Acting Appropriately at a Chill Spot
Graffiti Etiquette
What does a chill spot even mean? If you’ve ever been painting or interested in the artform, you may have been asked or asked yourself, “what is a chill spot”? My definition of a chill spot is a location where I can bring as much paint & equipment as I can carry & I won’t be seen or bothered by someone walking by. Cars can’t access the location & people who do happen to stumble by wouldn’t care to call the police. A chill spot is somewhere I can bring buckets of paint & hangout with friends. Somewhere I can feel comfortable enough to put all of my paint down & not feel threatened by police rolling by. A chill spot is somewhere I can go to during the day & could bring a friend or my girlfriend to admire the artwork from those before me.
Chill spots can be found along the river beds or deep onto the railroad lines. Some spots are old canals or tunnels that used to serve the city, but now their only purpose is to serve as backdrops for stunning artworks. When you visit these spots, you may not be threatened by the local police or security, but you can bet your ass the local writers & artists will hold you accountable for any bullshit that happens at your expense. They aren’t written in stone or visible for you to read, but there are rules when you visit & I’d suggest treading lightly. Do your best to respect those who came before you, clean up after yourself, don’t go telling the world about this cool spot you found, & if you do decided to paint something, be sure to leave it better than you found it. Don’t go practicing your handstyle over someone’s piece that they spent hours making.
Rule 1: Respect the Work That Came Before You
For example, this spot I visited one Sunday morning was heavily painted on. There wasn’t a lot of empty wall space for newcomers. If you didn’t bring a ladder, your chances of respectfully getting on the walls are slim. There are tons of gallons of paint, sweat, & years of history on these walls & it would be inappropriate to write over someone who already has already claimed their spot in history.
A good rule of thumb when it comes to this topic, if there is already paint there, find a new spot. If you’re just starting out, there’s no need to waste paint. Writers are ruthless, & if you’re putting up something that looks childish, stupid, or a waste of space, they’ll let you know. These places have history & the people who are a part of it, want to cherish it & hold it tightly. Some of these spots have legendary artwork from people who have passed away. It would be a true shame to negatively impact the community in that way.
I’ve found that if you’re willing to buff a wall & create something better than what was before you, you can show respect to those underneath the buff, by shouting them out or writing their name next to the thing you create. It’s a good way to build positive rapport & help keep the legacy of those before you alive. Just be aware, that some people may not appreciate or like that.
From rusted rails to forgotten walls, these paintings carry the spirit of the street. Claim one before it fades (Here)
Rule 2: Keep the Spot Clean(ish)
Cleaning up after yourself is the bare basic things you should be doing. Not only at chill spots, but in life in general. Don’t be messy, stop leaving trash behind. It’s not about if it’s small or will blow away in the wind, it’s about taking care of the planet we all share. Water bottles & spray cans are the two most common things left behind by people. These things don’t just disintegrate & decompose into the environment. Did you know that it takes approximately 450 years for a simple water bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate to decompose? Or that it takes 80 to 100 years for the spray cans to decompose? Better yet, most cans are made of aluminum, meaning you can recycle them to be reused an unlimited amount of times?? But yet I still see rusted cans from decades before laying around spots like they pay rent.
Your interchangeable caps are another thing I find kicking around some of the chill spots I go to. They do get clogged & can stop working, but there’s no need to toss them into the dirt at the slightest malfunction. Take them home & put them into a jar of acetone or paint thinner for a day, then wash & rub them. It’ll save you some money & help keep the environment clean for the next generation to stumble into & admire.
Just finished my eBook for kids! All about Springfield, MA & its rich history as the city of firsts (Here) Only $5
Rule 3: Don’t Blow Up the Spot
I would like to take a moment & acknowledge that I have done this accidently by posting drone videos of some of the spots. I don’t list names of places or give details that would identify locations, but I do understand that some people are crafty & will analyze video footage to identify landmarks, which in turn can help narrow down their searches. I love to admire spots & let people see the beauty in them too, but I have been at fault for showing too much. There is a fine line between showing the art & showing the spot. I don’t want to ever be the reason a spot get closed down or ruined.
My apologies if my videos gave away too much information on locations, that was never my intention. I think it’s important to call out your mistakes & flaws as to learn from them. Gary V mentioned it’s embarrassing, but it allows you to grow from it & become a better person as a result of it.
With that being said, don’t go showing your friends about a spot you found recently, don’t post the location on your social media looking for clout. If you’re posting pictures & videos, keep it as close to the art as possible. Don’t show identifying landmarks or keyword that people can google search to help narrow down the results. Do your best to showcase the thing you came to see, the artwork. The world is huge & there are tons of nooks & crannies, don’t go showcasing all of them to everyone.
Rule 4: Know Your Place in the Lineup
Rule #4 goes back into the graffiti basics, there is a hierarchy of paint structures that is strictly enforced, unless you are purposely looking for drama or issues. Know your place in the lineup. Starting with the base layer of paint, tags are usually at the bottom. You can’t be angry about someone covering a tag because they are the lowest level of the artform. Throwies & straight letters go next. If you see a tag & cover it fully, you can put a throwie on the wall without fear of retaliation.
On top of those are pieces, short for masterpieces. Now, these are subjective & not every piece of paint is going to be a piece. But think of something wildstyle or complex. Usually with a wide range of colors & layers, it’s a work of art that takes a decent amount of time & effort to create. Lastly, the few things that should ever go over a piece, are huge burners or full-scale productions from crews or groups of people. A good example of both a burner & a prodction would be the two white fills & red 3D images from below. Merge shows a massive wildstyle letter structure that shows time & dedication. The color is themed to match his crewmates & they take over a large chunk of the wall.
Rule 5: Be Cool With Others
If you go to a chill spot, you may see other writers there. Don’t be all up in their business, asking questions, & trying to hangout with them. Most writers don’t want to give their life stories while trying to paint. Be friendly & polite, ask them if you should be worried about anything in the immediate area & wish them good luck. If you’re there for pictures & videos, be sure to leave out any faces of people & always ask them before sneaking a picture of them in action. A lot of people would love to get a quality picture of them in motion or action, but don’t do it behind their back without their knowledge. Share it with them, with the addition of airdrop, things couldn’t be easier.
Rule 6: Leave It Better Than You Found It
Lastly, leave a spot better than you found it. Don’t be an asshole & try to paint one every square inch of the wall, don’t cross people out or go over them unintentionally, & don’t leave your trash laying around. If you want your paint to last, play by the rules & respect those that came before you. We are all sharing the space as a community & it would be a shame to lose something good because of one foul move. There is a finite amount of wall space in this world & there are tons of people fighting for it. Do so respectfully & with grace.
Check out some YouTube videos on more in-depth view on unwritten rules to graffiti. It might save you from a blackeye or a beef you don’t want to find yourself in.
YOUFO
The Artist Block
Peace & Love from the 413