On 28 Aug 2022 at 10:59pm Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group wrote:
We are in touch with the local / enforcement authorities, about the impact that graffiti has on the local environment, and the perceptions that this graffiti gives rise too, as articulated by an earlier post. A suggestion / idea / proposal has been submitted, and a response is presently awaited from them
On 29 Aug 2022 at 1:48am janet street preacher wrote:
I quite like graffiti.
There was a really great one of Boris Johnson under the Phoenix causeway that someone must have put a lot of effort into but some do-gooders have obliterated it.
On 29 Aug 2022 at 1:53am janet street preacher wrote:
Are you backed by the Conservative party by any chance
On 29 Aug 2022 at 9:17am Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group wrote:
Quite a few in the Lewes Community do not. People visiting Lewes for the first time by train, must be really impressed, seeing the contrast between the graffiti by the station, and then the castle. Perhaps the graffiti artists could also express their own art, on the bonnets of their own cars too?
On 29 Aug 2022 at 9:59am Nevillman wrote:
I'd probably prefer people visiting the town to get a flavour of its art rather than our uptight response to it. Visitors can dislike Lewes for any reason they wish. They're better off in Burgess hill.
You can call yourself a community group if you wish but please don't think you represent the whole community.
On 29 Aug 2022 at 10:04am Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group wrote:
Thank you for your thoughts. Art is in the eye of the beholder, and there are plenty of recognised artists around the world, and galleries to cater for all sorts of tastes. We don’t claim to represent the whole of the community, but have picked up on the vibes of many. It may be of interest, and having been acted up around the world, the concept of “Broken Windows” theory, and how it has been used / applied here in the UK too.
On 29 Aug 2022 at 10:38am Green Sleeves wrote:
They wiped the Boris/Balloon one already?! That actually DID look like some sort of Banksy! Nothing wrong with that on bland white bridge walls.
I thought it was in quite good taste. Its not like it said "F&%K BORIS". It was clearly a subtle dig at Britains worst ever Prime Minister, and the Conservatives penultimate ever tory Prime Minister.
On 29 Aug 2022 at 10:47am Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group wrote:
Why not exhibit it instead, on a suitable art gallery wall, with the consent of the gallery owners, as opposed to just spraying a blank wall?
On 29 Aug 2022 at 12:51pm janet street preacher wrote:
The XR graffiti behind Fuego and on the toilet block by the station are artistically really good and deserve to be in the public eye as the message is vitally important.
Way more important than any of the much larger advertising hoardings around town telling us to consume more rubbish.
There used to be a stencilled Mary Poppins down Cliffe High St somewhere, always really liked that too. I wouldn’t have seen any of them if they were in a gallery.
On 29 Aug 2022 at 1:39pm Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group wrote:
Street art like the bird on the way to Lewes Train Station is very good, and adds to the community setting. There is no denying that. This is one side of the coin.
The repetitive graffiti tags on the brick wall opposite the bird, the top of the station toilet block, toilet door, and along the rail bridge structure, on the depot wall do not. That is the difference here. This is what is being focused on.
Moreover, a number of prominent / credible street artists are happy to be known for their work, and they actually seek the permission from property owners to paint on one of their blank walls before hand. A win/win all round.
If done properly, street art in the true sense of the word (like the bird / others), could be an added attraction to come to Lewes, as it is in some cities. Street art tours for example.
This is the balance to be struck here.
On 29 Aug 2022 at 3:19pm janet street preacher wrote:
@ Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group
Are you from Lewes in East Sussex or Lewis in Scotland.
I’m just wondering as you seem to have spelled the name of the town you love so much with an ‘i’
Is there more than one of you?
On 29 Aug 2022 at 4:17pm Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group wrote:
Yes. Lewes, East Sussex. Look at the initial heading in the other exchange thread. It is spelt Lewes. Somehow, the responses have now defaulted to Lewis, and we are still trying to work out why.
On 29 Aug 2022 at 7:17pm Frank wrote:
Yes JSP, I also noticed the miserable spelling of Cliffe (or Cliff as they mentioned) from the Lewis poster, obviously some DFLs (chortle, chortle).
On 29 Aug 2022 at 7:39pm Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group wrote:
Simple spelling errors do arise - so what really.
On 29 Aug 2022 at 10:36pm Tom Pain wrote:
I think a list of cleaning materials effective on various paints would be very useful. Thus independent activities would be facilitated for those who would prefer it. I often pick up litter, it never occurred to me to remove graffiti but i think I would enjoy anonymously removing it.
@ j.s.p. Whoever removed the Johnson cartoon was not a do-gooder but a do-badder. I just hope they removed the ugly squiggles beside it.
On 29 Aug 2022 at 11:43pm Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group wrote:
Thanks. Noted. Still quite a few moving parts in play here before we reach the start line. The property owners also have to be on board, and we have to liaise with / keep the local community informed.
On 25 Sep 2022 at 7:13pm Bertie wrote:
Can I suggest you consider changing your name. You seem to be supportive of some graffiti but have a specific concern with tagging. In which case make that explicit. I would certainly have more sympathy with an anti tagging collective than an anti graffiti one
On 25 Sep 2022 at 9:25pm Lewis Graffiti Community Action Group wrote:
There can be no doubt as to what graffiti is, and as to what it is not. It is self evident by looking at it. Here we are talking about felt tip defacing of traffic signs, utility boxes etc, to the coloured / plain tags (by the same person sometimes) appearing on the brick walls by the train station and WH Smith for example. Graffiti adds nothing to a town at all. A mural etc is quite different (eg the bird) by the Lewes railway bridge. Anyway, since the last update:
Sussex Police will be carrying out an engagement event in the Lewes Precinct on the 27th September between 2 – 4 pm and all parties affected by graffiti are encouraged to attend.
Perhaps those responsible for the graffiti in Lewes would care to attend to provide their own inputs too.