Top photo: Alderman Robert G. Donovan argues over graffiti or art with Sarah Patterson, executive director of True Skool before the press conference
Bottom photo: Mural Raw Love
Photo: True Skool
Donovan is "misinformed and misdirected," True Skool does not receive public dollars
By H. Nelson Goodson
July 19, 2010
Milwaukee - On Monday, Alderman Robert G. Donovan called a spontaneous press-conference and before he could address the media Donovan got into heated words with the a coordinator of True Skool Inc. over the difference between mural art and graffiti. Donovan believes such murals are "garbage, this is crab and needs to end" and teaching students about community-based graffiti art is a "disservice" to the kids. The mural only encourages destructive forms of graffiti, Donovan said.
An argument the graffiti artists say, is unprofound and Alderman Donovan doesn't know the difference between illegal graffiti and legal art murals.
"Graffiti is on a huge increase in the city of Milwaukee, that's the bottom line, and when I see stuff like this, these individuals are doing a disservice to the young people in this community by creating this aura that if you get involved in this illegal activity, somehow you'll become a leader," said Donovan. Ald. Donovan says, he is a member of the city Public Safety Committee and allows him to go into any neighborhood. He is member of the Anti-Graffiti Policy Board.
"There's no dispute that graffiti is an art form. For those who don't see it as an art form, are coming from a different generation. They're from a generation that doesn't understand the culture of hip hop, the culture of graffiti as an art form," said Sarah Patterson, executive director of True Skool.
Ald. Donovan left the press conference abruptly before it started. The mural in question was painted Saturday during the True Skool 5th Annual Block Party on a wall donated by Robert Smith, who owns the building at 934 S. Barclay St. and E. Mineral St. More than 750 people attended the weekend event.
Donovan in a press release on Monday said, the mural was brought to his attention by Captain Donald Gaglione from the 2nd Police District Station and the supervisor of the graffiti abatement for the Department of Nieghborhood Services.
"I think they've been successful in misleading people...Graffiti is at its worse level now since we started taking records, and that worsening seems to coincide with the arrival of TRUE Skool on the scene," Donovan wrote.
Alderman Donovan also called for an investigation to "see why precious grants and resources are being used to 'educate' young people on how to create graffiti...In my opinion this outfit is nothing more than a front for propagating and endorsing graffiti."
Patterson said, the mural "Raw Love" was created for the block party by a group of students surpervised by professional artist Jay Sterling, known as "J Bird" and it was a temperary mural. The mural was scheduled to be painted over at 1:00 p.m. on Monday to avoid confrontation with aldermen, but Ald. Donovan acted before contacting the group.
Donovan said, the owner of the building didn't want the mural on his property and was removed. Smith could not be reached for comment.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Peggy West who attended the conference on Monday says, she supports community-based graffiti art and it's not vandalism or promotes vandalism as Donovan alleges.
True Skool will paint a permanent community-base graffiti art in several weeks at S. 3rd St. and W. Bruce St. Another mural was painted previously at S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive and W. Washington St., and a different mural is also painted on S. 12th St. and W. National Ave. Other acceptable murals have been painted by different artists in the area not associated with True Skool located in the 800 block of W. National Ave. and in the 800 block of S. 2nd St.
To some people they become an eye soar, but to others its art and a modern day form of art popular with young artists. Illegal graffiti is usually the defacing of public/private property or businesses without owners permission with spray paint marking gang affiliation insignas, initials, names, and marking gang control of a neighorhood or area. The removal of illegal graffiti has become expensive to do and usually the city enforces removal within days or property owners get heavy fines.
Donovan is a member of the Anti-Graffiti Policy Committee, and is one of several members that engages in "divisive, dishonest, or disrespectful...who lack the courage and integrity to communicate with people they disagree with or do the necessary research to uncover the truth before making sweeping public statements about an entire organization," said Reggie Moore, True Skool vice president of the Board of Directors and member of the Anti-Graffiti Policy Committee.
Moore says, "the board and staff of True Skool share Ald. Donovan's concerns about illegal vandalism, however his concern over this mural is both misinformed and the press conference held this morning was an embarrassment to me and this committee...True Skool is not an alternative school and receives no public dollars for its programming," as Donovan alleged in his press release.
True Skool is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and receives private funding.
