University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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Photos and Story: Drew Carter Pictures are worth 1 ,000 words. Pictures on the wall, however, are worth far more. Art thrives in Oxford. From the music scene to the beautiful architecture, popular places like the Oxford Square host galleries, structures, and forums of art. However, the modern canvases of today ' s most controversial artists are popping up below and around the city. The underground art scene in Oxford is growing larger each year. Deep below Oxford lies concrete drainage ditches that stretch clear across the city. These dark tunnels are becoming brighter each semes- ter with new pictures, quotes, or displays of art. Spray paint is the dominant medium used in the tunnels. While there are lots of meaningless drawings on the walls of the tunnels, there are a few genuine pieces. The Square is a popular place for differ- ent urban art as well, found predominately in the back alleys. The most dominant form of street art on the Square is sticker tagging. Stick- ers of skulls, teddy bears, and different sayings are found on dumpsters, stop signs, and elec- trical equipment around the Square. Stickers are deemed more appropriate on the Square because of their easy removal and temporary character. The streets really are canvases, sopho- more Tyler Chandler said. I believe st reet art adds to the beauty and individuality of Oxford, making it more iconic. The character derived from the art adds major character to the city. Around the world, graffiti art has a differ- ent connotation. There is a clear line between subtle and moderate images or words displayed in public places. Graffiti flirts with vandalism. In metropolitan areas with more buildings and public structures, graffiti is expensive to find and clean by sustainability crews, so it is likely to stay on the walls of the city for a longer period of time. Because of the increasing popularity of street art, city police forces are taking mea- sures to increase the fines for convicted vandals. Vandalism is a misdemeanor in the state of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss. Police Chief Mi- chael Martin said. According to the law, we can only make an arrest if we see the act occur or have eye witnesses willing to testify in court. It makes it especially tough to catch vandals. Graffiti comes from the Italian word graf- fito meaning scratched or scribbled. Graffiti is defined as the illicit writing or drawing con- ducted in public places, fixtures, and buildings. The scope of graffiti differs from country to country and city to city. All major cities have different stylistic graffiti techniques. Graffiti has become a popular forum for youth to express different social or political messages or images. Philadelphia and New York City are the unof- ficial graffiti capitals of the world. There are different kinds of graffiti art. Tag- ging is the process by which names of promi- nent or upcoming artists are sprayed on public pieces. Tags also include the use of stickers on different public structures. A graffiti bomb is the deliberate painting or marking an ink on non-traditional pieces such as toilets, road signs, and telephone booths. The most interesting type of graffiti is known as a production in which various artists collaborate to produce a massive image or series of pictures that cover a broad space, such as multiple sides of a wall or building, united in a single piece. I love looking at different photos of graf- fiti around the world, Chandler said. I would not necessarily condemn urban art in Oxford. I would encourage graffiti artists to stay away from campus and the facade of the Square. I think the coolest forms of urban art are in the areas commonly overlooked. 22 ■ Student Life

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7. A student chugs his Grove drink before entering the stadium. 2. A student opens her bag for security. 3. After waiting in line, security checks a students purse l 4. Logan Clements, a fre: business economics major, is frisked by gate security before being allowed into the game. Alcohol 21

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These photos were taken around the Oxford Square and tunnels beneath the University Avenue drainage ditches. The photos from the Oxford Square are from the back alley ways. The tunnel graffiti pieces were not signed or dated by any particular artist but are believed to be a few years old. Graffiti 23