Undergraduate Thesis - Graffiti Outpost School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2008

Acts of Graffiti in the City of Chicago have been treated as a serious offense since the early 1980s. From the inception of Mayor Daley’s ‘Grafitti Blasters’ to present there have been no delineation between acts of artistic expression and gang violence in the eyes of the law, and both are treated alike in terms of sentences. Multiple laws have made graffiti a highly punishable offense in Chicago, punishing violators the minimum of a $500 - $1500 fine. Additionally, the spray paint ban outright restricts the purchase of spray paint and paint marking tools within the city limits. Morally notwithstanding, most acts of graffiti are with the intention of artistic expression, not gang violence.

Where can one find a safe haven for the expression of graffiti art, free from the social and cultural prejudices associated with a misunderstood art form? By providing a collaborative learning environment and fostering the growth of variegated styles, common misconceptions and stigmas developed in the cultural consciousness can start to lose footing. What if a building can bring together people from all races and backgrounds, help stymie political and social injustice, be environmentally conscious, and help further an art movement?