We hit the Motherload, he said. While DH was out riding his bike, he found a clump of 37 trains, rich with graffiti, just waiting to be photographed. We have been putting together a visual collage of these trains for about a year and never, ever hit this many. I was so happy. Graffiti does that to me.
While I am a firm believer in, if it is not yours, don't touch it... Graffiti on rail cars is here to stay and there is some fun talent out there. There is also a big difference between the haves and have nots, not necessarily when it comes to talent but paint. It is obvious that some use quality paint and it shows. I have seem some great designs but for the lack of rich paint color. seem to fade into the background and miss their just dues.
I marvel at what I see. Did they do this under the cover of night, not to be caught and what do they do for lighting? These are intricate works of art. Unlike an artist who had a studio with light streaming in from a side window. One who is able to stop after a long day and pick up tomorrow when the lighting is new and fresh - the graffiti artist doesn't have those kinds of liberties. Time and lighting are not on his side. Either is a moving train. Are they ever in the middle of a project just to see their art head on down the tracks, never to be seen again? Maybe that is part of the excitement of this kind of artist. The funny thing is God is not fair when it comes to talent. He doesn't give those who believe in him, an extra little something.
We may not like that but we call the works if such artists un-christian or non-christian at our own peril. Christ has always worked in ways which seemed peculiar to many men, even his own followers. Frequently the disciples failed to understand him. So we need not feel that we have to understand how he works through artist who do no consciously recognize him. Neither should our lack of understanding cause us to assume that he can not be present in their work... Madeleine L'Engle
Whether you see it as art or vandalism, is one thing. Realizing where the talent comes from is another. Both might seem unfair but that is what life is about. Learn it now and everything will start to fit in place...
