Brainstorming How to Reduce Graffiti in Guanajuato

[louisarogers]

Spoiler Alert: A Long One!

Since I first visited Guanajuato in 1999, I believe the graffiti (especially outside the Jardin and touristed areas) has increased exponentially. I want to change that.

But first big picture-- is it a problem? I think it is, for two reasons: 1) aesthetics: it usually mars the larger sense of harmony; 2) more importantly, it conveys a sense of defeat that affects not only the spot where it occurs, but all around it, a surrender to larger perceived powers, a loss of control and ultimately self-respect.

In the last 1 1/2 years I have cautiously, intermittently (I'm not here all the time) and only in my "rincon"-- begun to cover the graffiti. To my surprise, the nearby callejones have improved dramatically too. Some of the areas I patched up with imperfect matches have been completely repainted by owners. I have no idea if the general improvement has anything to do with the little I started-- but I don't care, I'm thrilled.

Although my neighbors haven't joined me (nor have I asked them to), mostly they react positively or neutrally, other than a few passers-by who are cynical ("What's the point?") I started doing it on a long, exposed wall (vulnerable to graffiti) of a house owned by an elderly couple who live w/ their adult developmentally delayed son. Slowly I expanded to a few houses. I am careful to do it only in this area where I live and am known, as I don't want to cause offense. I try to be inconspicuous about it, & am not sure if that's a good thing or not.

I wrote a friend in San Miguel, which seems to have minimal graffiti, because I had heard there was some kind of municipio-resident collaboration on it. She posted my query on the SM Civil chat group. There were 7-8 responses, including several interesting ones:

There's a department in the city government consisting of two painters, who are dispatched around town in response to requests. They've been to my house twice and matched the color of the wall perfectly. I've arranged for them to come out by emailing the dispatcher.

and

The city will remove graffiti very quickly when it is reported. If you see graffiti, send an email with the street address or a good description of the location of the structure where the graffiti can be found to either of the two following addresses ...Your report can be in either English or Spanish.

and

A couple of years ago I purchased (traded) for a large sandblaster for that express purpose. It runs off air pressure and I have a air compressor but even though it's made in Mexico I can't find the pistol that goes with it. Since I bought it for Pozos, where I live, there hasn't really been much graffiti. My idea was to have a graffiti crew (I would be captain) that would take to the streets in capes and masks the morning after and wipe out the artwork before it's seen and perhaps frustrating the artists. I paid what was the equivalent of 800 USD but would happily donate it to the proper group.

and finally, from a guy named Tom Hammer, on graffiti strategies:

I'm something of an expert at graffiti control, though not removal, which is very dependent on the surface it's on and how much "removed" one tries to get. It's a very wonderful and satisfying thing to do to keep a town/place beautiful and unsullied. Graffiti is like mold or rust; once it starts, it spreads because it encourages others to do it.

first principle: deface the graffiti as soon as possible. At home, I carry a black marker in my jogging shorts some mornings, and there are two park benches where I've been able to deface, not erase, the "tags" and/or very unsavory, sometimes racist messages that are "posted" on two benches. If done once, it's important to return soon, because the writer will often try to continue the graffiti once or twice after you deface it.

second principle: defaced, unreadable graffiti, while still somewhat ugly, is much better than readable graffiti, because it sends a message of hope to others that something positive is being done and a message of persistence to the original writer that it won't be tolerated. Since the writer wants to be seen, defacing defeats the goal, and he/she will move on or stop, depending.

third principle: graffiti can be painted over, even in a different color, and that's better than defaced graffiti. However, some places (stone walls, for example) are porous, and people or officials might even get upset by a colored rectangle on a wall or statue, for example.

fourth principle: get officials involved and let them know what you are trying to do. You may be surprised to find they are very pleased and gratified that there is someone else besides them who cares and offer help.

fifth: it's can be a very fun and gratifying small project to do for an hour or two in a small group in a small area, to wear painter's clothes and look "official" and actually paint over the graffiti or defaced graffiti in some small area. It builds community.

sixth: you can even scratch out or deface graffiti in public places like bathroom stall doors and be gratified. I've stopped a huge graffiti campaign inside the men's room of our local library at home by defacing every one I found.

Back to Guanajuato:

I'm hugely encouraged by the positive developments in my own neighborhood. I love the idea of doing something as a group, with official support, not just each person trying to eradicate it solo. My constraints are I'm not here all the time, I can help from a distance, but can't be the consistent "on the ground" person because I come and go.

I'd love to brainstorm this whole issue and see how we might be a positive force for our beautiful city. Cuestiones, dudas, pensamientos? Please write me at louisarogers7@yahoo.com