1:00am Saturday Morning: The street lamps glow yellow as we step out out in the cold winter night our rattling backpacks sink to the floor as if they don't want us to go. We all listen to a far off police siren fading off into the dark as we venture off into the dangerous nightlife
1:45am Saturday Morning: We arrive to our destination gravel crunches under our feet as we near the wall. The wall is cold and lifeless, gray and dark, that was all about to change. We lay out our stencils and begin to spray off into the night.
1:55am: Saturday Morning: We begin to pack. When out of the dark comes a roaring cop siren, followed by two slamming doors. We grab out paint and run. My heart beats faster and faster and louder and louder I can't breathe, my head begins to spin , “I’m giving up man” I yell to the others “come on you can do it” a burst of energy I can make I'm so close. I grab the cold metallic chain linked fence. A sharp pain in my leg, my head crashes on the gravel, my leg goes numb, men surround me punching and kneeing. "that will teach you to paint on my city" and then I see black.
Now this story may be an exaggeration but it describes the many artist who have gone through this just to express their inner opinion.


The definition of freedom of speech is “ The right, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to express beliefs and ideas without unwarranted government restriction”. Whoa, Whoa, Whoa lets dial that back “ The right, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to express beliefs and ideas without unwarranted government restriction” if thats the case then why do Artist such as Shepard Fairey or Blek Le Rat get arrested for expressing their beliefs and ideas through art? Many people believe that using speech is an easier way of expression vs. using a visual technique of expression. Yet is it when you're driving down Migraph highway, you look at the passing freeway sign and on it you see a piece of graffiti. That must mean something. So I don't know what people are talking about when they say using verbal expression is eiser vs, a visual art technique. Artist like myself find that many of our best things or in some cases only things to say are in our artform. "If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him." -John F. Kennedy. Words of wisdom to any average artist, thats why I believe Street Art, provoking and well minded should be considered a part of freedom of speech.





Luca: The definition of freedom of speech is “ The right, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to express beliefs and ideas without unwarranted government restriction “, do you think that someone expressing their beliefs or ideas through art deserves to count?
555 ( graffiti/street artist): Yes, for many people like myself graffiti/street art is a way of speaking, for some people it's there only way to truly express themselves and their opinions.
Luca: Will you ever stop?
555 (graffiti/street artist): No. Probably not this is my lifestyle the way I breath the way I smile. Its like a black hole once you're in you're stuck....For life!
555 ( graffiti/ street artist): The problem with artist is that it really is a lifestyle you look at things different media, clothing, nature, so when you're told its illegal. Its like a dagger to the heart you speechless, your mute. The government has no idea what they do to writers like me by making it so hard for me to talk.

“In Western Australia, Police cautioning and arrest data covering the 5 year period from 2005 to 2009 indicates that 46% of graffiti damage and related offences were committed by males aged 14 to 16 years.” Valerie J. Hill member of the T.A.G ( Totally Against Graffiti )believes that certain individuals believe that its there way of expression, there way of passage which is all essentially hogwash. its a multi billion dollar problem which is vandalizing private businesses. I'm a struggling man trying to keep my butt off the street and I dont like coming home after a 14-16 hour shift and seeing somebodys gang initials carved into the window of my van. So when people call graffiti writers artist I don't know what theyre talking about.


L.A. graffiti artist says “ The homeboy Picasso, if he was alive I think he would be doing graffiti I really do”.Boston graffiti artist Yang 1 says “ If there weren't people like us in our world than the world would be an ugly space ruled by the media.” Revok L.A graffiti artist expresses that “ Most artist don't risk their life dangling from an 8-inch ledge 6 stories up above the freeway with semis going under their feet just to do there painting. Most artist don't sit and do there painting and then get shot in the back of the head.” Reaper Bostonian street artist says “Street are is a visual voice. Nothing more nothing less.”

To conclude I believe art should be considered freedom of speech. I hope you have learned the strive writers have for painting, what the believe in and how they express themselves. If you don ’t think street art should be considered freedom of speech then I can't change your mind, what you can do is ask your self this “ If the only way to express your self was by doing it illegally, would you do it?” That is the true question that surrounds the underlife of street art. So, In conclusion Steet Art, rebellious yet artistic, should be considered freedom of speech.