Having had an offspring who was at 13 - 16 heavily into all skateboarding and graffiti - I think your stereo type is a bit off the mark.

There is a big distinction in the milleiu between the "mindless" tagging and spraying most people see on trains and walls and a serious "work". The more serious artists hate the taggers, not only for the same reason others disain it, but also because mostly taggers scribble over works (pieces) of some effort and merit.

In the above pic the main yellow "piece" on the window, even tho its a tag, comes closest to a piece and is probably old skool.

The lower left seems to be a stencil, generally a newer medium used by older people and more self aware "arty" and also sometimes commercial viral advertising for bars or bands or clothes.

The rest seem to be uninspired tags and closer to vandalism or just pissing on a wall.

The posse the offspring was in eventually tired of "illegal" work because of the chance of having a thought through piece vandalised either by taggers or righteous citexzens and turned more to arrangements with suitable wall / fence owners where they were supplied with paint and permissin and had initial scoping sketches approved. Some of the high quality stuff still survives. Respected by taggers even and not vandalised.

Since then, and even then, he's left school without completing, done graphics, animation, film, oils, drawings, band posters as well as working, having a life and playing in a few rock bands. All pretty normal.

Now he's gained entry into Uni to do film and animation full time.

Theres plenty of good graffiti in Melbourne, in teh CBD in Lanes - some of this formalised to a great extent like a running changing exhibition and a lot of good works along the rail lines - maybe it's just adelaide.

Check out: http://www.melbournegraffiti.com/index_new.htm

Francis,
you are not remembered because I have put blogspot.com as a spam filter. I have so much spam that is from blogspot, it was the only way to deal with it. So I have to approve you personally.

Yeah, my stereotype is meant to refer to the taggers (basically suburban street kids in Adelaide having trouble with the law) who deface/vandalize the buildings around where I live in the inner city and drive the owners crazy.

I did acknowledge the existence of the artist graffitist though I find it hard to uncover examples of their work in Adelaide. Most of what I have come across is what you call old school graffiti---that is on the border of tag and graffiti piece---around Adelaide.

I'm currently looking for those who have made:

arrangements with suitable wall / fence owners where they were supplied with paint and permission and had initial scoping sketches approved. Some of the high quality stuff still survives.

I think that I have found some in the central western part of Adelaide near what is known as the University of South Australia precinct.

I plan to go and take some photos there next week.

Actually, a lot of "taggers" are, what is referred to as "straight edgers."
Straight edge - subset of people who choose to abstain from drugs,
drinking, smoking and promiscuous sex.
The graffiti is a stature mark. They often write "stay up" as a dare to have someone take it down. The longer it "stays up" the more popular and "famous" that tagger is. There are lots of reasons, ideas, and hypothosis about graffiti, the bottom line is they're all right. Graffiti is done for many reasons by many people. The way to hit them is to remove it as quickly as possible.

I feel asthough alot of this 'meaningless' drawl on the streets is avoidable however many artists will progress trom this and will use this to gain footing in the culture and also to learn the skills required.
There have been many artists who learn their skills and move on perhaps to melborne and use thier skills further.

An opinion from a young stenicl'er from the adelaide hills.

Police,
that is an interesting insight into the street culture of graffiti and confirms what Francis said.

I only see the street culture from the outside in the city--kids moving through the streets in their hooded outfits at night -- and hear the irate comments from households and small business people in the morning as they scrub the tags off from their windows and walls. It has become a conflict zone and the intensity of the emotions and the intolerance is building.

It is a pity because the empty building sites in south western Adelaide offer lots of space for good pieces of work to be put up.

Deform,
good point. You don't need to go to art school to become a visual artist and produce street art. Such a contrast to the grafitti is crime position.

I guess that Banksy has carved out the pathway here. Or Meggs in Melbourne

Why is Melbourne the centre of grafitti art --do you know?

What's wrong with Adelaide? Too small? Too conservative? Too isolated? Not able to support a vibrant visual street culture? The Church on Fire group in Adelaide looks to be pretty good.

Graffiti is graffiti. Simple and plain. Piecers who get up can be artists, juvenile offenders, middle-upper class school children, an average joe, and yes - the stereotypical drug user. Piecers do not solely piece. They do tags aswell. Any piecer who does not tag is lying. Adelaide is too small for the culture to stay alive and vibrant. The good writers conquer the inner city spots in no time. Melbourne is much bigger and it seems the councils 'buff' less often. Having said this, some of the best writers in Australia come from Adelaide.

You are right when you classify graffiti art into its own subculture. Some of the information you have listed is quite on point, however, your views are so stereotypical, which I found disappointing.

Mark,
your comment that Adelaide is too small for the street/graffiti culture to stay alive and vibrant; and that Melbourne is much bigger and it seems the councils 'buff' less often is probably right.

Still there is some interesting, street mural work in Adelaide.