Most people view graffiti as a gang-related defacement of property, but the young artists behind this movement are speaking out to defend their passion.

Dating back to Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, graffiti has been used to express anything from political concerns to creativity. In today’s society the common misconception seems to be that graffiti is only created by gang members attempting to claim their territory.

However, that isn’t generally the case, “I tag because I love creating original styles that no one else can copy. It’s an art. People think its gang related, but it’s not. You can tell the difference,” said 18-year-old Hope, a well-respected artist in the San Fernando Valley. All artists’ names have been changed to their tagging alias to protect their true identity. The fact of the matter is, like all other growing epidemics, corruption is inevitable. However, most young graffiti artists’ involved claim to have no correlation with gangs.

The erroneous belief that graffiti is reserved only for gang members comes from the fact that many artists today join together in what they call a “tagging crew.” This is due to the fact that respect among artists is a major aspect in the graffiti world. Most artists start out unaided and will eventually get solicited by a crew who appreciates their style.

Together, they can create larger pieces and unite to become a group with a common goal: showing their talent to the public.

“I’m in a well-known, respected crew called TMB, which is represented in cities throughout the nation such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles,” said Moorpark student and artist Meck. “In the tagging world, you’re nobody without a crew on your shoulders. Tagging with guys twice your age teaches you a lot about the art and everything that goes along with it. The second you decide to join a crew, your skill levels increase quickly and your true artist comes out.”

The original meaning of TMB is “The Master Blasters” which was started in the 1980s by Iz the Wiz. Representing this crew in Los Angeles is a lot of work as you “Take Minds Beyond.” But in the end, being in a crew is all about the love of the art,” explained Meck.

When artists were asked why they choose to place their art on public and private property illegally opposed to sticking with canvas, the consensus seems to be that putting their work out on the streets is the only available venue for people in their social class. Many young artists are fresh out of high school and do not have the financial means to succeed in getting their art recognized so they result to the use of public property to get their name out there.

“I have to admit, painting on the streets is different from a canvas or legal walls,” said Meck. “The rush! One-of-a-kind, indescribable… hanging off a freeway bridge or standing on a billboard 200 feet off the ground, it gets you hooked. But at the same time I think of the art more than anything else. If I didn’t have to risk my life to get my work out there, then it would make me happier.”

Punishable by law, tagging is the most dangerous form of art recognized today. According to police officials, the extent of the “damage” determines whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony. 21-year-old graffiti artist, Tasker*, was recently accused and convicted of vandalism after being caught on camera by a citizen when spraying on a wall. He is to serve 30 days in jail followed by 36 months probation. When asked if it was worth it, Tasker didn’t hesitate to proclaim that he would do it all over again in a heartbeat if it meant showing his work to the world.

Just as Leonardo Di Vinci’s methods were illegal and mocked during his lifetime but are recognized today as one of the most talented and popular works of art in European history, it is the hope of these young artists that one day the pioneers who introduced tagging to the world will be recognized as more than just petty criminals but for what they truly are: artists. “Tagging to me is art, not just a form of graffiti,” said Hope. “Its urban beautification. The way I see it, we are just putting a little color into the world!”

(Art by “Tasker”)

(Art by Meck)

(Art by “Meck”)

(Art by “Hope”)