Graffiti Junction

Just one small example

All around the world, there are cities and countries that are known for “tagging” or graffiti artwork. I have limited knowledge on it but my understanding of graffiti is that it started as an impromptu form of protest-like expression. Graffiti, when done well and done right is not merely a spray paint fueled defacing of property.

It's all around the city

Something I did not know until very recently is that Ecuador has a rich graffiti culture. There are artists who are considered famous in Quito who go under the cover of night to transform clay walls, barriers, and buildings into works of public art. All around the city, wherever you look you see incredibly intricate designs and paintings. I’ve seen 80 foot long dragons, oppressed farmers yelling in rage, and bunny rabbits doing vulgar things. It’s really quite interesting.

Along with the beautiful artwork that you see around, there is also a lot of protest-centered text spray painted around. My understanding is that at the moment, there are many people who are upset with the current President and his Socialist leanings and I’ve read sentences scrawled across signs and storefronts that can attest to that. I feel like that’s a site to be expected in a city with such a rich street art culture.

Don't you dare forget to capitalize.

But one thing I never expected is to see the work of a vigilante grammar avenger. While walking to school recently, Shannon and I noticed that a politically critical sentence that had been written on the side of a building had been corrected for grammar errors, using red spray paint. It was an image that got my mind rolling to the possibilities of pocket protector and cape wielding grammar enthusiasts hiding beneath the cover of the shadows to correct a misplaced accent or poor punctuation. I’m not sure if it was a student due to the close proximity of the school (highly doubtful) or just a well-meaning tagger on his or her way to paint a condor shrieking in the night but either way I surely appreciated it.