Messages From The Underground

The streets of Portland are still full of anonymous messages although I can not help but notice that graffiti is making a transformation. In some ways this change mimics rock and roll’s move from underground to mainstream in the 80s and 90s. Medium sized gang tagging, crude graffiti and whacked out counterculture messages appear to be on the wane as more and more wall sized murals begin to dominate the landscape. These gigantic, amazingly produced, pieces of art appear to be commercial calling cards that help businesses stand out from the landscape and visually separate themselves from the surrounding buildings.

The Rise of the Sticker

The counterculture appears to have become more automated, opting for huge numbers of preprinted minuscule wackiness that has firmly harkened in the age of the sticker. Think of it a little like Punk Music; rude, disorganized, snarky, messy, small and, yet, still loud. Clever miniature tags, notices, art and bits of wacky wisdom festoon most every pole or metal railing in town. They seem to encompass artistic expressions, clever ads, nasty pronouncements, silly doodles or simply the rantings of lunatics.

Evil Toast
Happy Toast
Kiss Cats?
Ouch
Keep Smiling

7 thoughts on “Messages From The Underground

  1. Sabine

    WoW!
    I can recommend Sardinia too for the finest murals. Totally different but very interesting.
    And by the way: make a stop over in Amsterdam. For other reasons of course!!!

    Reply
  2. Jan de Lange

    Bruce these pictures look great.
    Like Rembrandt our photographer is hidden in the yellow head(?)
    I admire the self crowded “King of the Wall” looking to the Southern border for criminals and other dangerous but hardworking people .
    There’s a lot of humor and erotic suggestion … amazing ! It is Portland ,Oregon , another side of America…

    Reply
  3. Mary Sterling

    You are a remarkable human, Bruce. I’m so glad to have Wendi for a friend because I got to know you through your work, your love of my friend, and wicked humor.

    Reply

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