Writing on the Wall

"I think all walls should have some kind of murals on them. I understand maybe there's some you wouldn't want to put a mural on, like if they have an attractive-looking brick design. But I really think a lot of walls should be painted with some sort of mural or something. I think it's even uglier when there's big buff marks on walls -- where they've got patches where they've covered graffiti up -- that's way uglier than graffiti."

Kaper's gone as far as attempting to partner up with a local ad agency to create an urban renewal company, where he would hire local graf artists to paint murals on blighted walls. The plan never materialized, yet Kaper is determined to continue with similar projects.

Kaper

A bit of Kaper's freight-train artistry

Paolo Vescia

Evonne Cavadto shows off her writer's bible during the "Nitty Gritty Graf Show."

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• Tonatierra Center
• Visual Arts
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As for legitimate efforts, Kaper has attempted forays into the world of gallery art, recently showcasing his work at Thought Crime, and hopes to continue working toward those ends. "A lot of artists consider that a sellout, but those are people who haven't done an eighth of what I've done. To me it's just about, 'I gotta make some money.' I've got my kids, my family, I'm 30 years old already -- but I'm still gonna be piecing illegally, you know."

Even 10 years from now? "Yeah, probably 20 years from now. I'm sure I'll still be walking around train yards, maybe doing stuff with markers only. But also I've gotta try to watch out with the paint, 'cause I've gotten sick from painting, where I have to chill out. I've been to the doctor because I'm told I'm messing my body up, like memory loss and stuff."

Despite the many risks and hazards, the Sprawl hopes that veterans like Kaper, and new-schoolers like Pez, 21rak, Mac, Sinek and the others leading the scene, never fall by the wayside. Though the art of graffiti remains illegal and largely unappreciated by the masses, it's a critical part of urban life -- a street-level symbol of rebellion and artistic expression that helps define an entire subculture.