Alderman Wants Graffiti Artists To Paint Legitimate Murals
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Ald. Danny Solis (25th) wants graffiti artists to redirect their pastime toward legitimate artwork – namely, murals along a railroad embankment in the Pilsen neighborhood.
Solis wants to see more murals like the one now at 16th Street and Ashland Avenue in the, which he had painted by Belgian street artist ROA during Lollapalooza earlier this month.
Now, Solis' office confirms to CBS 2, he is looking for more artists to show off their work on the embankment, along 16th Street between Western Avenue and Canal Street.
Solis says the goal is to create a legal and safe means for graffiti artists to express themselves.
A Chicago Sun-Times report says under Mayor Rahm Emanuel's budget, the Graffiti Blasters program has been cut by 25 percent, and the reduced staff is on pace to remove less graffiti this year than last year.