol art. The demand for this was such that we formed our own business in order to deliver supervised aerosol art sessions. 6 years later we have developed various learning packages which are purchased by local authority services right across the UK, the scope of which includes, special needs education, youth offending teams, social services and of course mainstream education. Furthermore we now work with numerous events management companies in the UK and abroad to deliver team building parties, bar/batmitzvahs and corporate celebrations. As an example we are working with 1600 Girl Guides in Kent next month over a three day festival, to give you an idea of the scale of projects we manage.
Q. What sort of artistic techniques and tools are involved in graffiti art?
A. The mainstay is spray paint and marker pen with graffiti art practice; however we encourage the use of other materials, such as household paints, brushes, rollers for large work and combining traditional materials for smaller scale canvas work. We adopt no formal techniques for making a mark on a surface, which all can do, however if you are aiming for a particular look i.e. ´old school New York style graffiti` then we would offer guidance to support that. What we do ensure is not to overstep the threshold of your learning experience and take away your ownership by excessive intervention. Underpinning this approach is our desire to introduce participants to the joyful experience of spraying paint, the same experience of excitement and joy as tutors we encountered many years ago when we picked up a spray can for the first time. Different techniques can be taught where applicable though must not inhibit the student's learning experience and ability.
Q.How have those you have taught reacted to lessons?
A. Very favorably, generally because most would not be able to facilitate this learning opportunity by themselves.
Q. How do you feel graffiti art, or "street art" can benefit those who you teach?
A. Our observations have proven that acquiring skills with this given art form enables personal development and stimulates learning within educational settings i.e. schools, youth clubs.
Q. How do you feel about the controversy surrounding graffiti art and street art in general?
Specifically on how it is perhaps looked down on by some as vandalism etc.?
A. The controversy is well founded due to those who continue to practice graffiti art illegally and by doing so affecting individuals and communities rights and freedoms, by emblazoning their art, no matter what ability, on private and public property without permission. As an agency we liaise between local authorities and those affected delivering specific workshops i.e. victim support and to those who have perpetrated criminal damage through restorative justice programs, working closely with youth offending teams to bring understanding and learning with specific outcomes in mind using graffiti art as the main provision.
Q. Do you feel that graffiti art is something "anyone can do" providing they are taught the
skills required, or is there perhaps more behind it then that? If you would care to elaborate further, how do you feel about street art and other types of modern art being actively fought against by "traditional" art activists?
A. We believe inclusion for everybody is central to learning this art form, furthermore we have witnessed time and again, participants of all ages and abilities, pick up a spray can, paint brush or marker pen and with our guidance create artwork which prior to our workshops they thought was inconceivable. By dressing up in protective wear and holding a spray can for the first time with the intention of creating a piece of artwork to take home or to give to a friend as a gift, is a unique experience. Especially for those who had to give up art at school in order to specialize in other subjects due to a particular career choice, by accessing our workshop and in so doing being able to realise a talent forgotten as those creative memories come flooding back. Our approach is to 'unlock the artist within' and help participants create a visual language personal to them by using simple lesson plans so the sessions are lightly structured, enabling participants to reflect upon their practice, at their pace, yet feel supported to achieve a desired end result.
Graffiti Art has courted controversy since it emergence in the USA during the 1970’s due to work performed illegally. Critics, whether it be 'traditional' art activist or otherwise would be in a strong position to cast opinion as illegal art is inexcusable and a negative practice for young artists to emulate. Today however there are many artists who work on the right side of the law, ourselves included, producing work privately and publicly which is visually engaging. The beauty of this art form is the wide range of expression and interpretation available which as tutors we embrace and our learners continue to enjoy.
In summary, Graffiti Workshop’s heart is simply to help establish Graffiti Art within art education and practice
Jake Manning (BA Hons Cinema and Photography) of Leeds University was talking to Stuart Harry Taylor (BA Hons Fine Art), Director of Graffiti Workshop
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