This is an interesting development. From the Asheville Citizen-Times:
Graffiti artists are no longer allowed to use a “graffiti wall” in the River Arts District.
The property owner recently placed “No Trespassing” signs on the property, which is located at 1 Robert Street.
The Asheville Police Department will enforce all trespassing, graffiti, photo shoots or other public uses on the property.
This area has been an open forum for local graffiti artists for several years now. I wonder what’s changed. Anyone?
10 Comments
The Graffiti Wall is a very intresting thing in Asheville that makes it unique from other cities. They should make it an art gallery but make people pay like $5 or so to use it or look at the art.
so now we have to tag other places. GOOD job haha not thanks alot jerk. so when graffiti pops up in places it never was befor its going to be your falt for taking away a place people could go without getting in trouble.
My guess is that these "artist" will have no place to safely and calmly do there art so they will take to the street and make their art there…
I lived in San Francisco in the mid 90s to mid 2000´s and that is exactly what happened there.
good luck
So disappointing! This was a wonderful spot for creativity without fear of prosecution – both for the artists and photographers. It's a shame there isn't someplace in Asheville that a similar venue could be provided. Like Skate Board Parks, it seems Grafitti is only associated with trouble makers. It is a true art – and a great way for young kdis and older kids to express themselves – this is different than what gang members do when they tag a bridge or a building. This is truly amazing art. Who saw the work that went into the silos at the end of October? Amazing! And an awesome backdrop for photographers – another true art that is becoming increasingly more difficult to allow expression of artistic talent in a local venue without fear of being prosecuted. Am I a member of the younger generation defending freedom of expression – no I'm a 56 year old woman who was so excited about shooting portraits at the wall – and now I am on the prowl for another equally creative location. Anyone have any ideas???
If the developers were smart about it, they could incorporate the wall into their design and use it to their advantage. You know it's not often you buy a space and have amazing original art installations already on-site.
I happened to run into these guys while walking in the district on Thanksgiving. I think they are planning to convert the hatchery to studios and "clean up" the area. The guy really seemed to feel that they were doing something good (which may or may not be true depending on your point of view). It's really just another step in the inevitable commercialization/gentrification of Asheville that's been going on for the last 20 years. Change is the only certainty I suppose. I just hope that once everything is "cleaned up", we don't lose a large part of what has made the town so interesting. I'll add that I would be much happier about someone buying and renovating a local area if I thought that it would bring living wage jobs to the area, but alas, it looks like just more real estate to rent out.
My guess is they want to clean up the area so their local eatery's reputation isn't tarnished by local color. Too bad they're taking away a beloved spot in the process. I love that "photo shoots" was included in the list of banned activities.
Level One Development plan submitted to City of Asheville Development Services Center mid November to renovate existing building into multi-tenant mixed use including eatery and artist studios. No surrounding land development proposed at this time. Existing building improvement only.
I've seen people cleaning up that spot for a couple of weeks now. Isn't there a coming soon building site information board posted on Roberts St for that lot?
I hope he is plannoing on developing the eyesore.