Yesterday I went by Tulsa’s only (as far as I know) permission zone for Graffiti, Mad Mike’s Liquor Store in east Tulsa near 11th and Mingo. I went there this past March and was amazed by the graffiti. I was interested to see how much was new.
I’m guestimating that about 60% of the graffiti from March had been painted over. I’ve found that graffiti doesn’t age well. The colors get dull and flake off fairly quickly so turnover is a good thing.
My favorites of the new stuff is the Hulk. He’ s not as cuddly as the Hulk has become in popular culture. I love how his hands are coming out of the wall.
I also liked this piece although it seems a little disturbing.
There were several pieces with writing. I have no idea what any of this says but love the colors and vibrancy.
The one above might say “Peace” maybe, what do you think?
I noticed some partially painted over work like the above in my last visit. It is hieroglyphics to me. But I like it for some reason.
I notice that some work had been added to since my last visit. Yesterday’s “Sunday Demons” is above, March’s is below. the outline of the demon has been filled in with white paint.
Some work was similar in style to what I saw in March.
The above is evocative, so is below (from March, now painted over). The colors are totally different.
Here are the tools of the trade.
Blame my friend of JenX67 has got me interested in graffiti. Check the link to see what she is up to.
These are fantastic! It’s an art form. Good to have a place where they can do it legally. I like this!
Greetings from Cottage Country!
Fascinating, and so cool….
Looks like there’s actually some talent mixed in there.
these are really quite good .. to think they are done with spray paint is mind boggling to me .. I spent years trying to learn proportion/anatomy/perspective with paints and brushes .. I gave up and turned to photography .. so I am one very impressed chica!
These really are great! These people definitely have more artistic talent than I do, so I too, am very impressed!!
I drove by this liquor store back in in February and had to turn around and come back to get a better look. I took some photos but never did anything with them. You posted a nice set and now have come back and updated the subject with a second set. I would never think of a follow up but you have made this even more interesting by showing that it is a work in progress. This is the sort of thing that makes your blog so interesting. Good work Yogi!
Very interesting! There are some true artists represented, that’s for sure. What is nice is that the graffiti is permitted here. When it appears on someone’s business or on public streets and bridges where it is not welcome, then it is a crime. The taxpayers end up paying a fortune to remove or paint over it.
There are some talented artists out there, but I can’t make heads or tails out of them either. I wonder how it’s decided who gets to graffiti the walls next.
Totally fascinating post but I do wish the artists could leave a translation! Would it be too much trouble for you to make this a quarterly post?
@LeedsLass – Quarterly? That would involve planning? I don’t know what I’m going to post until I turn my computer on every day.
I’m laughing about all these comments, b/c when you first started posting about graffiti I think at least a couple people were wondering about you. Ha! Graffiti is now one of the biggest search strings leading people to my blog. Crazy!!! Middle-aged mommy blogging about graffiti.
These pictures are terrific, Yogi. They rival anything I’ve seen in OKC. I love the “disturbing one.” I have noticed a lot of lips in graffiti. Weird. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the shout-out!