The Telescope

Issue Date: 4/27/09

Graffiti artists breaking conventional stereotypes

By Sara Burbidge

Media Credit: Sara Burbidge Graffiti artists express themselves through their controversial work, which is often looked down upon by police officials who want to maintain a positive environment in the area. This particular piece was located in the hallway by the south side of the B building. It was created around April 15, when the photo was taken. It has since been covered up.

Writer's block is usually defined as a lack of inspiration or creativity, but to graffiti artists, writer's block is actually a long wall where artists can go to freely express their creativity by writing on walls.
"I write urban art because paper is not big enough, I can't keep myself confined to a paper all day," Palomar student, Nathaniel Howard said. "I wish I could write across the sky."
Howard started painting graffiti, which is also known as writing, when he was a kid and took art classes in high school as a way to improve his technique. He has painted something every day for 12-13 years, he said.
But not all the places he writes are legal. His chosen form of self-expression tends to lead to trouble with law enforcement and others in the community.
Around Palomar's campus, graffiti has been written on bathroom stalls, mirrors, walls, windows, cars, steps and just about almost anywhere imaginable. It is seen as a nuisance on campus.
In the months between January and March of 2009, there have been 43 reports of graffiti between the San Marcos and Escondido campuses, according to Karen Boguta, Records Coordinator for the Campus Police.
This is up from 23 during the same time period last year, as all graffiti must now be reported. In the past, Palomar's facilities department would fix the minor damages without a report.
The reporting and tracking of graffiti has become more efficient over the last year due in part to Campus Police Officer Gerard Perez.
"We have a right to come to this school and not see the integrity of the campus destroyed by graffiti…it brings down the education system, makes it gloomy," Perez said.
He was employed as security at Palomar in 1991 and became a police officer in 2000. He started work on tracking graffiti with local law enforcement in late 2008.

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