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Bottom photo: Mural Raw Love
Photo: True Skool
Donovan is "misinformed and misdirected," True Skool does not receive public dollars
By H. Nelson Goodson
July 19, 2010
Milwaukee - On Monday, Alderman Robert G. Donovan called a spontaneous press-conference and before he could address the media Donovan got into heated words with the a coordinator of True Skool Inc. over the difference between mural art and graffiti. Donovan believes such murals are "garbage, this is crab and needs to end" and teaching students about community-based graffiti art is a "disservice" to the kids. The mural only encourages destructive forms of graffiti, Donovan said.
An argument the graffiti artists say, is unprofound and Alderman Donovan doesn't know the difference between illegal graffiti and legal art murals.
"Graffiti is on a huge increase in the city of Milwaukee, that's the bottom line, and when I see stuff like this, these individuals are doing a disservice to the young people in this community by creating this aura that if you get involved in this illegal activity, somehow you'll become a leader," said Donovan. Ald. Donovan says, he is a member of the city Public Safety Committee and allows him to go into any neighborhood. He is member of the Anti-Graffiti Policy Board.
"There's no dispute that graffiti is an art form. For those who don't see it as an art form, are coming from a different generation. They're from a generation that doesn't understand the culture of hip hop, the culture of graffiti as an art form," said Sarah Patterson, executive director of True Skool.
Ald. Donovan left the press conference abruptly before it started. The mural in question was painted Saturday during the True Skool 5th Annual Block Party on a wall donated by Robert Smith, who owns the building at 934 S. Barclay St. and E. Mineral St. More than 750 people attended the weekend event.
Donovan in a press release on Monday said, the mural was brought to his attention by Captain Donald Gaglione from the 2nd Police District Station and the supervisor of the graffiti abatement for the Department of Nieghborhood Services.
"I think they've been successful in misleading people...Graffiti is at its worse level now since we started taking records, and that worsening seems to coincide with the arrival of TRUE Skool on the scene," Donovan wrote.
Alderman Donovan also called for an investigation to "see why precious grants and resources are being used to 'educate' young people on how to create graffiti...In my opinion this outfit is nothing more than a front for propagating and endorsing graffiti."
Patterson said, the mural "Raw Love" was created for the block party by a group of students surpervised by professional artist Jay Sterling, known as "J Bird" and it was a temperary mural. The mural was scheduled to be painted over at 1:00 p.m. on Monday to avoid confrontation with aldermen, but Ald. Donovan acted before contacting the group.
Donovan said, the owner of the building didn't want the mural on his property and was removed. Smith could not be reached for comment.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Peggy West who attended the conference on Monday says, she supports community-based graffiti art and it's not vandalism or promotes vandalism as Donovan alleges.
True Skool will paint a permanent community-base graffiti art in several weeks at S. 3rd St. and W. Bruce St. Another mural was painted previously at S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive and W. Washington St., and a different mural is also painted on S. 12th St. and W. National Ave. Other acceptable murals have been painted by different artists in the area not associated with True Skool located in the 800 block of W. National Ave. and in the 800 block of S. 2nd St.
To some people they become an eye soar, but to others its art and a modern day form of art popular with young artists. Illegal graffiti is usually the defacing of public/private property or businesses without owners permission with spray paint marking gang affiliation insignas, initials, names, and marking gang control of a neighorhood or area. The removal of illegal graffiti has become expensive to do and usually the city enforces removal within days or property owners get heavy fines.
Donovan is a member of the Anti-Graffiti Policy Committee, and is one of several members that engages in "divisive, dishonest, or disrespectful...who lack the courage and integrity to communicate with people they disagree with or do the necessary research to uncover the truth before making sweeping public statements about an entire organization," said Reggie Moore, True Skool vice president of the Board of Directors and member of the Anti-Graffiti Policy Committee.
Moore says, "the board and staff of True Skool share Ald. Donovan's concerns about illegal vandalism, however his concern over this mural is both misinformed and the press conference held this morning was an embarrassment to me and this committee...True Skool is not an alternative school and receives no public dollars for its programming," as Donovan alleged in his press release.
True Skool is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and receives private funding.
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
"THIS IS A MAJOR EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE." Alderman Donovan comments on the True Skool Event not only represent his ignorance on the matter but, it also lets the community know that he has a one track mind for art. True Skool continue to push forward with your program and maybe one day this might open doors for bigger projects .
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