Juggling life through a bi-polar lens. Sometimes up, sometimes down. Mostly trying to tread water in the middle. Creating a likeness to a normal life. Whatever "normal" is...

Wednesday 5 March 2008

ABC Wednesday....

G is for Graffiti


Normally, graffiti annoys me. It's nothing to do with entering my 40s: I've always been a grouch on this one.

And the writer/artist can't win: if it's scruffy, spelt wrong or rude, I think those responsible should go home and read a few books. If it's artistic, neat and original, I think "Why can't they use that talent somewhere else?"


It's rare that I actually feel any admiration for it. Banksy is an exception (click link for a blog that has some of his stuff on display).

But then came lots of followers, imitaters. It all got very samey, this 'street art', and entered it's own arena of annoyance.

-I do worry that I sound like my father when I moan about such things.

But then I saw this.....

This piece of graffiti (a graffito, I'm told) appeared not far from my home about a month ago. It made me smile..................

"Thanks for my birthday card Lucy, all my love, hugs and kisses, Thinking of you every day, Dad xxx"

It made me ask lots of questions....

  • The writing looks like "typical female writing"- you know, neat and rounded. Yet it's apparently written by a man.
  • Why did he leave a message here?
  • Are he and his daughter's mum estranged?
  • Is this his only way to get a message to Lucy?
  • Does he live miles and miles away, and did he drive up in the night and leave this for her?

There are lots of possible stories behind this very human message. This is why this is a piece of graffiti that I actually enjoy walking past. It makes me smile. It makes me think.

No fancy lettering, colouring or slogans. Plain and simple. Unflashy and "uncool". But it grabs my attention every time.

I hope Lucy saw it.


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For all the other bloggers doing ABC Wednesday, go to the list on Mrs Nesbitt's Site. Enjoy your browsing- & why not join in yourself?!
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47 comments:

Kerri Farley said...

Wow.....this is a GREAT G post!! How neat for a father to have written that to his daughter! Wow....it's got me thinking too!!

Anne-Berit said...

Grafitti annoys me too,but a good idea for a G-post:o)

mrsnesbitt said...

Ooooooooooh! Loved this! What fantastic imaginative images.
I too, hope Lucy saw this.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

What a great looking graffiti, this are all pieces of art...
Have a nice day:)

Greetings from JoAnn /Holland
Please visit my G for ABC wednesday

Pernille said...

Fantastic choice for the letter G and great photos. I love this:)

FO - 2 said...

Lot`s of blessings in this Grafitti! :)

Dragonstar said...

What a lovely story! You are so right, lots of scope for thought there.

By the way - our car lives outside, too. According to our boys, it's only bikes that need shelter!

Anonymous said...

What a very creative G post. You made me wonder too about the sign. I also wonder if Lucy wrote it to herself from her dad wishing she'd hear from him in this loving way...

Daryl said...

Interesting .. Never saw a grafitto before ..

Happyone said...

Great story and pictures for G.

Kyanite said...

Hi Helena!

Like you I don't care for grafitti, same stream of thought about the so called artist as yours.
But agree this one is intreging.
It makes a great G.

Best wishes
Blue

Lilli & Nevada said...

I too am annoyed with graffiti but this is definitely worth reading

Petunia said...

My husband really don't like grafitti. He is a custodian;)

Katney said...

When I am out walking on our pathway I pass a crude sign that says: "I miss my kids Deanna!! Text msg".

And I wonder.

KOSTAS said...

Very beautiful the photographs in post.
But also your reflections, and these reasonable and human!

GAWO said...

Great G post.
Thank you for visiting me :-)

ArneA said...

My Guinness Dark Ruby is from Davy Byrnes Pub in Dublin.
and to be honest:
I do not like Graffiti

kuanyin333 said...

I see that you like Robert Graves and mysteries....like me! Good one for G day!

Andrea said...

Grafitti is a good G post but I really rather not see in on insult buildings and nature.

Paulie said...

Very interesting graffiti. One of my choices is also graffiti but it was art graffiti done on purpose on a train trestle bridge.

Kim said...

I don't usually like graffiti either, but there have been some that I do like. Great post.

Digital Flower Pictures said...

Makes me wonder too. I like the last picture the best.

imac said...

Really thought out this post for G in ABC. Great idea.

Yolanda said...

I really enjoyed this post of G thanks for sharing it.

Billy said...

I hope Lucy saw it too. Thanks for stopping by.

kRiZcPEc said...

What a nice post, thanks for sharing.:)

AVCr8teur said...

I've never seen such loving graffito sentiments. It's a little strange for a father marking up up a wall like that. I hope you solve the mystery. Also, thanks for visiting my blog and posting a comment.

Annie said...

I do hope Lucy saw it, too.

Jan said...

I, too, hope Lucy saw this. Has it stayed pure, or been messed over?

Lynette said...

Oh, I so hope that Lucy saw this. Thanks for finding it and sharing it.

Gunilla said...

supergreat G.photos!

Anonymous said...

Nice ones...lovely!

Gordon said...

That's a different slant on graffiti; great G post

Lynda (Granny K) said...

The writing is that of a young woman,i'd say, regardless of the content of the message. Maybe Lucy's dad got someone to write it for him? Could Lucy have a sister?

Miss_Yves said...

A very good idea !Artistic pictures !
Miss yves

Mrs Mac said...

Jan,
No it hasn't been messed over, which also is surprising! I took the photo's yesterday morning- in a panic cos I couldn't think of what to do for "G" (LOL).

kml said...

I like your g! Quite creative!

photowannabe said...

Terrific post. Usually grafitti bugs me too but there must be a story to this one. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Liz Hinds said...

Oh I hope she saw it!

James Higham said...

Makes you think out self-expression.

VP said...

That's a great G Helena - we've had our own graffiti artist in action over here too! Did you see that Banksy's struck in London again this week?

Sorry it's taken a while to get back to you after ABC, but I've been ill this week.

david mcmahon said...

What a wonderful post and what a wonderful way to bring it to our attention, Helena.

We're so blessed to have you in our midst.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I hope Lucy saw it too. What a beautiful message and left for all to see his love for a very lucky girl.

Great post, came via David.

Crystal Jigsaw x

Anonymous said...

Graffiti n. institutionally illicit marks in a coherent composition designed to be seen by the public

Graffito n. pl. a collection of institutionally illicit marks in a coherent composition designed to be seen by the public

Having lived in Las Vegas, I have seen many types of graffiti, including some I had to have removed from the driver's door of my own car. Some of it I appreciate more than others.

The piece of graffiti you've shared is very moving and thought provoking -- that's a trait I enjoy in my art -- but, thanks to my personal experience, I find myself wondering, Whose wall is it? To think it is his own gives this art one meaning, and to think it is his ex-wife's gives it another ....

SandyCarlson said...

I love graffiti, so finding this via David's blog was a special treat for me today.

Cath said...

What a different way to look at things! Thank you for posting this. I too do not like graffiti but like some of Banksy's work and wonder why he has to do it on a wall...

But this... almost feels, well, heartbreaking. A 'desperately seeking susan' moment. Then quilly's comment above made me think again too...

Intriguing. Over from David's btw.

aims said...

Very interesting - makes one definitely think..

btw - David sent me.