Legal Walls in
Calgary
When I was a teenager, around 2000-2004, there was a
"legal" tunnel at Barlow Maxbell. It was a sweet underpass, made of cement. There was always different individuals
and crews rocken' pieces, characters and productions.
Another area that was temporarily sanctioned was the
sandpits situated around the city.
They are weird hexagon shaped cement structures incased in wood
paneling, and the inside had graffiti pieces that ran all the way around the
parameter.
Both of these areas were self-governed. It was pretty theatrical at times,
because within the scene there is a hierarchy, based on experience, street
cred, and skills as well as rivalries between individuals and crews. In spite of all the drama, a sense of
community was build up over time between writers.
The walls were beautiful, interesting and ever
changing. They helped create
a sense of respectability for Calgary street art, a showcase legitimizing the
art form.
These sanctioned areas where a positive, because the artists
had time to contribute something meaningful to the community and do really good
pieces.
As far as I know, for political reasons, there are currently
no legal walls in Calgary, and that makes me sad, because a part of Calgary's
subculture has been whitewashed by conservative agendas.
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