My Thoughts on TRUE Skool
I applaud the blog entry by Mary Louise Schumacher of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel concerning the disagreement between Alderman Robert G. Donovan and community organization TRUE Skool.
I applaud the blog entry by Mary Louise Schumacher of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel concerning the disagreement between Alderman Robert G. Donovan and community organization TRUE Skool.
I completely support self expression, and the genres of street and graffiti art. Just because you can not appreciate or understand a piece of art does not mean that it still is not art.
While I support the mission of TRUE Skool, I can also understand how a community could misunderstand the intentions of the mural in question. Are we encouraging more illegal graffiti? It seems like a logical question.
Personally, I believe the larger issue at hand is how Alderman Robert G. Donovan handled the situation. His coarse statements and childlike behavior does not fit the definition of a community leader. This man had the opportunity to use this controversy to promote the activities of TRUE Skool, bring a community together and help resolve differences in opinion. And if that was too lofty of a goal, he could at least informed everyone that self expression and art takes on many forms, whether we can all agree on its beauty or not.
The problem with street and graffiti art is that it has grown out of criminal and illegal activity. Namely, placing a mural or tag on property you do not own. And it is understandable that a neighborhood could come to the conclusion that the activities of TRUE Skool appear to be supporting illegal art and vandalism without taking time to understand the organization and their mission.
When you look at a neighborhood that is full of tagging you frown upon the people who did it, as well as the eye sore it becomes. But TRUE Skool actually works with kids that have committed vandalism by forcing them to clean it up and apologize to the community.
I can see how some people would see a legal mural contributing to the problem. I can understand how someone who can not appreciate the genre could call it crap. But in my years, I have seen many pieces of art in public and private museums that I do not understand and in my opinion, visually displeasing.
Art is not without controversy. What about The Holy Virgin Mary, a 1996 collage by Chris Ofili, an award-winning British artist, which incorporates elephant feces? That was an extreme form of art and it ended up in a public museum.
How about the famed street artist Banksy? He contributions to the art world are almost always illegal. But the visual message is pleasing, thought-provoking and often a surprise. All part of the equation of self expression and art.
Alderman Robert G. Donovan owes the organization and children an apology. It is never OK to diminish the hopes, dreams or talent of a child. If we do not agree with the way they are expressing themselves we should find a constructive way to achieving their goals and growth.
The fact is he had the opportunity to work with the organization to support legal graffiti art and condone illegal activity. He chose to throw that opportunity away. If he, and others in the community, believe art only exists on canvas – then work with TRUE Skool to support that formal education. Or at least support a forum for them to learn from more traditional artists.
And in return, I hope TRUE Skool can use the opportunity to educate their kids and the community on the prejudice they are faced with. Continue to encourage their skills and dreams – while doing so legally.
