Graffiti artists' move to national parks shocks nature community

Los Angeles Times ^ | April 26, 2015 | Louis Sahagun

[Lonely Bull]

Andre Saraiva is an internationally known graffiti artist. He owns nightclubs in Paris and New York, works as a top editor of the men's fashion magazine L'Officiel Hommes and has appeared in countless glossy magazines as a tastemaker and bon vivant.

Two months ago he showed up on the decidedly un-fashionista website Modern Hiker, along with a photo of a boulder he tagged in Joshua Tree National Park. Since then, Saraiva, who lives in France and is known by his fans as Mr. Andre and Mr. A., has been scorned by American nature lovers and thrust into a highly charged debate.

--SNIP--

As the debate goes on, some private businesses forced to paint over graffiti regularly see a certain irony in protests by graffiti fans angry about tagging in national parks.

"I wish they were just as outraged over graffiti on other people's private property," said Lena Kent, a spokeswoman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, whose freight cars and engines are tagged on a daily basis.

[SZonian]

:^)

Yes she does...

[Aleya2Fairlie]

This might seem petty, but start by banning sidewalk chalk and teaching your children that making your neighborhood look like the inner city is unacceptable, even if it is temporary. The kids in my neighborhood have “branched out” to the sides of garages.

[TexasCajun]

Yep, know what you mean.

Made me think of that crying tree-hugger.

[WayneS]

What a dick.

[WayneS]

...buzzard’s gotta eat...

[WayneS]

He’s a short little f-—er.

[hinckley buzzard]

Exactly. When the idiot culturati decided the was worth or "folk art" in graffiti they set the stage for a--holes like this guy. Morons getting what they asked for. Trouble is, we get it even though we didn't ask for it.

[livius]

Mr. “Artist,” go take that ego out and shoot it.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

He's just another hipster punk engaging in a Look-At-Me! moment.

 

Here's another 'artist' who committed vandal nonsense across multiple national parks, not sure as to what if anything happened to her -

 

http://www.modernhiker.com/2014/10/21/instagram-artist-defaces-national-parks/

 

 

[fishtank]

He’s not too original in his fashion sense, is he?

“Look at me jumping the shark!!!!”

[dfwgator]

Real shame a bear couldn’t have come up from behind and turn them into scat.

[TigersEye]

Graffiti artist. aka Coyote bait.

[CincyRichieRich]

Maybe some Singapore bamboo art on his butt would teach him.

[Mariner]

If I catch some criminal thug committing such a horrendous crime against man and nature, they may never be seen again.

[GOPJ]

'graffiti artist' Funny way of describing a common street VANDAL

Good one eyeamok

[Disambiguator]

Le Fonz

[x]

[Lonely Bull]

“He owns nightclubs in Paris and New York”; I wonder if he’ll let some budding young Graffiti Artists redecorate them.

[Rodamala]

I gotta say though... This covered hopper car I saw in Monahans, Texas 3-1/2 years ago was well done. Note how he boxed out the reporting marks... dude is in the wrong line of work.

(click photo for full resolution image)

[Bon mots]

Someone should vandalize his restaurants, his expensive car, his home.